Game turned around

LASK against Altach LIVE from 5pm

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

SCR Altach surprisingly took all three points in their away match at LASK. The Vorarlberg side, who got off to a weak start to the season, won 2:1 (1:1) in the second round in Linz on Saturday. 

The omens could not have been more different before kick-off. On the one hand, the European Cup participants, for whom head coach Thomas Darazs brought only one new man into the starting eleven after the successful start in Hartberg with central defender Hrvoje Smolcic. On the other side were Altacher, where Joachim Standfest was confronted with shouts of "coach out" from the fans after the first round. This was followed by an analysis with sporting director Roland Kirchler at the start of the week. He said on Sky before the game: "We have decided that we will continue with 'Joki' and see what the next results are."

Joachim Standfest

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Robert Zulj (18th) gave the Upper Austrians a fully deserved lead, but the visitors equalized through Gustavo Santos (27th). The Brazilian added his third goal of the season in the second half (69'). Linz were unable to find an answer.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

LASK did not spend long feeling the ball out. Altach, who came in with a backline of three, soon found themselves forced deep into their own half of the pitch. The Athletiker's first top chance came after just a few minutes when Mohamed Ouedraogo smothered a shot from Zulj off the line (7'). Santos, who started in place of Lukas Fridrikas, then scored for the visitors, but was offside. The Linzers, who were particularly strong down the wings, finally took the lead through Zulj after an ideal feed from Moses Usor. It was not clear from the TV footage whether the goalscorer was offside.

Thomas Darazs

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

The decision
The game was over after 20 minutes for Altach's Sandro Ingolitsch, who walked off the pitch slightly dazed in the oppressive heat. From there, he saw his team-mates strike out of nowhere with help from others. Sascha Horvath's backpass landed in Santos' path, the 28-year-old rounded Philipp Ziereis and made it 1:1. Linz tried to react immediately. However, a brilliant save by Dejan Stojanovic in the Altach goal from a shot by Branko Jovicic prevented the home side from retaking the lead. They remained in control of the game until the break.

Altach came back much better. Oliver Strunz missed a cross from Vesel Demaku in the center. Santos scored for the third time (for the time being) minutes later, but was offside again (56'). LASK now struggled to find their line against a compact Vorarlberg defense. Things were about to get even better for Standfest and his team. Fridrikas, who had only come on as a substitute seconds earlier, sent Santos on his way. LASK keeper Tobias Lawal came out of his box, but was unable to stop the attacker - Santos slotted home.

The double scorer went down with cramps immediately after his goal and was substituted. Altach acted with much more confidence and hardly conceded anything. Linz did not create any real goalscoring opportunities for a long time in the second half. Substitute Adil Taoui shot past the far corner (87') before Stojanovic saved a Ljubicic shot seconds before the final whistle (95').

LASK - SCR Altach 1:2 (1:1)
Linz, Raiffeisen Arena,
11,400 spectators, refereed by Altmann

Goals:
1:0 (18.) Zulj
1:1 (27.) Santos
1:2 (69.) Santos

LASK: Lawal - Bogarde, Ziereis, Smolcic, Bello (91. Tibidi) - Horvath, B. Jovicic - Usor (82. Pintor), Zulj, Berisha (68. Taoui) - Ljubicic

Altach: Stojanovic - Estrada, L. Gugganig, Koller - Ingolitsch (21. Kronberger), Demaku, Bähre (68. Jäger), Ouedraogo - Strunz, Santos (72. Bahloul), Fadinger (68. Fridrikas)

Yellow cards: Ziereis or Bähre, Santos, Strunz, Kronberger