Last-minute draw claimed in Ried | OneFootball

Late goal seals point at newly promoted side

Our Red Bulls dominated the first half only for an equaliser before the break to stem our attacking onslaught. A dramatic second period saw Bidstrup and the boys at least take a point back from Ried.

Match summary

Thomas Letsch's side made a determined start, taking control of proceedings and putting the hosts on the back foot with their pressing. It was no surprise that Ried struggled to break free from the early pressure.

It may not have taken long but it was well deserved when Sota Kitano gave us the lead in the opening minutes. He started the move that led to the goal himself, teeing up Karim Onisiwo before Edmund Baidoo burst into the box, slotted back and allowed the new Japanese signing to turn in clinically into the bottom left (9').

Jacob Rasmussen popped up in front of goal moments later, but our defensive chief's header from a Kitano cross was unable to beat the Black and Greens' goalkeeper (12').

Onisiwo also had a go with his head, but pulled the effort wide (20'). The attacker tried a skillful backheeled effort moments later, but the ball went a fraction wide after he was supplied by Maurits Kajergaard (27'). By this stage our Red Bulls had over two-thirds of possession, although their finishing left something to be desired.

As happens so often, if you don't score goals at one end – they come at the other as Maximilian Senft's side grabbed an equaliser out of nowhere. A long pass forward found Bajic, who turned it on skillfully for Mutandwa to head in. That was far too easy (31')!

Baidoo had an opportunity to respond right away, only for Leitner to get a leg in the way (35'). Onisiwo's header troubled the Ried goalkeeper again just before the break - and he just about scraped it off the line (43').

In the opening stages of the second minute, it was the hosts who were first to threaten as Alex Schalger pulled off two saves against both Van Wyk and Bajic (47' and 49'). Our goalkeeper had no chance of making that a third save as Steurer was able to prod the ball over the line from close range for 2-1 (53').

It was time to freshen up the attack. Petar Ratkov, Yorbe Vertessen and Dorgeles Nene were sent on by Thomas Letsch - and promptly worked their way through the Ried defence!

Mads Bidstrup had a big chance for an equaliser from a corner but the ball zipped over (62'), while Ratkov twice got into a good position only to also miss the target (64').

Although our Red Bulls were back on top of proceedings, Ried were giving their all to keep us at bay. Our boys kept on going in the hunt for an equaliser. Nene had a go after being supplied by Ratkov and Leitner was already beaten, only for Ried's second scorer Steurer to scramble away from the line (72').

Kerim Alajbegovic had two efforts from distance in the final stages, but Leitner turned them both behind. As the clocked ticked further down, the six minutes of stoppage time appeared to be almost up - when Vertessen headed in stylishly after being supplied by Frans Krätzig (90+6'). Krätzig then saw a second yellow card for bringing an opponent down on the edge of the area, but nothing came from that - and the point was in the bag.

The late leveller saw us rescue a result, but we will need to step up on Wednesday (6 August) when we host Club Brugge in the first leg of our clash to make the play-off of the UEFA Champions League.

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Thomas Letsch

Stefan Lainer

Line-up

Substitutions

Vertessen for Onisiwo (57'), Ratkov for Baidoo (57'), Nene for Diabate (65'), Alajbegovic for Kitano (71')

Yellow cards

Krätzig (52' foul)

Second yellow card

Krätzig (90+6' foul)

Injury news

Not available for today's ADMIRAL Bundesliga opener were Takumu Kawamura (knee), Karim Konate (knee), John Mellberg (knee), Valentin Sulzbacher (thigh), Moussa Yeo (knee) and Christian Zawieschitzky (calf). Aleksa Terzic was suspended after his red card in the cup match against Dietach.