[ad_1]
The big disappointment: forward Marko Raguz had to be replaced due to an obvious knee injury. Newcomer Eggestein came into play for the ÖFB-U21 player and the A-Team hopefuls, who after a thoughtful pass from Andreas Gruber and a good acceptance made a dry use in the left corner. In the 68th minute, James Holland’s return saw the yellow-red card, but the Linzers kept the Belgian fifth away from his own goal in the final. Dieumerci Mbokani missed the only good chance (93).
In Group J side play, favorite Tottenham celebrated their second win in their third game with a 3-1 win at Ludogorez Razgrad. While the Bulgarians remain without points, the trio of Tottenham, Antwerp and LASK are ahead by six points. The Belgians will visit Upper Austria for the second leg in three weeks (26 November).
Two wins in the Europa League
Three Austrian teams were in action in the Europa League on Thursday. LASK and Rapid won, WAC suffered its first loss.
Holland returns to LASK starting eleven
LASK was able to lean on recovered midfielder James Holland in Antwerp, in the middle of the storm Raguz was again preferred to Eggestein compared to 2-0 against Sturm Graz. It shows with the home side: only six players sat in the dock.
LASK was the clear leading team at first, but not shining in creating opportunities. After all, Andreas Gruber forced Royal goalkeeper Jean Butez to make a save (4th), a deflected shot by Philipp Wiesinger missed the goal (14th) and Raguz took aim from an extended cross (20th).
Raguz probably most seriously injured
But it was particularly bitter that the young player of the ÖFB team had to be replaced by Eggestein before the break: Upper Austria, who had to be treated minutes before, had sprained his knee without any external influence, is probably threatened with a prolonged injury .
Antwerp, when LASK formed on the 3-4-3 system, lurked against opportunities, but usually didn’t get very far on rare occasions or was stopped by the LASK defense around captain Gernot Trauner with apparently little effort. In disorganized play, a good half hour passed before coach Ivan Leko’s team scored its first finish through Birger Verstraete (33rd), before the break came with a harmless header from Mbokani (44th).
After the break, Antwerp was on par with the slight increase towards the end of the first half in the opening minutes. The LASK kept calm and attacked. After Alexander Schlager threw the ball away, the ball reached Eggestein through Reinhold Ranftl and Gruber, who knocked down the playing team with his chest and threw it into the short corner.
LASK takes the lead to ten over time
However, there was no real response from the hosts. Not even later did the Netherlands have to leave the field prematurely with the traffic light card after the second yellow foul on Lior Refaelov (68th). Once Schlager was asked for a cross and header in the shaking (65th), Antwerp, which was overwhelmed in the preparation for the game that night, could not develop more opportunities.
On the LASK side, Eggestein tried a strong shot that missed (75th). Linz’s side played the victory with a secure defense at home, in injury time Mbokani missed Antwerp’s only significant opportunity by rising above goal.
Voices for the game:
Dominik Thalhammer (LASK coach): “It was stressful and overall a well deserved victory. The team did a very good job. We had the game largely under control until we were shut out. We were a bit surprised that Antwerp threw their way of playing overboard and played with long balls. But we also check them well. “
“Our last line of defense was very consistent. In the last 20 minutes we kept pressing the ball and we did not allow anything. We are one step closer to our goal of being there in the spring. “
Peter michorl (LASK midfielder): “In the first 25 minutes we did relatively well, we had scoring chances that we didn’t finish or we missed. So it was a fight pressing against pressing. We were one man less in the 68th minute, but we fought to the end and defended everything until the last chance. The mentality was decisive. “
“It is an extremely exciting group. Now we have a small advantage in the direct duel with Antwerp. But we know we need such a performance, that mentality at home. Because if we don’t get anything at home, today’s win wasn’t worth much. “
Johannes Eggestein (LASK scorer): “We have had a little winning streak since Tottenham, we are very happy about that. You have to win games like this to have a chance of advancing in the Europa League. That speaks to our current maturity. “
Ivan Leko (Antwerp coach): “It was a very physical match for which we were well prepared. We knew exactly how they play. Everything is possible in this group. We had an open game last week and were lucky Tottenham didn’t have a good day. My players have shown that they are a strong team. “
Europa League, group J, matchday three
Thursday:
Antwerp – LASK 0: 1 (0: 0)
Antwerp, Bosuilstadion, spectators not allowed (due to coronavirus pandemic), SR Aranowskij (UKR)
Goal: Eggestein (54th)
Antwerp: Butez – Seck, Hongla, De Laet – Gerkens, Haroun (88. Buoy), Verstraete (65./Ampomah), Juklerod (75./Benavente) – Miyoshi (63./Buta), Mbokani, Refaelov (86./Lukaku ))
CALCULATION: Schlager – Wiesinger, Trauner, Filipovic – Ranftl, Holland, Michorl, Renner – Gruber (65º / Goiginger), Raguz (40º / Eggestein), Balic
Yellow-red card: Netherlands (68th / repeated foul play)
Yellow cards: Gerkens, Verstraete, Ampomah and Ranftl
