3-2 away win at LASK secures semi-final spot

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FC Red Bull Salzburg

·2 February 2024

3-2 away win at LASK secures semi-final spot

Great start to 2024

We knew before kick-off that LASK were going to push us all the way, but we managed to rise to the challenge of our first match of 2024 and make the semi-finals of the UNIQA ÖFB Cup with a 3-2 win.

14,700 fans at the Raiffeisen Arena were treated to a real battle that our Red Bulls' attacking brilliance ultimately decided.

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After Lucas Gourna-Douath's opener and Marin Ljubicic's equaliser, a brace from Fernando put us well in front. A late goal from the Linz outfit could not stop us making the final four.

Match summary

The first opportunity fell to the hosts in the fourth minute. We found ourselves in a spot of bother at the back but were able to clear. There were few big chances throughout the first half, with LASK dominating the play but our boys getting more goals.

The first goal in Austrian competitive football in 2024 saw us take the lead from a set piece. Maurits Kjaergaard sent a free-kick in from the right that Philipp Ziereis could only parry to the feet of Lucas Gourna-Douath. The Frenchman sent a sublime drop-kicked finish in to make it 1-0 for our Red Bulls (15').

Our celebrations proved short-lived, as three minutes later the hosts had the ball in the net too from a similar situation. Goalscorer Gourna-Douath could only send the ball straight to Marin Ljubicic, who turned it straight in (18').

We had a response for that, though, from another set piece. A Kjaergaard corner was placed for Fernando to fire a header in and pull off a trademark backflip celebration - brilliant scenes (28')! There wasn't any further joy for us in the first-half - asides from a disallowed Oscar Gloukh goal. LASK put in a fierce effort and were solid at the back. Shortly before the break, they pushed for an equaliser – only for Alex Schlager to foil the hosts. Then we pounced again shortly after the restart! Oscar Gloukh spotted a gap in the opposing defence and threaded a super ball through with the outside of his boot for Fernando to convert clinically to make it 3-1 (51'). With the two-goal lead behind us, we could play confidently and keep the proceedings under calm control. Schlager wasn't tested again until the 71st minute, but in some style! Robert Zulj smashed a volley on goal from 13 metres out, and our Austrian international pulled off a superb save.

In the final phase, LASK pushed for a way back into the game, but that came too late for them. Sascha Horvath sent an unstoppable shot in during the fourth minute of stoppage time, but there was no stopping us winning.

One massive match will follow the next, with next Friday seeing a huge ADMIRAL Bundesliga home tie against SK Sturm Graz. You can get your tickets here:

to the online Ticket Shop

Further UNIQA ÖFB Cup dates

The draw for the semi-finals will take place on Sunday 11 February as part of the Sport am Sonntag programme (from 18:00 CET) on ORF 1.
Semi-finals: 2-4 April 2024
Final: 1 May 2024 (Klagenfurt)

Views

We knew that LASK had a lot to offer, and we found things really tough in the first-half. It was a decent performance in the second half. We spent a lot of time on set pieces, and we got some rewards today. There was 20 to 25 minutes when we could build momentum and make the semi-final with a superbly worked Fernando goal. As we know that we need to have our antennas out for the full 90 minutes here at LASK to get something, it's a really precious win.

Gerhard Struber

Line-up

Substitutions

Simic for Fernando (58'), Guindo for Kjaergaard (68'), Ratkov for Gloukh (87')

Yellow cards

Fernando (8' foul), Gourna-Douath (82' unsporting behaviour), Gloukh (84' unsporting behaviour)

Injury news

Not available for the match were Sekou Koita, Karim Konate, Dorgeles Nene (all at AFCON), Samson Baidoo (ankle), Nicolas Capaldo (thigh) and Aleksa Terzic (thigh).