The chances that Red Bull Salzburg will play in the Champions League for the sixth time in a row this autumn are extremely good after the play-off first leg win
Austria’s football runner-up managed a 2-0 (1-0) victory against Dynamo Kiev in Lublin, Poland on Wednesday and thus has everything in hand in the return match next Tuesday (9 p.m.) in Salzburg.
In an intense, relatively even match, Nene Dorgeles (29th) put Salzburg in front with the first shot on goal. A penalty converted by Maurits Kjaergaard put the guests from Austria ahead 2-0 in the 50th minute.
Salzburg started with the same line-up as in the previous week’s return match against Twente Enschede and tried to take control early on a rainy evening. Coach Pepijn Lijnders’ team attacked the opponent high in their half and initially had more possession of the ball. However, some careless mistakes invited Kiev to make quick, dangerous counterattacks. In the 8th minute, veteran Andrij Yarmolenko found himself in a good position in the penalty area thanks to a pass from Schaparenko, but wasted the chance.
Salzburg’s left-back Aleksa Terzic was no longer fit after 25 minutes, and Ignace van der Brempt came on for him, forcing goalkeeper Janis Blaswich to make a save immediately after being substituted. Samson Baidoo then blocked a shot from Wladyslaw Wanat (28th) from close range, but then Salzburg took the lead with the next move: Kamil Piatkowski served Moussa Yeo, who left an opponent behind and played the ball to Nene, who coolly finished with his left foot. In the 34th minute, Kjaergaard shot from distance – Dynamo goalkeeper Heorhij Buschtschan successfully intervened.
Salzburg pressed harder before the break, but the second goal was only scored after the break. In the 48th minute, referee Sandro Schärer pointed to the penalty spot after an attack on Yeo in the penalty area. Kjaergaard, who had missed a penalty in Enschede, converted with his left foot.
Kiev now threw everything forward: Jarmolenko (51st minute) shot just over the crossbar, Piatkowski saved against Wanat (54th minute). On the other side, Buschtschan (57th minute) threw himself into a Salzburg attack on the right. After that, the match petered out for 15 minutes. Substitute Maksym Bragaru missed the big chance to score in the 74th minute at the five-yard box. On the Salzburg side, Nicolas Capaldo shot twice over the bar in the finish. Mykola Schaparenko let the very last opportunity slip away in injury time – Blaswich held the ball safely in his arms. (APA)
