2023-06-04 15:01:34
In a dramatic season finale, Blau Weiß Linz secured promotion to the Bundesliga. The Upper Austrians of coach Gerald Scheiblehner prevailed on Sunday in the last round of the 2nd division once morest Sturm II following a deficit with 2:1 (0:1) and benefited from a surprising 1:1 (0:0) of the previous one League leader GAK at FC Dornbirn. The Grazer gambled away the return to the upper house following 16 years.
Danilo Mitrovic scored in the 85th minute to make the final score much acclaimed in Linz – his header is likely to have crossed the goal line following a crossbar. Previously, BW striker Ronivaldo (48th) equalized the interim lead following an own goal by veteran Christoph Schösswendter (34th). In Dornbirn, Gustavo Balotelli shocked GAK with a late goal (89′), previously Graz had failed twice on the crossbar. Milos Jovicic’s equalization (96th) came too late. Linzer ended the season with 61 points, the GAK has one point less following four wins in a row.
“We always believed in it, even if everyone had already written us off. Now we’re standing there and are champions, indescribable,” said BW captain Michael Brandner happily on ORF. “Luckily he looked down. Now it’s time to party until we can’t get up.” GAK trainer Gernot Messner was visibly depressed. “Empty, disappointment. We shot twice at the bar, five meters over it, didn’t get a clear penalty. I have no idea why it didn’t work. Congratulations to Blau Weiß Linz and my coaching colleague Scheiblehner,” he said.
In the Birkenwiese stadium in Dornbirn, the GAK controlled the action, supported by numerous Styrian fans and led by the veteran Michael Liendl (37), who made his last appearance as a professional. However, the Grazers might hardly create dangerous scoring chances. At the same time, nervous people from Linz fell behind following a counterattack due to an unfortunate own goal by Schösswendter, who will become the new BW sports director following the season. Ronivaldo missed two brilliant opportunities before the break (41st, 45th + 1).
But right following the break, Ronivaldo headed in for his 19th goal of the season. In Dornbirn, Bogdan Viunnyk missed the GAK lead with a shot into the crossbar following a Stangl pass (59th). Felix Köchl also fell short of the crossbar shortly followingwards. While Mitrovic let the blue and whites celebrate, GAK’s hopes of returning to the Bundesliga faded following Balotelli’s opening goal.
At the bottom of the table are Vorwarts Steyr and the second teams from Rapid and Wiener Austria, who have been relegated to the regional league. In a direct duel for relegation, Steyr lost 0:3 (0:0) to Admira. Rapid II was beaten 0:1 (0:1) at SKN St. Pölten, the Young Violets went down 0:5 (0:3) at FC Liefering and ended the season at the bottom of the table.
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