Bundesliga

Hartberg stops winning streak of Kühbauer’s LASK

Didi Kühbauer(Bild: APA/ERWIN SCHERIAU)

TSV Hartberg have stopped LASK's winning run in the Bundesliga. After six wins in a row at the start of Dietmar Kühbauer's second term in office, the Athletiker salvaged a late 2:2 (1:2) draw in eastern Styria through Moses Usor (92'). 

The Linzers thus moved up to second place behind Salzburg for the time being, with Hartberg in fifth place. Elias Havel was on the verge of becoming Hartberg's match-winner. Sasa Kalajdzic missed a penalty for LASK.

(Bild: GEPA)

  To the delight of former LASK attacker Christian Mayrleb, who replaced the suspended Manfred Schmid on the touchline, Hartberg initially proved to be masters of efficiency. Tobias Kainz scored in the sixth minute after a pass from Havel, who celebrated his ninth goal of the season 20 minutes later. Havel was quicker than the LASK defense to latch onto Maximilian Hennig's pass (25'). The 22-year-old ÖFB striker hopeful is currently on loan from LASK to Hartberg.

Havel outpaces the LASK defender
The Upper Austrians had not conceded two goals in any of the previous seven games under Kühbauer. However, there was no great uncertainty after a successful few weeks. Kasper Jörgensen reduced the deficit to 1:2 with his fourth goal of the season with a header (32'). After a through pass, George Bello provided the Danish winger with a measured cross in the five-meter area. LASK followed up. Samuel Adeniran robbed himself of a great chance to equalize with a poor contact with the ball (36'). Havel then got away after a long ball from Joao Tornich, who was the last man standing and only knew how to help himself with a foul and was consequently shown red.

(Bild: GEPA)

  The exclusion made little difference in terms of the share of play. LASK shaped the game, Hartberg mostly lurked for counter-attacking chances - or set-pieces: A shot from Youba Diarra after a corner became the preparation for Havel, who chased the ball over the goal (54'). At the other end, Krystof Danek (55) and Moses Usor (63) missed the target before a great chance to equalize presented itself: Kalajdzic's penalty was saved by TSV goalkeeper Tom Hülsmann. The top-class loanee from Wolverhampton still has to wait for his first goal for LASK. Damjan Kovacevic ran into the legs of Jörgensen from behind.

Hartberg goalie pulls the emergency brake
In the 74th minute, Hartberg's backline was caught off guard by a quick attack, with Hülsmann stopping Sascha Horvath just outside the penalty area. Ammar Helac made a cold substitute appearance in goal and immediately made a fine save from Jörgensen's free-kick (77'). This was followed by an onslaught from the visitors. Cross after cross sailed into the hosts' penalty area, who seemed to throw themselves into every shot until the very end. Jörgensen (87') and Kalajdzic (91') failed to score from close range before Moses Usor headed in a cross from Andres Andrade for a well-deserved 2:2 (92').

TSV Hartberg - LASK 2:2 (2:1)
Hartberg, Profertil Arena, refereed by Simsek

Goals: 
1:0 (6.) Kainz

  2:0 (25.) Havel

  2:1 (32.) Jörgensen

  2:2 (92.) Usor

~

Hartberg: Hülsmann - Vincze, Spendlhofer, Wilfinger - Kovacevic (90. Gölles), Diarra (68. Prokop), Markus, Kainz, Hennig (46. Fillafer) - Havel, Hoffmann (76. Helac)

LASK: Jungwirth - Cisse, Tornich, Andrade - Jörgensen, Bogarde, Horvath, Bello - Usor, Adeniran (60. Kalajdzic), Danek (60. Entrup)

Red cards: Hülsmann (74th/goal robbery) and Tornich (43rd/goal robbery)

Yellow cards: Wilfinger, Fillafer, Hülsmann, Kainz or Bogarde, Bello

Kalajdzic failed to beat Hülsmann with a penalty (67')