Empty-handed despite late attacking salvo in Linz

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FC Red Bull Salzburg

·12 April 2024

Empty-handed despite late attacking salvo in Linz

1-3 defeat to LASK

On the 26th matchday of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga we were beaten in Linz. Marin Ljubicic fired the hosts to a 3-1 win with a hat-trick. A brilliant goal from substitute Dorgeles Nene brought us back into the game, and despite a promising late attacking salvo, we are heading back to Salzburg without any points.

Match summary

Our boys made a purposeful start and got their first big chance within the opening 60 seconds. Sekou Koita was sent through on goal perfectly by Oscar Gloukh on his 100th competitive appearance for our Red Bulls, only to fire wide.

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While we dominated the opening few minutes, the hosts soon found their way into the clash. The alarm bells were ringing after the first 15 minutes of play. Daouda Guindo tried to clear the ball in his own area and was unlucky to catch Filip Stojkovic instead. There was no penalty for LASK immediately, but a VAR check was made, and the resulting spot kick was converted by Marin Ljubicic into the top right (18').

Conceding a goal rattled us and the hosts found more space, which they soon captalised on. In the 26th minute, Florian Flecker was given too much space on the wing, and his ball in was converted by Ljubicic for his brace.

The Steel City side sat back a bit after taking a two-goal lead and concentrated on defending. We were on top going into the break and looked for a goal back but were unable to offer enough potency.

Things continued thick and fast in the second period. Either side could have claimed the third goal of the match in an end-to-end affair. We made a triple substitution in an attempt to breathe fresh impetus into our side, only for a mistake to cost us dear. A poorly coordinated pass between Oumar Solet and Amar Dedic allowed the clinical hosts to make it 3-0. Bello had an assist and Ljubicic sealed his hat-trick (73'). We had not given up. Our attacking efforts were finally rewarded by a curling strike from substitute Dorgeles Nene (84') dispatched into the top corner. The Malian's stunning goal was mentally significant as it boosted us to press the hosts and hunt for more. Nene was in again a few minutes later, but his short-range header was stopped in sensational style by LASK goalkeeper Laval (88'). We continued to throw everything we could into it, but a comeback remained beyond our grasp. We have some time to put the defeat behind us now. Our next match is on Sunday 21 April at 17:00 CEST at home to SK Austria Klagenfurt. That offers a chance to summon our strength and show what we are capable of!

Views

We lost the thread that we integrated into our game in the beginning. We made a good start to the match and even had two big chances. Then we collapsed a bit and LASK became stronger. Our resistance at the end came far too late, and we lacked energy over large parts of the match. We just didn't have enough today.

Gerhard Struber

It was not a good match from us. We have to change something about our play urgently, as the last three matches have not shown the true face of FC Red Bull Salzburg. We have to be aware of that and improve as quickly as we can. I am sure that our coach will draw the right conclusions so that we can play differently in the next match. I have the feeling we were too casual. We know it won't be easy to take the title to Salzburg again, but we remain confident. It was a close battle with Sturm Graz last year too - I hope we will be at the top again at the end.

Strahinja Pavlovic

We are all in the same boat. What LASK got the better over us today with was this battling, running and sheer determination to give everything to win the match. We didn't stand our ground against that, especially in the first half, and it wasn't enough from us. We need to get together now, give ourselves confidence, get stuck in and work our way out of this together!

Alexander Schlager

Line-up

Substitutions

Dedic for Terzic (61'), Forson for Gourna-Douath (61'), Ratkov for Koita (61'), Nene for Konate (71')

Yellow card

Gourna-Douath (9' foul)

Injury news

Not available for the match were Nicolas Capaldo (knee), Fernando (thigh), Timo Horn (stomach), Maurits Kjaergaard (thigh) and Leandro Morgalla (recovering).