Violets lose in Salzburg

Austria Wien were beaten 0-2 by Red Bull Salzburg. Gloukh put the team from Mozartstadt in front early on with a penalty and scored a brace shortly before the final whistle. Helm's side were unable to capitalise on their counter-attacking opportunities.

The Violets travelled to the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg for the 8th round of the Bundesliga. Due to the flood of cancellations and postponements, it was only the second home game of the season for the team from Mozart's city. ‘We want to get the maximum out of Salzburg,’ emphasised Stephan Helm in the run-up to the game, ’even though everyone knows that the stakes are high there.’ The Violets started with a back three consisting of Philipp Wiesinger, Aleks Dragović and Lucas Galvão. Guenouche started on the left in a 3-4-1-2, with Fitz playing behind Prelec and Malone. Red Bull coach Pep Lijnders sent his team out onto the pitch in their usual attacking 4-3-3. Morgalla celebrated his starting debut in the current season, while new signing Bajcetic once again formed the anchor six.

Early lead, missed counter-attack

The Violets got off to the better start - at least in terms of half-chances - in Salzburg's torrential rain. Prelec failed to finish off a counter-attack (5‘), Barry missed after a Fitz cross (6’), Morgalla blocked a Fitz shot (7'). Following Barry's (unprotested) foul on Nene, referee Kijas decisively pointed to the penalty spot, from where Oscar Gloukh scored with a dry finish (10). The Bulls had meanwhile taken command of the game and put on their usual barrage, with Sahin-Radlinger saving a Nene shot (23'). Earlier, Prelec had forced his way into the Salzburg penalty area, where his pass came to nothing (21'). Wels replaced Barry in the centre of midfield after he was injured in a tackle (24'). The Violets did not get involved in anything at the back, remained focussed for the most part and waited for counter-attacks. 38 minutes: Dragović knocked the ball away, Malone got the better of Piatkowski and failed to beat Janis Blaswich on his own. The score remained 0-1 at the break.

Gloukh scores the brace

Salzburg continued to combine well in the second half, even if the really big opportunities failed to materialise. Sahin-Radlinger was on hand after a Dedic shot (53‘) and saved from Konate from a tight angle (56’), the ball slipped over Daghim's instep (58‘), Nene thumped the ball into the stands from twelve metres (60’) The Violets were completely exhausted defensively in this phase of the game, and the Violet attacks were correspondingly meagre. After just over an hour, Salzburg's onslaught began to wane somewhat. Coach Helm wanted to give it another go and brought on a third nominal striker in Raguž (for Fischer) alongside Huskovic (for Prelec). However, imprecise passing and careless tackling were to nip potentially dangerous counter-attacks in the bud time and again. After both teams had largely neutralised each other, Gloukh made the difference with his second goal. The Israeli stormed through the purple-white defence and scored with a low shot via the inside of the bar to make the final score 2-0.

Red Bull Salzburg - Austria Wien 2-0 (1-0)

Salzburg: Blaswich; Morgalla (68.Bidstrup), Piatkowski (90.Gadou), Blank, Dedic; Capaldo, Bajcetic (68.Gourna), Gloukh; Nene (68.Clark), Daghim; Konate

Austria: Sahin-Radlinger; Wiesinger (74.Raguž), Dragović, Galvão, Guenouche (62.Perez Vinlöf); Ranftl, Fischer (74.Potzmann), Barry (24.Wels), Fitz; Malone, Prelec (62.Huskovic)

Goals: Gloukh (10./penalty, 88.)

Yellow cards: Barry, Fitz, Ranftl

Red Bull Arena, Salzburg; referee Alan Kijas