Winning start in thriller at GAK | OneFootball

3-2 victory in 2024/25 opener

Let's start with the good news - we have started the season with three points! The opening match of the 2024/25 ADMIRAL Bundesliga season saw us take an entertaining 3-2 win at GAK in Graz. The newly promoted side battled us all the way, especially in a dramatic first half.

Match summary

The opening phase developed into an end-to-end affair with no punches pulled. The new Austrian Bundesliga season was a mere 20 minutes old when the nets had been bulged four times. Let's explain …

We provided the first goal of the league season, albeit not from one of our own players. Aleksa Terzic sent a deep cross from the left into the box, and Rosenberger's attempted clearance put the ball into his own net (4'). We put the pedal to the metal and carried on with our Serbian left-back setting up another strike! His high ball behind the defence was charged towards goal by Dorgeles Nene. The man from Mali sent a dream chip over the goalkeeper in the sixth minute to make it 2-0. Anyone who thought the newly promoted side might crumble after going two goals behind would be sorely mistaken. The hosts gave their all and showed that their excitement at gaining promotion has made them hungry to make an impact on the top flight. They suddenly scored a very fine goal themselves with a side-footed effort straight into the top corner that Janis Blaswich had no hope of saving (10').

In the 18th minute, we were then back level! Our backline was wide open as GAK brought the ball down the flank and turned it in for where Vucic levelled at 2-2.

Any neutral observers would be delighted to have seen a sensational sequence of football, but we couldn't be too pleased ourselves with the run of play. We did step up and take control of it, with numerous chances in the first half unused. Shortly before half-time, VAR spotted a handball in the penalty area and Karim Konate stepped up to restore our lead (45+2')!

Things quietened down after the restart, with both teams finding more defensive solidity. We had to patiently await an opening in the second half. We found one in the 57th minute as Adam Daghim turned into the area and rattled the Graz woodwork with a drive smashing into the far post   – so close! There was more drama 15 minutes later - although it was uncomfortably close to our target as Frieser went down and sparked a fierce penalty appeal from the Graz fans - but nothing was given. The resulting corner then seemingly led to an equaliser. Thankfully GAK captain Perchtold touched the ball from an offside position, and it didn't count. It remained tense right to the end, with half-chances coming at either side of the field. GAK pushed and showed courage, and we weren't able to fully use the space available to break in. The full-time whistle sounded to our relief as we won our opening Bundesliga match of 2024/25! Pepijn Lijnders & Co. therefore go into our Champions League qualifying first leg on Tuesday against FC Twente with a taste of success behind them. We need all the support we can get for this massive match!

to the Ticket Shop

Views

Pepijn Lijnders

Line-up

Blaswich; Dedic, Baidoo, Blank, Terzic; Diambou; Capaldo, Kjaergaard; Daghim, Konate, Nene

Substitutions

Ratkov for Nene (66'), Bidstrup for Capaldo (66'), Piatkowski for Blank (79'), Gourna-Douath for Kjaergaard (79'), Yeo for Daghim (85')

Yellow card

Gourna-Douath (86' unsporting behaviour)

Injury news

Not available for the match were Fernando (thigh), Daouda Guindo (metatarsal), Takumu Kawamura (knee) and Alexander Schlager (knee). Oscar Gloukh only returned to training on Thursday following Israel's exit from the Olympic Games.