Clanger in Klagenfurt | OneFootball

Icon: FC Red Bull Salzburg

FC Red Bull Salzburg

·28 February 2021

Clanger in Klagenfurt

Article image:Clanger in Klagenfurt

Our team lost the first of two back-to-back encounters with Sturm Graz 1-2. After falling 0-2 behind early on, Patson Daka's goal came too late to change the result, unfortunately.

match summary

It was a match to forget from the start for us. The venue had been switched to Klagenfurt due to a poor playing surface at Sturm's Merkur Arena, but there was no obvious advantage to us from the fact the away match was at a neutral ground. Our youngest starting XI since 2019 tried in vain to stamp their authority on the game, while almost everything went to plan for Graz. Luka Sucic missed a chance to give us a great start in the 6th minute, and we soon got stung. Just nine minutes had passed when a well-rehearsed Strum corner routine gave them the lead. Jäger bundled the ball over the goal line after being teed up by Hierländer, and we then got an even bigger headache. Ljubic nodded into the top corner to make it 2-0, leaving our dugout in despair, even though we then applied a short period of attacking pressure.


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We had our chances in the first half but efforts from Adeyemi (29'), Sucic (29'), Berisha (33', 36') and Kristensen (34') were unable to get us on the scoresheet. Jesse Marsch had seen enough and made a first-half substitution, bringing Patson Daka on for Karim Adeyemi. Our best chance fell to Mergim Berisha just before half-time – he was all alone in front of Schützenauer in goal but sent his shot a fraction the wrong side of the post, and it remained 0-2 at half-time (43').

There was plenty of noise made in the dressing room at half-time, we are sure of that. Regulars Andreas Ulmer and Enock Mwepu were introduced from the bench, but our engine continued to splutter in the second period. We had gained control and given Sturm hardly any attacks of their own, but we still lacked a little resoluteness up front. Schützenauer just couldn't be beaten - neither from an effort from distance from Enock Mwepu (58') nor a Ramalho header from a good Brenden Aaronson cross (63').

Our side didn't give up and continued to hunt for a goal to put them back in the game – which came in the 78th minute. Nicolas Seiwald was fouled in the box and Patson Daka took hold of the ball, placed it on the spot and fired it in for 1-2 to make for a tense final few minutes. Our boys now threw everything forward and tried everything to rescue at least a point, but Graz continued to defend bravely and we ultimately came up short.

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Jesse Marsch:

I wasn't happy with the first half, but we then made a few changes. I think that we played very well in the second half. We showed a superb reaction and almost turned the game around. It's a shame that we dropped points, but we remain strong. We have to win on Wednesday.

line-up

substitutions

Daka for Adeyemi (37'), Ulmer for Vallci (46'), Mwepu for Sucic (46'), Kjaergaard for Aaronson (69'), Junuzovic for Bernede (69')

yellow cards

Vallci (14' unsporting behaviour), Seiwald (90+2' foul)

not available for action

Bernardo (ligament injury), Okafor (adductor)

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