FC Blau-Weiß Linz has forgotten how to win in the Bundesliga: Coach Gerald Scheiblehner’s team remains winless for the seventh game in a row and lost 1-2 to Wiener Austria. This means the lead over bottom-placed Austria Lustenau (1-1 at Rapid) is now just twelve points – following the points are halved next week it would currently be six.
After the game, there was one scene in particular that was discussed: Andreas Gruber’s long-range shot to make it 1-2 a few seconds before the break was nice, but Blue and White goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid was blocked when the shot was shot by an Austria player who was passively offside adjusted. The goal still counted following the VAR check, which is mandatory for every goal. Referee Petru Chiocirca had originally awarded the goal. Blue and White coach Gerald Scheiblehner: “I just don’t have the line. Sometimes it counts, sometimes it doesn’t…”
But his team also had to blame itself for being 0-1 behind following four minutes: After a throw-in, Blue and White defender Manuel Maranda unintentionally passed the ball to the guests during a duel, Hakim Guenouche fed Dominik Fitz, who ran from the penalty area into the net Long corner hit – 0:1.
Blau-Weiß gave everything, striker Ronivaldo had to continue playing with a turban following a collision with an Austria player. The Brazilian literally woke up his teammates: following several minutes of treatment, the attacker came back onto the pitch and continued to throw himself into every aerial duel, infecting his teammates. Like Fabio Strauss, who won the ball once morest Andreas Gruber in his own half and immediately switched: The defender fed Conor Noß, who scored the equalizer with the first real action of the game. Luck was also involved when he finished: Austria defender Johannes Handl deflected the shot from 14 meters into the goal.
The goal didn’t help Scheiblehner’s team at all: the guests took command once more – and scored through Andreas Gruber to make it 1:2 (45th). Scheiblehner: “We generally can’t be satisfied with the first half.”
Video: Blue and White goalscorer Conor Noß in an interview:
Stronger following halftime
Things got better following the break. Ronivaldo and Paul Mensah had the equalizer in the 53rd minute: First Austria’s goalkeeper Früchtl saved, Austria’s Handl scratched the follow-up shot off the line. In the end it wasn’t enough – also because Austria’s Galvao was allowed to stay on the pitch following 73 minutes, even though he should have seen yellow-red.
Goalscorer Conor Noß mightn’t really be happy regarding his goal following the defeat. “The goals we conceded were crucial. Above all, the 1:2 so close before the break was very bitter. We were still very committed, which is why we are particularly disappointed because more would have been possible. Now we have a very important game once morest Lustenau next week.” The motto there is: “No losing” – because otherwise the Blue-Whites’ lead over the bottom of the table would even be four points following the points are divided – if the number of points is odd, they are rounded down to reduce.
Author
Raphael Watzinger
Sports editor
Raphael Watzinger
