Strong Austria beat LASK 2-1

Austria dominated LASK in the 4th round of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga, but the Linzers capitalised on their first chance to take a surprise lead through Marin Ljubičić. Maurice Malone equalised just one minute later. The Violets pushed for the win and captain Manfred Fischer made the Generali-Arena shake with the 2-1 in the 87th minute. Austria deserved to win against LASK in the end.

Stephan Helm made no changes to the starting XI after the draw in Hartberg, sticking with the back four. Marvin Potzmann, Marvin Martins and Hakim Guenouche returned to team training this week, but were not yet in the squad.

Robert Zulj was absent due to his broken nose and goalkeeper Tobias Lawal was also out injured - Linz were without two absolute mainstays today. Centre-back Hrvoje Smolčić was another regular missing and was replaced by Filip Stojković. Jörg Siebenhandl was in goal, while Enes Safin, who trained at Austria, made his Bundesliga debut in the starting eleven.

LASK took the lead, Malone equalised immediately

After an emotional minute of mourning for the recently deceased championship coach Christoph Daum, Austria got off to a very dominant start. The ball was in the net in the very first minute following a corner kick from Dominik Fitz. Maurice Malone scored with his head, but referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca saw a foul on the German Austria striker. A shot from Fitz narrowly missed the target and Nik Prelec missed a header after a Fitz cross (3', 5'). Prelec had another chance after a counter-attack, but was stopped at the last moment by Filip Stojković (7'). The game continued in the same vein, Malone was brought down in the penalty area - but no penalty was awarded (11'). Andreas Gruber scored another goal in the 17th minute, but was offside when Prelec played him in (17').

Completely against the run of play, however, LASK took the lead to the horror of the 11,788 spectators in the Generali-Arena. Marin Ljubičić capitalised on a mistake by Vienna during the build-up and made it 0-1 (19'). The Violets, playing in their new away kit today, were not fazed for a second and equalised just one minute later. Maurice Malone headed in Andi Gruber's cross and this time the goal counted - 1-1 (20').

After that, both teams slowed down the pace of the game. Andreas Gruber finished with his heel after a free-kick from Dominik Fitz, but the ball went well over (38'). Towards the end of the first half, the Athletics also had a chance to score: a shot from Moses Usor was deflected out for a corner, from which Philipp Ziereis created a chance - Samuel Şahin-Radlinger was on hand (44‘, 45’). The teams went into the half-time break at 1-1.

Fischer scored for the acclaimed home win

Austria also had more of the play at the start of the second half, but a volley from Manfred Fischer after a corner from Fitz went over the goal, as did a shot from Malone after a cross from Prelec (49‘, 52’). Malone was denied by Siebenhandl shortly afterwards and a Stangl pass from Gruber after a great move went past friend and foe (56', 58'). LASK missed a chance through Ljubičić, while a long-range shot from Gruber fizzed narrowly wide of the far corner (60', 61'). Dominik Fitz had a great chance to make it 2-1 after an assist from Malone, but Siebenhandl had his hand on the ball and prevented the well-earned Violet lead (65').

Stephan Helm made a change with 20 minutes remaining: Tin Plavotić and Cristiano came on for Matteo Pérez Vinlöf and Nik Prelec. Substitute Adil Taoui tested Samuel Şahin-Radlinger in the 80th minute, but our goalkeeper had few problems. At the other end, Abubakr Barry put a cross from Reinhold Ranftl on target and Jörg Siebenhandl had to stretch himself (83'). The captain's moment came in the 87th minute: Manfred Fischer latched onto a misplaced Linz defence with his chest, outpaced Maksym Talovierov and scored into the far corner - 2-1 for Austria!

Muharem Husković replaced the strong Andi Gruber in stoppage time and David Ewemade celebrated his Bundesliga debut. He came on for Maurice Malone. The score remained unchanged and Austria celebrated a deserved victory over LASK.

Austria Wien - LASK 2:1 (1:1)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Ranftl, Dragović, Galvão, Pérez Vinlöf (72' Plavotić); Fischer, Barry; Gruber (90+1' Husković), Fitz, Malone (90+4' Ewemade); Prelec (72' Cristiano)

LASK: Siebenhandl; Bogarde (89' Pintor), Ziereis, Stojković, Bello (56' Galvez); Jovičić (73' Boateng), Safin (56' Talovierov); Usor, Horvath, Berisha (73' Taoui); Ljubičić

Goals: Malone (20'), Fischer (87'); Ljubičić (19')

Yellow cards: Fischer (41'); Stojković (77')

Generali-Arena, referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca, 11,788 spectators