Sesko serves up chance to seal title

FC Red Bull Salzburg

·14 May 2023

Sesko serves up chance to seal title

Big 1-0 win secured in Linz

Benji Sesko struck the winner but a magnificent showing from a makeshift defence was just as vital as our boys took a huge win in Linz that sets up a chance to seal the title in Salzburg next week.

Match summary

Samson Baidoo made his first start for us today, and it was a testing opening as LASK Linz went on the attack. Michorl skied the ball and Nakamura sent a powerful header wide. We didn't make our mark until the 10th minute when Sesko chipped the ball onto the post after Sekou Koita had served the Slovenian superbly with a slide-rule pass.

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With 15,500 spectators packing the Raiffeisen Arena, there was a game worthy of the championship group to feast their eyes on, with Philipp Köhn once again the hero. Michorl broke free of our defence and our shot stopper had to get his fingertips to the ball to keep it out, and our goalie then foiled Flecker fabulously in a one-on-one. Luckeneder and the post then denied Baidoo from scoring on his debut by clearing the ball off the line.

Junior Adamu had the final opportunities of the half, with the Austrian international racing onto a misplaced Stojkovic backpass but unable to guide the ball on target. He then headed just over from a great Gourna-Douath cross.

The Upper Austrians lost a little of their intensity as the second half progressed. It was our Red Bulls who pressed on with a deflected Seiwald effort hitting the top corner of the goalframe before Sesko shot wide after linking up with Adamu. Our efforts finally got their reward as Koita lofted the ball into the area and Sesko took it on to strike us in front (64') – for our top scorer's 15th goal of the season.

Dido Kühbauer's side were rattled by conceding and even though they clocked up 79 percent possession in the final 15 minutes, they barely threatened. Seiwald did well to block a Goiginger chance to equalise and Luckeneder smashed over – and that was that!

Our boys took a great win in Linz that means they are within sight of sealing the title - win against Sturm Graz next weekend and we are Austrian champions!

Views

It was a really hard-fought and tight game today. LASK have been really good over the championship round, and really tested us, but the win was definitely deserved. We have things in our own hands now and can seal it against Sturm Graz next weekend. Our players suspended today will be back for that, which will definitely help.

Matthias Jaissle

We didn't really get into our pressing in our first half but still had some good chances - which we didn't use, unfortunately. In the second half we scored that goal, and that was the difference. It's like a final for us next week. It could not be any better than sealing the title at home to Sturm. We want to use this chance!

Nici Seiwald

Line-up

Substitutions

Gloukh for Adamu (61'), Kjaergaard for Kameri (61'), Konate for Koita (77'), Forson for Gourna-Douath (90')

Yellow cards

Kameri (50' foul)

Injury news

Fernando (back), Daouda Guindo (knee), Justin Omoregie (back), Noah Okafor (metatarsal), Luka Sucic (knee), Samson Tijani (shoulder), Andreas Ulmer (thigh) and Ignace Van der Brempt (thigh) are out injured. Nicolas Capaldo and Strahinja Pavlovic are suspended.

Jerome Onguene has returned to Frankfurt from his loan to continue his recovery from a knee injury keeping him out until the end of the season at least.