Compared to the most recent appearance before the international break against Sturm Graz (0:4), the coach made four changes to the team: Simon Straudi (hamstring injury), Nicolas Wimmer (cut foot) and Sky Schwarz (back problems) had to pass , Christopher Wernitznig sat on the substitute bench. Kosmas Gkezos, Jannik Robatsch, Rico Benatelli and Sinan Karweina joined the team.
In front of goalkeeper Phillip Menzel, Gkezos, captain Thorsten Mahrer, starting eleven Robatsch and Till Schumacher formed the defensive line. In midfield, Benatelli in the center and Max Besuschkow and Christopher Cvetko on the sides were preferred. Solomon Bonnah, Nicolas Binder and the returnee Karweina started the attack.
Both teams decided against a testing phase and met each other with an open mind in the opening minutes. Sascha Horvath (7th) took a free kick from a tight angle directly towards the goal, but Menzel was there. At the other end, Bonnah was sent into the lane by Gkezos, but Felix Luckeneder chipped the ball off his foot at the last moment.
In the period that followed, the athletes tried to take control. But Klagenfurt was compact in defense and made the spaces narrow. LASK therefore tried long balls and became dangerous. Philipp Ziereis found Marin Ljubicic (20th), who forced Menzel into a rescue operation. A little later, Robatsch cleared the ball in front of Florian Flecker (23′) before Menzel grabbed hold of a Luckeneder header (25′).
LASK was now clearly in control, the Violets kept giving the ball away too quickly and therefore came under pressure. Horvath (38th) had the opportunity to take the lead when he completed an individual effort with a powerful shot, which Menzel parried again and saved Waidmannsdorfer from falling behind. The Pacult team could have even taken the lead, Tobias Lawal defused twice against Besuschkow (43′).
In the second round it only lasted 90 seconds and the bell could have rung – but once again Menzel was at his post and successfully stood in Flecker’s way. Shortly afterwards, Elias Havel (50th) wanted to turn away in celebration, but Mahrer directed the ball just over the crossbar. However, the best chance presented itself to Austria: Binder fed Bonnah, who put it across for Karweina (52′), but Lawal made a great save.
That took its toll seven minutes later. Horvath brought a corner into the middle, Luckeneder broke free at the right moment and headed the ball into the far corner. A goal that had an impact, because the home team could have followed up with the next attack. Moses Usor appeared free in front of Menzel, but put the ball just wide.
After 61 minutes, Pacult reacted with the first personnel change: Benatelli made room for Irving, who was supposed to provide creative moments. Shortly afterwards, Gkezos was replaced on the right side of defense by Wernitznig (63′), later attackers Sebastian Soto and Jonas Arweiler (75′) replaced Bonnah and Cvetko.
As the playing time increased, the Carinthians increased the risk and tried to make up for the deficit. However, they lacked the necessary clout to put their feared opponents in serious trouble. So it remained with the fifth defeat (with four draws) in the ninth showdown with LASK in the upper house.
Next Sunday (2.30 p.m.) the next challenge in the upper playoffs is on the agenda for the Violets. Then it’s an extremely important duel in the race for the international starting places in the Wörthersee Stadium against TSV Hartberg. Tickets for the match are available Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the office and around the clock in the online shop.