The game started with a dream goal: Ballo lobbed the ball past defender Danilo Mitrovic with his left hand and volleyed into the corner with his right. After that, the Wolfsbergers stayed at the helm, but nothing more than a shot from a tight angle by Bernhard Zimmermann (25th) was parried by Linz goalie Nicolas Schmid for the time being.
Towards the end of the first half, WAC became more compelling again: After a corner from Jonathan Scherzer, Dominik Baumgartner headed wide from close range (45+3), a few seconds later Simon Piesinger chased the ball over the crossbar from around four meters. With the exception of the 34th minute – Ronivaldo unsuccessfully called for a penalty after a duel with Piesinger – there was practically nothing to be seen from the Linzers on the offensive.
WAC defeats newly promoted Blau-Weiss Linz
For Blau-Weiss Linz, the premiere in the Admiral Bundesliga ended in defeat. The promoted team had to admit defeat to the WAC away 1:2 (0:1) in the first round on Saturday. Thierno Ballo, who grew up in Linz, of all people, fixed the win with a brace (3rd, 50th). The Upper Austrian goal by Simon Pirkl (90th) came late.
The second half also started with an early goal. Zimmermann initially put the ball too far forward and missed a one-on-one against Schmid, then the Rapid loan put it back to Florian Rieder, and Ballo used his measured cross with a header.
Late hit from blue and white
Blue and white, who came out of the dressing room with three new players, became more offensive. Paul Mensah initially missed the best chance of scoring the goal, who failed after a pass from Ronivaldo to WAC goalkeeper Hendrik Bonmann (61st). Pirkl did better – the defender used a cross from Julian Gölles from just a few meters away with a direct acceptance. In the end, however, the WAC did not let the lead be taken away.
Comments on the game:
Manfred Schmid (WAC coach): “We got off to a really good start. In the end we were too passive, but actually everything went as planned. It’s always an uncomfortable story to play against the promoted team in the first round. I’m convinced that Linz will still score a lot of points, they played well in the second half. Ballo is very fast and dangerous. I was convinced he was bringing something that might hurt Blue and White.”
Gerald Scheiblehner (Blau-Weiss Linz coach): “With the three changes at half-time, we’ve calmed down on the ball. At the end of the day, we had big plans and didn’t put much of the ball into possession. The WAC got to the gates with practically no resistance.”
Admiral Bundesliga, first round
Saturday:
WAC – BW Linz 2:1 (2:0)
Wolfsberg, Lavanttal Arena, 2,500 spectators, SR Hameter
Torfolge:
1:0 Dance (3.)
2:0 Dance (50.)
2:1 Pirkl (90.)
WAC: Bonmann – Baumgartner, Piesinger, Kennedy, Scherzer – Jasic (87./Kerschbaumer), Leitgeb, Omic (69./P. Müller) – Ballo (62./Sabitzer), Zimmermann (69./Röcher), Rieder (87. /Boakye)
Blue White: Schmid – Haudum (46th/Noß), Strauss, Mitrovic – Windhager (46th/Gölles), Brandner (46th/Krainz), Koch, Pirkl – Mensah (84th/Ibrahimi), Ronivaldo (75th/holiday), Hofer
Yellow cards: P. Müller, Baumgartner or Strauss, Brandner, Mitrovic, Haudum
2023-07-29 20:24:07
#Bundesliga #Linzer #Ballo #botched #blue #white #premiere
