LASK Celebrates Late Victory at Tivoli

With one change compared to their 4-0 victory over Austria Klagenfurt before the international break, LASK started the match, giving Marin Ljubičić the nod as center forward instead of Maximilian Entrup. The Linz team initially struggled to find their rhythm and gain control of the game. This became evident on the scoreboard after 16 minutes when Cem Üstündag capitalized on a turnover at midfield and fired a shot that found the back of the net.

In an otherwise uneventful match up to that point, it took LASK over half an hour to gain momentum, enjoying longer spells of possession and pressing towards the opponent's goal. After a nice combination involving Robert Žulj and Florian Flecker, Ljubičić was denied by WSG keeper Adam Stejskal with a back-heel effort (32'). Eight minutes later, LASK was fully back in the game: following a long pass, Valon Berisha won the second ball, outplayed his defender, and scored into the far corner to make it 1-1. It was the offensive player's second goal of the season, following his strike against GAK. Just before the break, LASK had two more good chances, with Robert Žulj's effort and a header by Filip Stojković both going over the crossbar.

The second half began with a substitution as goalkeeper Jörg Siebenhandl could not continue after a collision in the first half. In his place, 20-year-old Lukas Jungwirth made his debut for LASK's first team in the top division. The U21 national team player had little to do early on, as clear chances remained rare for both sides. The only notable moment came in the 56th minute when Tirol goalkeeper Stejskal had to make a save from a sharp-angle shot by Bello.

Head coach Markus Schopp made several changes throughout the second half, introducing Lenny Pintor, Adil Taoui, Maximilian Entrup, and Melayro Bogarde. Towards the end of the match, LASK increased the pressure significantly, getting much closer to securing the win than their opponents. The best chances came from Entrup, who narrowly missed the far post (77'), and Maksym Talovierov, whose header landed on top of the net (81'). Then, three minutes before the final whistle, the breakthrough: after a shot from Žulj, Entrup was on hand to slot home, scoring his second goal of the season to secure the late winner! With this victory, LASK extended their unbeaten run to six competitive matches, and after their fourth win of the season, they are back in close contact with the top six of the Bundesliga.

WSG Tirol 1-2 LASK (1-1)
Tivoli, Referee: Kijas
Goals: 1-0 Üstündag (16'), 1-1 Berisha (40'), 1-2 Entrup (87')
Yellow cards: Lawrence, Sulzbacher, Blume

LASK lineup: Siebenhandl (46' Jungwirth) – Stojković, Ziereis, Talovierov, Bello – Horvath, Jovićic (80' Bogarde) – Flecker (54' Pintor), Žulj, Berisha (54' Taoui) – Ljubičić (70' Entrup)