Seventh Coup at the Tivoli

LASK started the match at the Tivoli with a completely reshuffled back three. With Philipp Ziereis, Andres Andrade, Modou Keba Cissé, and Jérôme Boateng all sidelined due to injuries, the defensive line for the Linz side was formed by Marco Sulzner in the center, alongside Hrvoje Smolčić and Branko Jovičić. They moved the ball around reasonably well in the opening minutes, but failed to pose a threat in the final third. The situation was different for Tirol, who gradually grew into the game and came close after ten minutes, when a header from Lawrence struck the crossbar.

Another ten minutes later, Quincy Butler tested Tobias Lawal, who made an impressive save. During this phase, LASK struggled with frequent turnovers and showed little in terms of offensive output. Just moments before the halftime whistle, a well-executed WSG free-kick routine nearly produced the opening goal of the afternoon, but once again, keeper Lawal was alert and up to the task (47’).

Interim coach Maximilian Ritscher evidently found the right words during halftime, as his team made a lightning-fast start to the second half. A well-placed pass from Sulzner found Florian Flecker, who delivered a low cross from the right side to Maximilian Entrup, who slotted home from close range to make it 1–0—his 12th goal of the season (46’)! However, the lead didn’t last long. Just four minutes later, Lawrence rose unmarked to head in an equalizer after a free-kick delivery from the left.

But parity was short-lived once again. This time it was a set piece on the other end: Robert Žulj’s cross found the head of Hrvoje Smolčić, who netted his third goal of the season to restore LASK’s lead at 2–1 (58’). Seven minutes later, substitute Christoph Lang made an immediate impact. Having just entered the match, the attacker intercepted the ball in midfield, received a perfect through ball from Ismaila Coulibaly, and kept his cool in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Adam Stejskal—3–1 for the Athletiker! The final phase of the game remained largely uneventful, with LASK confidently seeing out their seventh consecutive win—a streak they last achieved in 2019.

WSG Tirol – LASK 1:3 (0:0)
Tivoli, Referee: Josef Spurny
Goals: 0:1 Entrup (46'), 1:1 Lawrence (50'), 1:2 Smolčić (58'), 1:3 Lang (65')
Yellow cards: Entrup, Jovičić

LASK lineup: Lawal (captain) – Jovičić, Sulzner, Smolčić – Flecker (84' Bogarde), Horvath, Coulibaly (92' Sanogo), Bello – Danek (63' Lang), Entrup (84' Mustapha), Žulj