Home defeat to Sturm deals blow

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FC Red Bull Salzburg

·13 April 2025

Home defeat to Sturm deals blow

Frantic big match ends in disappointment

We are now five points behind the league leaders as we were beaten 1-2 at home to SK Sturm Graz on Matchday 25 of the 2024/25 ADMIRAL Bundesliga, despite having an extra man for the final 30 minutes.

Match summary

It was not only a big match on paper as both teams tore into the opening minutes and tried to seize an early advantage! We had the more promising start without really threatening Scherpen in the Sturm goal. A long-range effort from Sturm right-back Johnston went the closest to an early opener - but smashed into the post as the 16,698 fans at the sold-out Red Bull Arena were treated to a real spectacle (9').

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While the chances slowed down, the big showdown continued to offer action by the bucketload. Just when the visitors tried to race in front, we finally pounced! A good pass forward from Mads Bidstrup was taken by the speedy Yorbe Vertessen as our attackers went two-on-one. Verteseen laid it across ideally to Adam Daghim, who turned the ball in with ease (32'). The visitors were eager not to make the same mistake again and defended solidly for the rest of the first period, as we tried to increase our advantage. Vertessen almost managed that as he raced towards the Graz goal and was brought down by Wüthrich. We were awarded a penalty initially, but after a VAR consultation, that was overturned.

The referee pointed to the spot again shortly after the restart, but this time it was for the visitors. After we lost possession in a dangerous area, Samson Baidoo tripped a defender, and Kiteishvili levelled from the spot (48'). The goal saw the momentum swing against us as the reigning champions saw an opportunity and penned us back. While their pressure eased after a few minutes, few could argue that the score was not a fair reflection of the play. Things got mixed afresh as a misplaced Sturm pass led to Vertessen being hauled down right in front of goal. Wüthrich was shown a straight red card he could have no complaints about (64'). Having an extra player for around 30 minutes did not prove as useful as hoped for, however, as the Black and Whites were able to celebrate again …

We struggled to defend a Sturm cross, and the ball landed at the feet of Kiteishvili on the edge of the box. The Georgian lashed it into the top corner from around 20 metres out as the Graz fans went wild (69').

Despite having that extra man, our attacking efforts proved to be too tame to trouble the Sturm defence. Only in stoppage time did we really step up the pressure, but it was too late at that stage and our first loss in the championship group was sealed.

We don't have long to rue the defeat. On Easter Sunday (20 April) we have our next big match at Austria Vienna, and we will need some points there for our title ambitions!

Views

We lost a match today that we never should have lost. We were in complete control of the match, but then things spiralled out of control. Sturm were much more present, even if the game didn't change around completely. After they took the lead out of nowhere, we became hectic with the extra man, and it wasn't good enough on the whole. It is a painful defeat and a disappointing one. We are not dead and buried yet though. There are still seven matches to play, and anybody who thinks we are giving up is mistaken.

Thomas Letsch

It's a really disappointing defeat, especially as we were in control of the first half. We lacked concentration in the second half and conceded two goals. We then tried to create chances - but we couldn't manage it anymore, unfortunately.

Samson Baidoo

That's football. We lost the match undeservedly, in my opinion. I think we controlled the game until the start of the second half. Now we need to work even harder and keep going. We can't give up hope, and we have to win all our remaining matches!

Adam Daghim

Line-up

Substitutions

E. Baidoo for Yeo (76'), Ratkov for Capaldo (76'), Trummer for Morgalla (76')

Yellow card

Yeo (6' handball)

Injury news

Not available for the match were Mamady Diambou (groin), Oscar Gloukh (tonsilitis), Takumu Kawamura (collarbone), Maurits Kjaergaard (ankle), Karim Konate (knee), Karim Onisiwo (knee) and Alexander Schlager (adductors).