Bundesliga

Wolfsberger AC vs Blau-Weiß Linz – 5pm LIVE

Great jubilation at BW Linz

(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

Blau-Weiß Linz will remain in the Bundesliga next season. On Saturday, with three rounds to go, the promoted team secured a 2-0 (1-0) away win at WAC in the qualifying group to ensure their mathematical survival. In addition to their own three points, the decisive factor was that bottom club Austria Lustenau were held to a 0-0 draw at WSG Tirol in the parallel match. As a result, Wattener will also remain in the top flight for another year.

Simon Seidl scored in the 6th minute to give Blau-Weiß the lead at half-time after a major defensive error. In the second half, the Upper Austrians scored another quick goal - Alexander Briedl (55') rewarded himself for a good performance with his first goal of the season. Eighth-placed WAC were weak and uninspired for long stretches and were unable to add to their tally. Linz moved up to ninth in the table with their second win of the week after Tuesday's 2-1 win against Altach. They are now ten points clear of Lustenau.

Controversial scene at the start
The hectic opening phase in the Lavanttal-Arena had its first controversial scene after just one minute. Linz goalgetter Ronivaldo and WAC goalkeeper Lukas Gütlbauer were in an infight in the Carinthian penalty area and the Brazilian was brought down after a hard contact. However, the VAR did not want to see a valid reason to overturn the decision on the pitch and recommend a penalty.

In the 4th minute, Alem Pasic's lack of concentration in the opposite penalty area almost proved costly. After an unusual misplaced pass by the blue-and-white player, Augustine Boakye found himself in the penalty area with his back to goal, but fortunately for the visitors, his long-range shot lacked sharpness. Just under two minutes later, Linz took the lead after WAC defender Cheick Diabaté played a back pass into the space in front of his goal. This became an invitation for the onrushing Seidl, who rounded Gütlbauer and shot in to make it 1:0.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

The WAC only managed a few coherent and constructive offensive actions in the first half, and the error rate in defense remained high. The Whites, who were only visually superior, often took too long to get the ball to a teammate. Shortly after the break, Boakye (49') tested Nicolas Schmid in the Upper Austrian goal - but that was not an omen that a sustained improvement in performance was to follow.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Six minutes later, the Linzers won the ball on the left thanks to energetic tackling and then moved forward quickly. With a bit of luck, the ball came to Briedl via Seidl, who played his way into the penalty area and finished with a left-footed shot. WAC coach Manfred Schmid then made his fourth substitution, but even the changes were unable to change the picture on the pitch. Coach Gerald Scheiblehner's team played out the victory with concentration and composure.

The final score:
Wolfsberger AC - FC Blau-Weiß Linz 0:2 (0:1)
Wolfsberg, Lavanttal-Arena, 2,200, referee Ciochirca.

Goals: 0:1 (6.) Seidl, 0:2 (55.) Briedl

WAC: Gütlbauer - Diabate (34. Piesinger), Omic (46. Scharfetter), Baumgartner - Veratschnig, Tijani (77. P. Müller), Leitgeb (46. Altunashvili), Scherzer - Jasic (60. Karamoko) - Ballo, Boakye

BW Linz: Schmid - Schantl (60. Mitrovic), Maranda, Fa. Strauss, Pirkl - Dobras (60. Mensah), Pasic, Briedl (65. Krainz) - S. Seidl, Ronivaldo (83. Feiertag), Noß (63. Ibrahimi)

Yellow cards: Omic, Jasic, Baumgartner, Veratschnig or Ronivaldo, Krainz