Goal in the 82nd minute: Captain Robert Zulj redeemed LASK

The LASK fans were put to the test of patience today in the Raiffeisen Arena on the Linzer Gugl. This time there was a happy ending for the athletes, who beat SCR Altach 1-0 (0-0) in the Bundesliga. The gold scorer was captain Robert Zulj, who skillfully received a pass from Thomas Goiginger, who was in the starting line-up, in the penalty area in the 82nd minute, turned and caught goalkeeper Dejan Stojanovic on the wrong foot with his relatively central shot.

It was hard work for LASK, who had to do without Felix Luckeneder, Sascha Horvath, Branko Jovicic and Lenny Pintor. After all, in front of 9,800 eyewitnesses, there was a threat of the next zero number after the 0-1 defeat in the Europa League on Thursday in Toulouse, because the Vorarlberg team put up bitter resistance and had some good opportunities. The Black and White Aluminum saved twice (Jan Jurcec/3rd, Dominik Reiter/78th), otherwise goalie Tobias Lawal was always on the job and was one of the fathers of the victory with outstanding saves.

Peter Michorl, who was recently assigned to the amateurs, received a particularly large amount of applause when he came on as a substitute for Ebrima Darboe in central midfield in the 58th minute. Ultimately, a system change was also successful: the golden goal came just seconds after LASK coach Thomas Sageder switched from a three-man to a four-man chain by bringing in Filip Stojkovic.

LASK, who were dominant after the break but too difficult at times, defended third place in the table; for the compact Altach team it was their first defeat after four unbeaten competitive games.

“We were rewarded for a lot of effort in a very difficult game,” Zulj said happily: “The three points are important. We – the team and the staff – believed in it today when some people didn’t believe it.”

Michorl: “I belong there too”

“Incredibly nice, it gives me an incredible amount to be able to be on the pitch again,” said returnee Michorl: “I think that’s where I belong too. I think that I justified it and gave the team structure. I “I’m taking it as an opportunity,” the Viennese added: “It’s not an easy situation for me – I’m in top shape and in my prime as a footballer. I’m ready for LASK, I have different demands.”

Goiginger was relieved: “It was very, very important. Now it’s the international break, we really wanted to win and we gave it our all.” That was exactly what Coach Sageder wanted: “We showed patience and stayed calm. Luck is simply part of it, we didn’t have it recently. Ultimately, we deserved to be winners because, in my opinion, we controlled the match.”

Sageder: “I always say to my team, we will need every player this season. Peter Michorl is there when we need him. He also helps to develop young players. Working with the team is a lot of fun, all goals for the season are still available.”

Altach striker Atdhe Nuhiu was disappointed with the result: “Actually we had the more concrete chances, you can’t perform much better here in Linz against LASK. Much more would have been possible. I see the positive, we are on a really good path .”

Sturm Graz won 2-1 in Wolfsberg after being 0-1 down.