This top Bundesliga game was the best advertisement for Austrian football and, for neutral observers, it should have lasted longer than 94 minutes. After the 2:2 (0:2) between series champion FC Salzburg and the three-point leader SK Sturm in front of 17,062 visitors, the title race is still open with three rounds to go. If there is a tie on points at the end, the “Red Bulls” would be ahead due to the direct duels. But it’s not that far yet.
“We play a good first half, can make it 3-0, but fail to close the thing. That’s bitter,” said Hellmonsödter Alexander Prass, double goalscorer for Graz. The 22-year-old midfielder believes his team is still on the right track towards becoming champions, which is also what the 2,000 Sturm fans who traveled with him and chanted “We will be champions” following the final whistle.
Salzburg also still has the courage to do anything: “Giving up is a letter. I’m very proud of how we fought back,” said national goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, who had to reach behind himself following just 45 seconds. “That was of course semi-optimal and made things more difficult,” explained the former LASK captain. After 34 minutes it was even 0:2, 180 seconds later it was almost 0:3 (37th) – Mika Biereth ran towards Schlager alone.
Of course, the walls in the Salzburg dressing room shook during the break. A reaction was needed – and it came: Dorgeles Nene (72nd) and Karim Konaté (82nd) equalized. And when you look at the statistics, it was well deserved: 66:34 percent ball possession, 8:1 corners, 24:8 shots.
LASK, which will face both top teams, can tip the scales in the title duel. In the penultimate round (May 12th, 5 p.m.) Sturm will come to the Raiffeisen Arena, and in the last round (May 19th, 5 p.m.) the athletes will be in Salzburg.
Author
Alexander Zambarloukos
Sports editor
Alexander Zambarloukos
