Perfect Youth League start in Prague!

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FC Red Bull Salzburg

·18 September 2024

Perfect Youth League start in Prague!

Hard-fought but highly-deserved win

Our side captained by Jannik Schuster have started the new UEFA Youth League season with a success at Sparta Prague! Our youngsters dominated for long periods and could have sealed the win earlier but took a 3-2 win that leaves them at the business end of the 36-side table.

Match summary

There were only minutes on the clock by the time our Young Bulls were able to celebrate at the FK Loko Praha stadium. Edmund Baidoo had already troubled the hosts' defence and received a precise pass through the backline from Striedning before laying the ball off to past Franc – the outrushing Sparta goalkeeper - across to where Kenneth was waiting to turn the ball over the line (7')!

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Daniel Beichler's side dominated proceedings in the first half and regularly tested the Czech opponents - Enrique Aguilar, for instance, broke free of his marker Krpalek and shot narrowly off-target after a strong solo charge, before the Swiss youngster teed up his team-mate Baidoo, whose effort was saved by the goalkeeper. Our youngsters therefore had to contend themselves with a narrow lead at the break.

Sparta stepped up a gear at the start of the second period, with goalkeeper Salko Hamzic having to deny Hranos. Moments later, our shotstopper had no chance - he saved a Mokrovics effort but was powerless to stop Hranos turning it on off his knee (52').

Our boys were undeterred at suddenly being held and promptly regained the lead. Marc Striednig won the ball on the right edge of the penalty area, took aim and sank the ball straight into the top corner - a stunning goal for the Austrian under-19 international (55')! We were well on top now, especially after susbstitute Zeteny Jano had done his thing - winning the ball himself, switching it out to Phillip Verhounig and getting onto it in front of the target. The attacking marvel held his nerve and finished in some style from distance (64')!

That wasn't the end of it though as Jannik Schuster failed to stop Mokrovics fully in his tracks, and after a pass from Rus, the Sparta striker beat Hamzic at his near post (67').

If anyone was waiting for the hosts to turn on the pressure in a final attacking burst, it didn't come. Our boys went much closer to winning it. Verhounig, Alex Murillo and Valentin Sulzbacher all had big chances on the break to seal it, but three points were taken back to Salzburg regardless!

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That was great! We made a super start and deservedly took the lead. Then we conceded an equaliser out of nowhere, but we got out of a precarious phase again. We were too naive in the occasional situation or two, and we'll have to be more clear-cut - that's why it remained close. The main thing is, of course, that we started with a win, which gives us a great feeling! It's never easy to take something in the Youth League, and Sparta Prague were a really good test. If you win a lot of matches, you'll go far. That makes us happy to have the points!

Daniel Beichler

Line-up

Hamzic – Zabransky, Schuster, Brandtner (68. Hussauf) – Striednig, Sulzbacher, Trummer (46' Bendra), Aguilar (85' Murillo), Rackl – Kenneth (46' Verhounig), E. Baidoo (60' Jano)