LASK Back to Winning Ways

In his first home game as LASK coach, Markus Schopp entrusted Marco Sulzner with a starting spot right from the beginning. The 21-year-old homegrown player, who came through the club's academy, celebrated his first Bundesliga start after previously making four brief appearances for the first team in 2022.

After a cautious start from both sides, LASK became dangerous for the first time in their first Bundesliga clash with GAK since 2001, following a corner. Robert Zulj found Hrvoje Smolcic, who was unmarked for a header but narrowly missed the target (13th minute). Moments later, Valon Berisha was more precise: after combining with Zulj and a quick cutback, he scored to make it 1-0 for the Black-Whites – his first league goal for LASK!

The lead gave the hosts a boost as they increasingly took control of the match. They managed to move the ball around well at times, while still keeping pressure in the final third. This approach was rewarded with a second goal: after a cross towards the far post, George Bello was brought down, prompting referee Julian Weinberger to award a penalty following an on-field review. Marin Ljubicic calmly converted the penalty to make it 2-0, marking his third goal of the season. However, the newly promoted side from Graz remained dangerous and pulled one back after half an hour with a deflected shot from Romeo Vucic, reducing the score to 2-1.

After the break, the team from Styria fought their way back into the game and managed to equalize LASK's lead. Following a cross from the left, the ball deflected off Berisha in a defensive effort and ended up in the net—leveling the score at 2-2 after 50 minutes. Head coach Markus Schopp responded with a triple substitution, bringing on Filip Stojkovic, Maksym Talovierov, and Adil Taoui. The changes paid off when a precise diagonal ball from Hrvoje Smolcic found Stojkovic, who set up Ljubicic in the center to slot in for 3-2. While the assistant referee initially raised the flag for offside, the VAR review overturned the decision, putting LASK back in the lead (63rd minute).

Immediately after, Maximilian Entrup replaced captain Zulj, marking his official debut for the Upper Austrians. In stoppage time, Entrup made an impact by delivering a perfect through ball to Taoui, who secured the final 4-2 scoreline. With this result, LASK celebrated their second win of the season.

LASK – GAK 4:2 (2:1)
Raiffeisen Arena, 13,000 spectators, Referee: Weinberger
Goals: 1-0 Berisha (14'), 2-0 Ljubicic (22'/P), 2-1 Vucic (30'), 2-2 Berisha (50'/OG), 3-2 Ljubicic (63'), 4-2 Taoui (95')
Yellow cards: Jovicic, Taoui, Bello, Talovierov

LASK lineup: Siebenhandl – Bogarde (56' Stojkovic), Ziereis, Smolcic, Bello – Sulzner (56' Talovierov), Jovicic – Usor, Zulj (C, 65' Entrup), Berisha (56' Taoui) – Ljubicic (80' Renner)