Linz lived up to their role as favorites, Michorl scored in the 70th minute to a deserved 1-0 win.
LASK is getting closer to the play-off for the Conference League. Linz lived up to their favorite role in the 1-0 (0-0) in the first leg of the third qualifying round against the Serbian representative FK Vojvodina. Peter Michorl scored fully deserved in the 70th minute with a shot from around 18 meters. Vojvodina, who ended the game in ten, hit the rod once before with the best chance of around 6,000 fans in the Karadjordje stadium in Novi Sad.
The team of coach Dominik Thalhammer will contest the second leg next Thursday in Klagenfurt's Wörthersee Stadium, the alternative location for Linz on an international level. If LASK progresses, it may slip into the role of favorites again in the play-off. The loser of the match between the Turkish runner-up Galatasaray Istanbul and the Scottish cup winner St. Johnstone is waiting on August 19 (home) or August 26.
Powerful Linzers
LASK had traveled from Belgrade to Novi Sad on the match day. Thalhammer rotated in three positions. Mamoudou Karamoko in attack, Marvin Potzmann on the right and Yannis Letard in defense moved into the team. Philipp Wiesinger gave the defense chief. The Linzers lost none of their compactness. They acted powerfully from the start. Letard, who was used for the first time from the start, put a header over the housing after a corner in the second minute.
After half an hour there should be seven corners for LASK. Only one goal remained. Vojvodina goalkeeper Nikola Simic had to distinguish himself several times. The goalkeeper directed a shot from Alexander Schmidt to the outside pole (17th), parried twice against Potzmann and Schmidt in one minute (27th, 28th) and also denied Rene Renner a hit when he shot from the edge of the penalty area (33rd).
Rare goal danger for the opponent
The home crowd – in fourth place in the last Serbian championship – were primarily concerned with disrupting LASK circles. Only with two free kicks did the fighting Serbs spray a goal danger. In her most dangerous scene for the time being, center forward Momcilo Mrkaic pushed the ball past the goal (15th).
The second half began with Florian Flecker for Potzmann and pouring rain. Vojvodina almost turned the game upside down. Captain Nemanja Covic pulled in the 57th minute from around 25 meters and hit the bar. LASK keeper Alexander Schlager just watched the ball. Thalhammer responded to the subtle wake-up call and brought in Hong Hyun-seok and Husein Balic for Goiginger and Kamamoko.
Michorl finally rewarded the athletes for their performance. The midfielder initiated the attack himself, had enough space after Flecker's pass and finished with his left into the far corner. The LASK did not decrease afterwards either. At the end of Vojvodina, right-back Luca Cucin was thrown off the field with red after he slipped into Balic's legs from behind.
