The LASK secured a 3-2 victory against Sporting Lissabon in Lisbon on Wednesday, claiming the club’s first win in the Champions League. After falling behind to an early penalty, the Austrian side responded through Christoph Lang, before second-half strikes from Sasa Kalajdzic and Krystof Danek sealed a comeback away from home.
Early Setback and Lang Response in Lisbon
Sporting took the lead after just five minutes when a penalty was awarded. Irankunda went down in the box under a challenge from Ljubicic, allowing the hosts to convert from the spot. Former Austria internationals Robert Almer and Christopher Trimmel later criticized the decision during analysis on CANAL+, with Almer noting that the forward lifted off before any contact could have occurred, and Trimmel calling the reward not in the spirit of the game. Despite the early blow, LASK did not unravel. Christoph Lang drew the visitors level before the break, capitalizing on ball recoveries that unsettled the Portuguese defense.
Second-Half Surge Secures Comeback
The Austrian side seized control immediately after the restart. Sasa Kalajdzic and Krystof Danek struck within five minutes of each other to build a commanding 3-1 lead. While Luis Suarez managed to pull a goal back for the hosts, LASK withstood eight minutes of stoppage time to preserve the 3-2 scoreline. This result marks only the seventh victory for an Austrian club in 50 away matches in the competition since the group stage format began in the 1991-92 season.
Xavier Mbuyamba Earns Team of the Week Honors
Central to the defensive effort was Dutch defender Xavier Mbuyamba, who earned official Player of the Match honors and a spot in the continental governing body’s Team of the Week alongside stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, Phil Foden, and Desire Doue. The Technical Observer Group highlighted Mbuyamba’s contributions, noting his 17 duels, six tackles, and five clearances. Sporting manager Rui Borges admitted his side was caught off guard by the tactical setup, noting that LASK mirrored the defensive block deployed by Lens in an earlier fixture.
LASK Fights for Round of 16 Playoff Spot
The three points lift LASK into contention for a potential playoff spot for the Round of 16, with historical precedent showing nine points often proving sufficient to advance. Dietmar Kühbauer’s squad will next host Slovan Bratislava and Fenerbahce Istanbul in Linz, alongside an away fixture against Bodö/Glimt in Norway. The schedule also features away encounters with Real Madrid on January 19 and FC Porto one week later.
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