First Goal, Starting Lineup Debut, and 100 Games

"In the second half, the pressure was so immense that we simply had to reward ourselves. I'm happy for the team and for Robert because it was an extremely important goal," head coach Markus Schopp reflected on the last-minute victory against WSG Tirol. Linz's late-game power is no exception: they have already collected 17 points from losing positions this season. Unsurprisingly, their spring record highlights their athletic progress. With 11 points and no defeats, LASK is the league’s most in-form team since the restart. Captain Philipp Ziereis is well aware of the trend: "We have a very deep squad and the quality to keep pushing. That speaks for us as a team – and we want to keep going. We've proven many times that we can beat anyone."

"Ivan Ljubic had double the reason to celebrate. His equalizer in the 42nd minute marked his first goal for LASK. 'The cross came into the six-yard box, deflected, and I struck it directly—caught it really well,' the 28-year-old described his goal. He knew in advance that the game would be challenging, but determination proved to be the key to success: 'We never gave up and dominated throughout the match. It’s a great feeling for the team, and we need to carry that into the next game.'"

The second shining star of the evening was starting lineup debutant Krystof Danek. The performance of the 22-year-old winter signing was well received by his coach: "He is a fantastic young player who has everything: technique, speed, and a strong left foot. Krystof is at an important stage in his career, and we want to support him along the way. He works incredibly hard and brings a lot of creativity to our game."

Tobias Lawal and Branko Jovicic have made more appearances. Lawal celebrated his 50th Bundesliga match against WSG, while Branko Jovicic marked his 100th competitive game for LASK.

Despite the positive atmosphere in the Linz camp, the job is far from done. The team eagerly anticipates the upcoming away game against SK Sturm Graz. "That’s the nature of this competition—there’s such excitement in the 22nd round. I’ve been in this situation many times," sums up head coach Markus Schopp, who looks ahead confidently to the match in Graz. "The team knows we can win against any opponent."