Superb start to championship group

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FC Red Bull Salzburg

·17 March 2024

Superb start to championship group

Attacking spectacle seals 5-1 win v Hartberg

Dream goals, chances by the bucketload and sheer dominance. We began the championship group with a superb 5-1 win against TSV Egger Glas Hartberg. In the 23rd game week of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga, we secured pole position in the table in front of our own fans. The convincing win was our fourth league victory in a row.

Match summary

The two most efficient teams in the league when it comes to chance conversion faced off on Sunday. A spectacular bicycle kick from Fernando (1') and an effort from Hartberg's Maximilian Fillafer (2') made for a lively opening. Our Red Bulls looked fresh and fully focused right from the word go — and almost every time Hartberg tried to play out from the back, we got in their way. After an explosive solo charge from Guindo sent two visiting defenders trailing, Fernando threaded a ball through the defence for Ratkov - but there was no finding the net yet (10').

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It would not be long until our dominance was made to count. A pivotal moment came when Fernando, was hauled down by Hartberg defender Ibane Bowat when through on goal. Referee Harald Lechner initially gave a yellow card but upgraded that to a red after consulting VAR (22').

It didn't take long for the breakthrough to come with the extra man on our side. Kjaergaard lofted a wonderful free-kick into the Hartberg penalty area towards Petar Ratkov at the far post – and the Serbian youngster nodded in from short range to make it 1-0 (28').

We gained confidence from the lead and Mads Bidstrup went and doubled it just before the break, seizing onto a Fernando cut-back to drive the ball straight into the Hartberg net (45').

Our Red Bulls were clearly in no mood to rest there, however, and made just as purposeful a start to the second period. Oscar Gloukh hit a through ball that a Hartberg defender cleared into another and it squirmed through to Fernando's feet. The Brazilian was ideally positioned to pounce on the visitors' misfortune and turn the ball in (51').

Our boys sensed the chance to rack up even more goals. Substitute Amar Dedic found Karim Konate with an inch-perfect cross, but the Ivorian's header rattled the woodwork (71').

There was no doubt at all that the points were ours, but TSV Hartberg did summon up enough to grab a goal back. Donis Avdijaj tested our captain Alexander Schlager with a long-range effort, and the ball rolled straight out to Jürgen Heil, who turned in to make it 1-3 (75').

That always looked like a consolation, especially after Oscar Gloukh netted a stunning goal in the 84th minute. Our Israeli shooting star twisted straight past Paul Komposch and curled the ball into the top corner in incredible style. Sekou Koita then added the cherry on top by pouncing after the goalkeeper spilled it to convert for a 5-1 win (90+3').

Views

That was a great start to the championship group! A 5-1 isn't so bad to start with - it was a deserved win. We are pleased for Mads scoring his first-ever goal - congratulations! He can get us a drink now if he wants.

Amar Dedic

I am pleased for the team, first and foremost, but it is a great feeling to have scored my first professional goal. We prepared really well, went early into our pressing and got in behind them. It became a different match after the red card.

Mads Bidstrup

We lived up to the expectations today, we took charge of things relatively quickly and created more and more chances as the game went on - and the red card helped us as well, of course. We deserved to win by this margin. We are pleased about the way we have started the championship group. There is a lot we can be optimistic about.

Gerhard Struber

Line-up

Substitutions

Konate for Fernando (60'), Dedic for Daniliuc (60'), Diambou for Kjaergaard (60'), Koita for Ratkov (72'), Forson for Guindo (87')

Yellow cards

Pavlovic (20' dissent)

Injury news

Not available were Samson Baidoo (ankle), Hendry Blank (ill), Nicolas Capaldo (knee), Leandro Morgalla (recovering), Luka Sucic (knee), Aleksa Terzic (muscle problems) and Andreas Ulmer (calf).