0:0 – LASK could feel like a winner after the draw in Salzburg

It was an absolutely well-deserved point that Bundesliga club LASK took from 0-0 at leaders Salzburg on Sunday – and was able to make the title race really exciting again. Because Sturm Graz celebrated a 2-0 win in Klagenfurt, the Styrians can convert the current two-point deficit into a lead in the next round with a win against Salzburg.

For LASK, the point in the fight for third place can still be worth its weight in gold. Two weeks ago, no one would have thought it possible that after the duels against Sturm and Salzburg the lead over fourth place (currently Rapid) would be extended to four points. Or maybe there is more? “If we continue our performances from the games in the master group, then a lot is still possible,” said LASK goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, who rarely had to intervene in Salzburg – but surpassed himself in the few actions. Schlager: “It was balanced, both teams neutralized each other well, even if there were one or two breakaways.” Even superior at the beginning, the Black and Whites went beyond the pain limit in the second half to capture the point in the (few) tricky situations at the end.

Striker Ibrahim Mustapha hobbled to the fans after the game, Moses Usor’s calf was heavily bandaged. And Marvin Potzmann had already been substituted just before the end after he had persevered after lengthy injury treatment.

LASK trainer Didi Kühbauer was badly hit personally before the game. The suspended Filip Stojkovic was joined by Sascha Horvath (ill) and Branko Jovicic (injured). Above all, the change options on the bench were limited – because LASK was there on the field from the first minute. A Salzburg storm was expected – after sports director Christoph Freund had given an incendiary speech after Salzburg’s 3: 3 against Austria.

No Salzburg fireworks

One was far away from a Salzburg fireworks display. LASK scored the only goal in the game: After 20 minutes, Maksym Talowyerow scored with a volley worth seeing to make it supposedly 1-0. Bitter: Philipp Ziereis was offside on the cross in front of it. The central defender didn’t touch the ball, but still intervened in the game. LASK keeper Schlager only had to intervene against Sesko at the end of the first half (47th). After the break, the two teams largely neutralized each other. In the finish, Schlager was the first to save against Adamu before Potzmann was able to clear the ball just before the line (80′). In the 92nd minute, Schlager held the point again against Adamu. LASK trainer Kühbauer: “Before the break, the last precision was missing to take the lead. After the break we weren’t that good in the game, but we still allowed very little.”