The SHOT did it again…in the fall, the third-placed player scored a 1-0 lead in almost every one of his ADMIRAL Bundesliga games. In the spring, “scorer kings” Nakamura & Co. specialize in catching up. Also against SK Sturm Graz, in the league something like Linz’s favorite opponent. In the 3rd BL season duel, the athletes again remained undefeated against the second in the table (2S, 1U), even turned the thrilling game after the Kühbauer-Elf needed a certain start-up time and possibly. also the 0:1 goal conceded as a “wake-up call”. Below STATEMENTS from the Linz camp…”provided” with “Cheese & Bread”…
Thanks to the LASK fans after the 2nd home win of captain Alexander Schlager and Co. in the 3rd Bundesliga match in the new Raiffeisen Arena on the Linzer Gugl.
“Boys have proved that the cheese isn’t eaten yet”
Dietmar Kühbauer (head coach LASK) on…
…the game: “After we conceded, we invested an unbelievable amount of energy again. The taking in of the Ibra (Mustapha, Anm.) gave us even more energy. After the 1-1 draw we were totally in the game and deserved to win. I think that we got the people involved today, because the dramaturgy was great. After the 1-0, many believed the cheese was eaten. The guys proved that the cheese isn’t eaten yet. We slapped a sausage on it today.”
…seine Reaction after the final whistle (frantic cheers): “It was a human reaction that the players deserved. If you’re down 1-0 and then still come back and still win the game, then you have to show respect to the players.”
…Keito Nakamura (see also current goal scorer list): “Even Keito was barely there in the first half. But he’s a player you can never 100% neutralize. The fact that he’s already scoring headed goals worries me because that’s really a weakness he has.”
…die Ambitions of LASK in the master group: “I said I wanted to play internationally. We’re going game by game. The boys are doing very well and have grown together as a team.”
“League is our daily bread”
Alexander Schlager (captain & keeper LASK) on…
…the game: “At times we didn’t do our things so well in the first half. It was 0-0 at half-time. I’m happy if I could help one time or another. Nevertheless, I am pleased that we were ultimately able to convert the effort we put into a win.”
…whether he would trade a defeat today for a place in the cup final: “That’s a question I don’t want to answer. I believe the league is our bread and butter. But for me in particular, a cup final would have been very nice. But that’s football. In the league we can get a good starting position for next season and we want to do that now.”
…his future: “You will see how the word future sounds so beautiful. I plan the future. But it stays exactly where it is planned, namely with me. We’ll just see what develops over the next few weeks and months.”
Robert Zulj (offensive player LASK) on…
…the game: “Congratulations to the team. It was incredible what she did. I hope the coach now gives us the next three days off. It’s amazing what we did today, what we actually did on Thursday.”
…Keito Nakamura: “A top player in a top team who scores a lot of goals and assists. Very good for us.”
“Can’t give an exact forecast yet”
Thomas Goiginger (offensive player LASK, currently injured) on…
…his comeback plans: “I’m on the mend. It got more complicated again after the Lustenau game, so the next week was very uncomfortable. In individual training I can do a little something again. I hope to be back soon, I want to help the team. But I can’t give an exact forecast yet.”
…his season so far: “In the beginning it worked very well. In the course of the season, the scorer points were no longer there. But I think we were still very good as a team. In certain phases I also played my part. But of course I also know that I can perform better.”
…die LASK play area: “We’re trying to be more aggressive and find our solutions while in possession. You can already see from week to week that it works better.”
Match winner Mustapha revived the LASK game after coming on and was instrumental in the turnaround: Goal + Assist.
“A very important factor in the Linz game”
Peter Stöger (Sky Expert) on…
…Keito Nakamura (before the game): “He’s always on the go. He recognizes spaces and is a goal threat. He understands the game, everything that’s up front. He recognizes situations very early and is diligent. A top player, of course. I really love him because he can always bring something to the game. That’s why he’s a very important factor in the Linz game.”
…the game: “The first half hour was characterized by taking little risk and reacting to what the opponent had done really well a few days earlier. LASK then showed a different face after the first half, although they fell behind. There was more of what we saw on Thursday. In the second half, LASK was there as it should be.”
“Was the last chance that LASK can think towards second place”
…die Ambitions of LASK in the master group: “Didi Kühbauer’s joy says a lot. When he’s in that mood, it was a very important game. That was the last chance that they can think towards second place. On the other hand, it’s a real cushion on 4th place. Life is a little easier there.”
ADMIRAL Bundesliga, 24th round, 2nd round in the master group
Easter Sunday, April 9th, 2023, 5 p.m., Raiffeisen Arena Linz, Z: , SR: Julian Weinberger
LASK – SK Puntigamer Sturm Graz 2:1 (0:0)
Torfolge: 0:1 Prass (50., Kopfball, Assist Ajeti), 1:1 Mustapha (72.), 2:1 Nakamura (79., Mustapha).
See also GAME REPORT
Photo credit: Harald Dostal/www.sport-bilder.at