That was wafer thin: FC Red Bull Salzburg saved the crazy home series of 38 unbeaten league games on home soil with a penalty. Salzburg initially lost a 2-0 lead at the break and were suddenly 2-3 down after 80 minutes before Benjamin Sesko saved the point from the point.
Shared points after an offensive fight between both teams.
— FC Red Bull Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) April 9, 2023
Bulls are comfortably in the lead
The balanced initial phase ended with Salzburg overweight and the 1:0. After a throw-in on the right, Koita prevailed against Matthias Braunöder, Gloukh, who had run in, took the ball with him and hit the near post (22′). Austria goalie Christian Früchtl had no chance to defend himself when the Israeli shot was slightly deflected.
Salzburg slowed down after the 1-0. Nicolas Capaldo ended Doron Leidner’s working day with a hard but probably unintentional boarding. The Austria winger with an ankle injury was replaced by Manuel Polster. For referee Christian-Petru Ciochirca, the kick that Capaldo put through Lukas Mühl’s legs was not enough for an exclusion according to the TV pictures.
Austria’s offensive idea brought more half-chances to light, but was also at the expense of defensive protection. After Koita’s through ball, Capaldo rolled the ball past Früchtl and the goal (39′), before Sesko headed his own rebound over the previously parried goalie to make it 2-0. Nicolas Seiwald had staged the 13-time goal scorer ideally.
Vortex about Ranftl sending off
The apparently comfortable half-time lead did not last long. Tabakovic didn’t give Köhn a chance from 15 meters after Andreas Ulmer misjudged a cross from Andreas Gruber. The goal was reviewed for minutes for a suspicious offside position, but it stood. Austria regained courage and Salzburg then showed their weakest team performance for some time.
Violet turn superior game in Salzburg
Ranftl fell in the Salzburg penalty area in the 71st minute and was ruled out by referee Ciochirca with yellow and red for an alleged swallow. The VAR intervenes and the referee decides on the goodwill solution: Ranftl’s second yellow card is taken back, but there is also no penalty. Shortly thereafter – of all people – Ranftl celebrated the 2:2, which defeated Köhn from a short distance.
Flattering penalty saves Salzburg
The game finally tipped over three minutes later. Polster ran away from the advanced Salzburg defense and put it across to Joker Dovedan, who defeated Köhn while sliding against the running direction. Früchtl was there against Strahinja Pavlovic (86′), but had to reach behind him again because Sesko struggled to convert a flattering penalty. Ciochirca had previously stuck to his decision even after VAR intervention.
Matthias Jaissle: “We can’t become champions like this”
“That was very unusual today. We missed taking the lead across the finish line. We wanted to get out of the break in a completely different way and then we conceded a goal right after the break,” said Bulls coach Matthias Jaissle after the game. As a result, the 35-year-old German did not spare criticism. “We can’t be champions with today’s performance,” Jaissle was direct.
Sturm Graz cannot use bull slips
The first pursuer, Sturm Graz, was not able to close in on Salzburg to within one point and also stumbled. Because at LASK it was a 2-1 defeat for the crew of head coach Christian Ilzer. Thus, despite the meager fare at Easter, the Bulls were even able to extend their lead in the table from three to four points.
Bundesliga – 24th round: RB Salzburg – Austria Vienna in the LIVETICKER
(Source: SALZBURG24/APA)