Image: GEPA pictures/ Avni Retkoceri (GEPA pictures)
Image: GEPA pictures/ Johannes Friedl (GEPA pictures)
Image: GEPA pictures/ Avni Retkoceri (GEPA pictures)
Captain Robert Zulj reported sick – and the chance of a win for LASK in Hartberg was apparently gone. The nine-time goalscorer was missing for the third time in the current Bundesliga season, and for the third time the athletes remained scoreless in a 0-0 draw.
0:2 against Blau-Weiß Linz, 0:0 against Austria Vienna, plus promotion to the cup on penalties in Kapfenberg, in which no goal was scored in 120 minutes against the second division team without Zulj, who was rested – no one steps in as a goalscorer when the Captain is missing. “We had three chances in the first 20 minutes, we have to have at least two,” said Valon Berisha, who represented Zulj in the tenth position. Moses Usor hit the crossbar (4th), he celebrated twice to make it 1-0, the goals did not count because of offside (8th, 47th).
Image: GEPA pictures/ Johannes Friedl (GEPA pictures)
The majority after Ousmane Diakite was excluded (68′) didn’t help either. “We have to do more and maybe shoot more when we are one more man,” said Berisha. The move to goal, ideas and the courage to combine in tight spaces were missing – exactly what Zulj can bring to the game.
Ten times without a win against Hartberg
LASK’s goal drought without the 32-year-old is not a new phenomenon: Linz lost four of the five games without Zulj last season without a goal, and the only goal in the 1-0 win against Lustenau came from a penalty.
The negative series against Hartberg goes back even further: the draw was the tenth game without a win in a row against the East Styrians. According to the current standings, there are two more chances to defeat the feared opponent in the championship group.
Video referee in constant use
LASK coach Thomas Sageder regretted many wrong decisions in the offensive game. Referee Arnes Talic was able to improve his score thanks to on-field reviews: Twice, after fouls on Valon Berisha, he was sent to the monitor by video referee Sebastian Gishamer for suspicion of red.
The first time, Talic didn’t even punish Paul Komposch’s foul (19th) and then showed yellow after studying the video. In the second outing he originally decided on a foul by Valon Berisha and showed him yellow. After an on-field review, in which the cards can be reshuffled, he withdrew Berisha’s warning and sent Ousmane Diakite off the field with a red card (68th).
Image: GEPA pictures/ Avni Retkoceri (GEPA pictures)
Talic also needed help when the ball landed on George Bello’s shoulder after a corner. Talic whistled for a penalty – and took it back (80′).
more from LASK
LASK captain Zulj: “A top team has to win this game”
In Hartberg, LASK can celebrate its entry into the championship group
Without Zulj’s goals, LASK would only be seventh
Why LASK opponent Hartberg has to worry about the license
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I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
