Close Defeat in First Test Match

All three new signings were included in the starting lineup for the first test match of the winter preparations. Mohamed Sanogo and Ismaila Coulibaly occupied the central midfield positions, while Samuel Adeniran partnered with Marin Ljubicic as the strike duo. Additionally, Modou Keba Cisse and Wesley Frimpong, two young players from the second team, were given the chance to start. Melayro Bogarde and Hrvoje Smolcic sat out due to minor injuries.

The Hungarian side got off to the better start, showing great intensity off the ball, pressing high, and applying significant pressure on the Athletiker. This was likely due in part to their fresher legs, as LASK had just completed 12 intense training sessions in the past few days in Belek. Meanwhile, the Hungarian league's fifth-placed team, Paksi FC, had only arrived at the Turkish Riviera on Tuesday.

The team from Paks displayed quicker reactions for the opening goal: a quick throw-in down LASK's left defensive side, where Norbert Konyves escaped his marker in the middle and slotted the ball into the net for 0-1 (23’). Just five minutes later, an unfortunate headed back-pass landed at the feet of Roland Varga. Although Tobias Lawal initially made an excellent save, Varga scored on the rebound. LASK created some chances after half an hour, first through a shot by Sascha Horvath and then following a surge by Adeniran. However, the Hungarians struck again just before halftime, as Konyves found himself one-on-one with Tobias Lawal and calmly made it 0-3.

Apart from Enis Safin, who replaced Coulibaly as planned after 30 minutes, head coach Markus Schopp rotated the entire squad at halftime. The Athletiker showed a noticeable improvement in their performance, starting the second half with energy and creating early offensive chances. Robert Zulj came close but was denied by the opposing keeper after a cross from Mustapha, and Maximilian Entrup narrowly missed the target seconds later (49’). Ibrahim Mustapha also headed a Zulj cross just wide in the 57th minute.

As planned, Ivan Ljubic entered the match for the final 30 minutes. During this period, LASK managed to score their long-overdue first goal. Mustapha delivered a perfectly timed pass to his strike partner Entrup, who calmly slotted it in to make it 1-3 (72’). In injury time, Entrup added another goal, converting after a deflected shot from Mustapha to bring the final score to 2-3 (92’).

LASK will play their second test match on January 21 at 3:00 PM at the voestalpine Stadium in Pasching against Admira Wacker.

LASK - Paksi FC 2:3 (0:3)
Maxx Royal Resort, Belek
Goals: 0-1 Konyves (23’), 0-2 Varga (28’), 0-3 Konyves (42’), 1-3 Entrup (72’), 2-3 Entrup (92’)

LASK Lineup – First Half: Lawal – Jovicic (C), Ziereis, Cisse, Frimpong – Horvath, Sanogo, Coulibaly (31’ Safin), Flecker – Adeniran, Ljubicic
LASK Lineup – Second Half: Siebenhandl – Brkic, Midzic, Talovierov, Bello (C) – Zulj, Sulzner, Safin (60’ Ljubic), Taoui – Mustapha, Entrup