Clear thing

LASK against Hartberg from 14.30 LIVE

Entrup celebrates his goal to make it 2:0.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

One week after the successful debut of the coaching duo Thomas Darazs and Maximilian Ritscher, LASK suffered an unexpected home defeat after a disappointing performance. The team from Linz lost 3:1 (0:2) to TSV Hartberg in the championship group of the Bundesliga on Sunday and failed to pull away from Rapid in the battle for third place. 

The chance for revenge comes on Wednesday (18:30) in Hartberg.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

LASK dominated the game with the same starting eleven as last weekend's victory over champions Salzburg. However, they lacked determination and assertiveness in front of goal. The only big chance in the first half was emblematic of this, when the Athletiker were too awkward after winning the ball in the sixteen (5th minute).

Thomas Darazs

(Bild: APA/EXPA/UWE WINTER)

Hartberg tried their hand at quick counter-attacks, which often brought danger and, thanks to their efficiency, a 2:0 lead at the break. A shot from Donis Avdijaj missed the target (3), but the second shot was on target. Jürgen Heil looked for Maximilian Entrup with a cross, which the ÖFB striker failed to reach, but the ball turned into the far corner (22'). Entrup added to his tally shortly before the break, beating two defenders in the penalty area and firing home dryly (44').

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

An unfortunate action by Raphael Sallinger gave LASK hope. The TSV goalkeeper came out of the goal, but too late against Florian Flecker, who shot in to make it 1:2 (57'). But the visitors from Styria remained the more dangerous team. Entrup failed to beat LASK goalkeeper Tobias Lawal (68'), an Avdijaj long-range shot towards an empty goal missed the target (73'), but then a joker struck. 40 seconds after coming on as a substitute, Dominik Prokop scored from close range after Frieser's cross (75').

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

LASK, whose fans carried out the announced boycott, remain winless against Hartberg since June 2020, a run of eleven games. The Swiss Whites remain just two points ahead of Rapid in third place, which is good for a place in the Europa League qualifiers. Hartberg moved to within one point of Rapid with their first win in two months and are back in the fight for an international starting place.

LASK - TSV Hartberg 1:3 (0:2)
Linz, Raiffeisen Arena
10,300, referee Barmaksiz.

Goals: 
0:1 (22.) Heil 
0:2 (44.) Entrup 
1:2 (57.) Flecker 
1:3 (75.) Prokop

LASK: Lawal - Ziereis, Andrade, Luckeneder (81. Talowjerow) - Stojkovic, Jovicic (32. Horvath), Berisha (81. Taoui), Bello - Usor (64. Pintor), Ljubicic (81. Havel), Flecker

Hartberg: Sallinger - Heil, Komposch, Bowat, Pfeifer - Kainz (92nd Diakite) - Frieser (84th Steinwender), Avdijaj (92nd Brückner), Sangare (84th Halwachs), Fillafer (74th Prokop) - Entrup

Yellow cards: Bello, Ziereis, Horvath, Ljubicic, coach Darasz or Komposch, Fillafer

Quotes:

Thomas Darasz (LASK coach): "Unfortunately, almost as if I had conjured it up, we didn't come up with many ideas on how to get into the penalty area. That had nothing to do with will or attitude. Now we have to recover well and see how we can use our resources on Wednesday to get the three points back that we let slip today."

Markus Schopp (Hartberg coach): "It was a really good game from second one, I think the result was okay. The team's mentality was geared towards winning. We were incredibly flexible today. I want to be in the running for the highest possible place, it will be a very close race, so it was important to set an example. This moment is great and should whet our appetite for more. We should take another step on Wednesday to dream of bigger things."