Thus, the gap between the table ninth from Upper Austria and the top six is three points after 19 rounds. Fourth in Klagenfurt is five points away. Striker Marko Raguz was outstanding in the Linz outfit. The 23-year-old, who was recently injured, was able to celebrate his first league goal since September 27, 2020 in the 14th minute and also prepared the second LASK goal by Branko Jovicic (76th).
The hosts were already outnumbered after a yellow-red card for Peter Michorl (64th). Thorsten Mahrer (73rd) and Turgay Gemicibasi (91st/penalty kick) scored for the Klagenfurt team, who was ruled out in the finish after an attack in the 96th minute.
Late compensation costs LASK victory
LASK suffered a setback in the fight for the Bundesliga championship group on Sunday. The Upper Austrians did not get more than a 2:2 draw against newly promoted Austria Klagenfurt despite leading twice and increasing their chances. The draw turned out to be quite turbulent, as there were two exclusions and the compensation for Klagenfurt only in the 91st minute with a penalty.
LASK lacks efficiency
Although the Klagenfurt team had the first dangerous action, they didn’t really finish when Patrick Greil and Markus Pink (12th) had a double chance. From a playful point of view, however, the guests were inferior and also fell behind. After a Potzmann cross, Raguz, who had recovered from a cruciate ligament rupture, had too much space on the five and was able to head in.
Only the lack of efficiency subsequently prevented a higher leadership. Thomas Goiginger missed the shot (31′), Raguz scored an offside goal (33′) and lifted the ball just wide of the goal (38′) after taking the ball that was well worth seeing. In added time, Ivan Saravanja’s shot from Holland was deflected over the goal.
Three goals in a turbulent finish
After the restart, the home side continued to control events, but the second goal didn’t want to fall. Raguz, who was involved in almost all dangerous actions, hit the crossbar with a header after Michorl’s corner (54′) and took a direct shot from a short distance next to the goal (57′). Since Michorl saw the traffic light card a short time later because of repeated foul play, there was tension again in the game.
Kosmas Gkezos (68′) came close to equalizing with a header. It fell five minutes later. After a Greil corner and Gkezos header, Pink put his thigh up for Mahrer, who scored. However, Linz struck back immediately. After a cross, Raguz put it back to Jovicic, who had just come on as a substitute, and who hit the outside of the corner in the corner. Florian Flecker failed to fix the victory and failed at Philipp Menzel (88th).
That paid off. Felix Luckenender, who came just before, brought down Gkezos in the penalty area and referee Markus Hameter awarded a penalty, which Gemicibasi converted safely. The fact that the scorer saw red after an attack on Florian Flecker was no longer significant. Coach Peter Pacult was able to celebrate an important point in his 200th game as Bundesliga coach and after losing the Uniqa ÖFB Cup against Guntamatic Ried.
Comments on the game:
Andrew Wieland (LASK trainer): “The belief in the top six is still there. There are three points behind, but it is clear that the opponents will not become easier in the rest of the program. I saw a very playful LASK in the first half. What annoys me are the two goals conceded and how they came about. From my first perspective, Felix (Luckeneder, note) doesn’t need to attack with the pace, but I also think that the Klagenfurt player went down very early.”
To exclude Michorl: “Due to stupidity, the game tipped over, so we lose our work. We will address this internally.”
Peter Pacult (Klagenfurt coach): “We knew from the start that LASK didn’t belong in the table region and had a strong team. We were prepared for the pressure they are exerting. We didn’t find the thread until the second half to annoy Linz a bit. At half-time we said we had to be more biting and aggressive on the ball and in tackles. It was an open game until the end.”
Admiral Bundesliga, 19th round
Sunday:
LASK – Austria Klagenfurt 2: 2 (1: 0)
Pasching, Raiffeisen Arena, 2,229 spectators, SR Hameter
goal sequence:
1:0 Raguz (14.)
1: 1 Mahrer (73.)
2:1 Jovicic (76.)
2:2 Gemicibasi (91./Elfmeter)LASK: Schlager – Potzmann, Boller, Twardzik (64./Wiesinger), Renner – Holland (63./Jovicic), Horvath (89./Luckeneder), Michorl – Flecker, Raguz, Goiginger (79./Gruber)
Klagenfurt: Menzel – Gkezos, Mahrer, Saravanja – Timossi Andersson, Cvetko (63./Roberts), Gemicibasi, Greil, Schumacher (87./Jaritz) – Pink, Rieder (49. Fridrikas / 87. / Pecirep)
Rote Karte: Gemicibasi (96th)
Yellow-red card: Michorl (64.)
Yellow cards: Schlager or Cvetko
The best: Raguz, Twardzik, Holland and Gkezos, Gemicibasi, Greil
