Im Uniqa ÖFB Cup quarterfinals There was a duel between the SHOT and FC Red Bull Salzburg. The athletes are currently in third place in the league and were able to go into the winter break with a clear conscience – getting the finishing touches at the training camp in Belek. In today’s duel, none other than the front runner and ADMIRAL Bundesliga series champion was a guest in Linz, so the task couldn’t have been more difficult. In the end, the Red Bulls, who were in the quarter-finals last season, beat the eventual cup winners after penalty shootouts SK Sturm Graz were eliminated, with 3:2 through.
Both teams showed a lot of enthusiasm right from the start
In front of a great backdrop in the Linz Raiffeisen Arena, the game picked up speed right from the start. Ljubicic introduced himself to the Mozartstadt team in the fourth minute – Pavlovic was able to clear the ball before the Linz attacker failed to put the ball in the goal. Both sides put a lot of intensity on the pitch and made things difficult for their opponents – finally, king football ruled the country again!
In the 15th minute the guests from Salzburg took the lead. After a free kick, Ziereis was unable to make a decisive clearance and Gourna-Douath, in the style of a goalscorer, finished with all his might to take the lead 1-0. But as won, so lost – the home team promptly made it 1:1. Gourna-Douath, previously a goalscorer, was unable to make a decisive clearance himself this time, Ljubicic said “Thank you” and finished from a good seven meters.
It remained an open exchange of blows, a lively game – but the league leaders were able to gain more of the game on their opponent’s place and then took the lead again in the 28th minute. After a corner from Kjaergaard, Fernando was there at the second post and headed in to make it 2-1. The people of Linz complained heavily, but in the end it stayed that way. However, the score was a little deceptive; Thomas Sageder’s team was more active on the pitch and had significantly more possession of the ball than their opponents. But the Bulls brought the narrow lead into the locker room.
Double pack of comebacker Fernando
Less than six minutes had been played in the second half and the guests were already able to increase the score to 3-1. Gloukh put Fernando through with his outside instep and the Brazilian didn’t miss the chance to score a brace. It was a small preliminary decision in this game and a little later there was “blood” on the field. Bello fell on Diambou’s knee and was left with a laceration – the Linz doctors had their hands full, but Bello continued with a turban.
Salzburg continues to advance! The tricky Gloukh kept the opponent busy – in the 64th minute, Simic was unable to put the ball in the goal after a solo by the Israeli. Immediately after the end of Valon Berisha’s debut, for whom the full distance came too early, the Linzers were very close to equalizing. Ex-LASK keeper Schlager was able to clear against Zulj with a great reflex and a few minutes later a shot from Usor.
Excitement and a real cup fight until the end
LASK put everything on one card in the finish. Sageder brought full offensive power with Havel for Talovierov and his team had chances. Ziereis narrowly missed a rebound from a free kick. A lot of hustle and bustle and one or two yellow cards at the end – it was a real cup fight in Linz’s Raiffeisen Oval and the black and whites actually came close again in the power play.
Sascha Horvath’s goal came too late and in the end was only a correction to the result. RB Salzburg wins 3-2 in Linz and advances to the cup semi-finals!
LASK – FC Red Bull Salzburg 2:3 (1:2)
Friday, February 2nd, 2024 (6 p.m.), Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Z: 14,700, SR: Julian Weinberger
SHOT: Lawal; Ziereis, Talovierov (Havel, 81.), Andrade; Stojkovic (Flecker, 67.), Horvath, Bello (Pintor, 67.), Berisha (Ljubic, 67.); Zulj (K); Ljubicic, Usor. Trainer: Thomas Sageder.
FC Red Bull Salzburg: Schlager; Dedic (K), Pavlovic, Gourna-Douath, Solet: Diambou, Bidstrup, Sucic; Gloukh (Ratkov, 87), Ferdinand (Simic, 57), Kjaergaard (Guindo, 68). Trainer: Gerhard Struber.
Torfolge: 0:1 Gourna-Douath (15th), 1:1 Ljubicic (18th), 1:2 Fernando (28th), 1:3 Fernando (51st), 2:3 Horvath (90.+4).
yellow cards: Ferdinand (8.), Usor (61.), Zulj (78.), Gourna-Douath (81.), Guindo (85.), Horvath (85.)
We are in the CUP SEMI-FINALS! ???? #ASKRBS
— FC Red Bull Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) February 2, 2024
Feature film in the live ticker
Photo: Harald Dostal / www.sport-bilder.at