Storm before the league showdown: “Cool starting position” thanks to a cool teenager

Nevertheless, the people of Graz are satisfied with 26 goals, especially after the performance in Hartberg. “We at least have the runner-up title and can qualify for the Champions League. When we took over the team in the winter, I and we didn’t know what was going on which direction it will work. Now we have one cool starting pointLASK is now under pressure, we can only win,” says coach Fabio Ingolitsch after the twelfth unbeaten game in a row.

A 17-year-old also made sure that the starting position was cool. U17 vice world champion Luca Weinhandl made the important 4-2 in the 80th minute with a hardened, deliberate shot into the far corner from around 16 meters. Sturm’s engine had previously stalled and nervousness was spreading – it smelled more like an equalizer for the Hartbergers.

“I don’t always do it like that, but I’m glad that it turned out that way,” says Weinhandl, who is from Score in Linz (LASK led 2-0 at Salzburg, in the end it was 2-1) when he came on as a substitute (59th minute). “I noticed, I don’t think the other players did. But it will be important that we look at ourselves now.”

Great pride

Weinhandl, who was one of the youngest at the U17 World Cup last year, was disappointed like his colleagues after losing the final against Portugal (0-1), but pride now reigns. “The tournament was really an incredible experience. The atmosphere, the level and of course the runner-up title in the world championship will be remembered forever,” said the Styrian Birth talk at Sturm.at in January.

At the age of 15, Weinhandl made his debut in Sturm’s two-man team. In January, Ingolitsch let him make his debut in the starting line-up against Feyenoord (0-3) in Rotterdam, and now he also scored his first Bundesliga goal in Hartberg. Nevertheless, Weinhandl continues to play the one-two. “My parents and students support me School“So that this works too.”