2023-12-14 21:26:26
LASK’s international journey came to an end on Thursday. In the last game of Europa League Group E, the Linzers had to admit defeat at home to FC Toulouse 1:2 (0:0) and ended up in fourth place in the final table. However, even a win wouldn’t have been enough for Linz because Union Saint-Gilloise won 2-1 in the parallel game against Liverpool.
Marin Ljubicic (63′) equalized the visitors’ lead through Thijs Dallinga (54′), but LASK’s further defensive carelessness resulted in a second goal from Gabriel Suazo (83′). So the athletes missed out on being rewarded for a decent performance over long periods. While Toulouse finished the group in second place behind Liverpool, it was not enough for coach Thomas Sageder’s fourth-placed team to advance to the intermediate round of the Conference League.
LASK, having recovered after numerous illnesses, got into the game well in front of around 15,000 spectators. When the Linz team conquered the ball, they followed up with quick moves and opportunities. Toulouse goalie Guillaume Restes denied a hard volley from Filip Stjojkovic, and Ivan Ljubic hammered the ball just over the goal a little later (18th).
Linz’s dominance only lasted a good thirty minutes, then the guests also posed danger for the first time. Goalkeeper Tobias Lawal defused two shots from Cesar (35th, 40th) and also cleared a tricky cross from Ibrahim Cissoko (42nd). Towards the end of the first half, LASK was confronted with a real Toulouse power play and, in a sense, escaped into the break.
Black and White came out of the locker room visibly improved offensively, but made a chain of mistakes at the back, at the end of which Dallinga only had to ease in. However, LASK did not let this deter them and pushed aside the news of Belgium taking the lead against Liverpool. The almost logical consequence: Ljubicic joked and headed a Stojkovic cross from a tight angle into the far corner to equalize.
Now LASK started a power play and there were chances of a winning goal. The Upper Austrians repeatedly combined dangerously in front of the opposing goal. There were no hot opportunities to score, but the French acted ice-cold. With just a few passes they tore open the LASK defense, which had switched from a three-man to a four-man chain, and Suazo, who had just replaced Dallinga, took the lead again and at the same time the final score.
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#LASK #goodbye #Europe #Toulouse