0-2 defeat in Salzburg

Austria were able to keep the game open for a long time in Salzburg, but late goals from Dorgeles Nene and Petar Ratkov unfortunately allowed the Bulls to celebrate in the end. The Veilchen are now three points behind Sturm Graz in second place in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga.

Stephan Helm had to do without Reinhold Ranftl and Maurice Malone due to suspension. Hakim Guenouche started on the right flank and Andreas Gruber lined up alongside Nik Prelec. Otherwise, the starting XI remained unchanged after the two wins against Sturm Graz.

Red Bull Salzburg were without another key player, Moussa Yeo, due to injury, while defence coach Samson Baidoo was absent through suspension. Coach Thomas Letsch made four changes after the defeat in Wolfsberg: With Leandro Morgalla, John Mellberg, Valentin Sulzbacher and Adam Daghim, four very young players were new to the starting eleven.

No goals before the break

The game got off to a brisk start, with Tin Plavotić firing in the first shot after just a few seconds. Samuel Şahin-Radlinger had to intervene early against Yorbe Vertessen, but the Belgian was offside anyway (3'). Salzburg increasingly took control of the game, Austria had to defend several corners, but there were no goalscoring opportunities for the time being.

After half an hour, the top-of-the-table game picked up pace. Dominik Fitz set up Nik Prelec, but John Mellberg prevented our striker from finishing at the last moment (32'). Almost on the counter-attack, a long drive from Alexander Schlager reached Vertessen, who fortunately only hit the crossbar (33'). Another shot from the Belgian was dangerously low, but went over (34'). Andreas Gruber missed Matteo Pérez Vinlöf's cross by a hair's breadth and Manfred Fischer fired a volley from a turn after a chip from Fitz just over the goal (35').

The 2,000 fans in Wals-Siezenheim did not see any goals before the break - 0-0.

Salzburg scored, Austria unfortunately didn't

The first goal after the break came again from Vertessen, but Şahin-Radlinger had no problems with the shot (49'). Austria stood firm defensively and waited for counter-attacking opportunities, but these were not yet played well enough.

A header from Philipp Wiesinger was saved by Schlager and a shot from Mats Bidstrup went wide (60', 61'). Johannes Handl and Lucas Galvão replaced the wingers Pérez Vinlöf and Guenouche. Wiesinger moved to the wing, Handl to the centre of defence. A shot from Gruber was too central and Galvão missed the far corner (63', 64'). Fischer hit the outside of the net after a pass from Aleksandar Dragović (70').

With a quarter of an hour remaining, Stephan Helm brought on Konstantin Aleksa and Marvin Potzmann for Andi Gruber and Abubakr Barry. In the 80th minute, Dorgeles Nene scored with a deflected shot to give Salzburg the lead. Luca Pazourek replaced Philipp Wiesinger and Austria launched their final attack.

However, the Violets' attacking play remained too imprecise and substitute Petar Ratkov scored in the 90th minute to decide the game in favour of the team from Mozartstadt. In the end, Austria were beaten 0-2.

Red Bull Salzburg - Austria Wien 2-0 (0-0)

Salzburg: Schlager; Morgalla (72' E. Baidoo), Gadou, Mellberg, Terzic; Sulzbacher (72' Ratkov), Bidstrup (90+2'); Nene, Gloukh (84' Diambou); Daghim, Vertessen (84' Trummer)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Wiesinger (84' Pazourek), Dragović, Plavotić; Guenouche (62' Handl), Fischer, Pérez Vinlöf (62' Galvão); Barry (76' Potzmann), Fitz; Gruber (76' Aleksa), Prelec

Goals: Nene (80'), Ratkov (90')

Yellow card: Plavotić (43')

Red Bull Arena, referee Markus Hameter, 11,851 spectators