2-1 home win v Blau-Weiß Linz

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FC Red Bull Salzburg

·6 April 2025

2-1 home win v Blau-Weiß Linz

Improved performance in second half brings three points

A determined team performance led to a 2-1 win against Blau-Weiß Linz and three important points for our title ambitions.

Match summary

Under glorious blue skies and in front of packed stands, Karim Onisiwo and his strike partner Yorbe Vertessen immediately troubled Vitek in the visiting goal. The first chances soon came, with a cross from Aleksa Terzic being knocked by the Linz defence into the path of Vertessen, whose effort landed on the roof of the net (5'). A little while later, the youngest player on the pitch, Joane Gadou, had a chance to take the lead after a dangerous ball in from Edmund Baidoo (9').

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As the game went on, the Linz side found ways to relieve the pressure they had faced from our Red Bulls in the opening phase, with Mads Bidstrup & Co coming up against deep ranks of Blue and White players. It was Vertessen, after a pass from Onisiwo, and then the Austrian striker, after a good pass from Terzic, who came closest (21' and 22').

The Blue and Whites first threatened via - surprise, surprise - Ronivaldo for the first time. The league's top goalscorer had a go with a fierce drive from the edge of the box, but Janis Blaswich could save with ease (27'). Gerald Scheiblehner's XI were unable to offer any threat in the rest of the first half and went into the break with an xG of 0.03.

The end of the first half saw little action at either end, if truth be told, as much as Vertessen and Bidstrup tried to force a way through. After 11 corners and 70% possession, we went into the break with the score goalless after the post denied an Edmund Baidoo effort from distance (45+1').

The second 45 were no less intensive at the beginning than the first period. Valentin Sulzbacher had a go for our Red Bulls inside the area, but was unable to trouble Vitek (47'), while Seidl had a go for the visitors after a long hoist upfield from the Linz goalkeeper - but struck over (50').

Ten minutes after the restart, we finally forced our way onto the scoresheet. Terzic put the ball into the Linz penalty area ideally after a peach of a pass from Sammy Baidoo, and Nene was there to take it well and slot in spectacularly for 1-0 (55').

Boosted by the deserved opening goal, we sent attack after attack on the Blue and Whites' defence, without anything changing on the scoreboard - until the 71st minute. Edmund Baidoo gained the ball after Onisiwo mishit a shot and was able to beat both Vitek and the post this time to put our boys 2-0 up and surely seal the points.

The scoreline would not stay like that for long, however, with the visitors making their chances count, in contrast to the first half. A poor defensive clearance saw the Linz attack get the ball and Mitrovic headed in from after a meaty Pirkl cross, and our Red Bulls' lead was cut to 2-1 (82').

Our boys did not allow the goal against to unsettle them and kept well on top of the efforts of the visitors to level, as the 2-1 home win was secured.

We are at home again next week when we face a big clash on Sunday 13 April at 14:30 against SK Sturm Graz. Tickets for the clash are available as usual on our Online Ticket Shop.

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Views

We didn't play well in the first half, and then we had Morgalla and Vertessen leave the field due to injuries, but we made a good start to the second half and scored the opener. After that we got a bit sloppy again and lost our structure too much. It was a match in which we have to be a bit critical, but we still won despite having a lot of players out, and I have to praise the boys for that! I am pleased about the three points, and we know what we have to work on. Nobody was expecting Valentin Sulzbacher to start, of course. We decided to select him as he has played a lot in that position in recent weeks. He was always active and did everything we wanted him to do!

Thomas Letsch

It was a hard-earned win, no less and no more than that. You have to win those kind of matches to be at the top at the end of the season. We started well and then lost our way a bit, but the goals did us a lot of good, of course. The coach adjusted a few things at half-time so we got into more of a flow. We definitely have to step up a fair bit if we want to beat Sturm Graz next week. We did our job, even if we know it was nothing special today.

Karim Onisiwo

It was a fantastic day for me! To play my first match here in the stadium and then to win makes me really happy. The week went relatively quickly, and I only found out on Wednesday that I could train with the team. I got a really good feeling right away and was able to quickly find my way in. I am enjoying the moment for now, and we will see what the next few weeks bring.

Valentin Sulzbacher

Line-up

Substitutions

Trummer for Morgalla (33'), Gloukh for Vertessen (46'), Caufriez for Bidstrup (86'), Clark for E. Baidoo (86'), Ratkov for Nene (86')

Yellow card

Ratkov (87' unsporting behaviour)

Injury news

Not available for the match were Mamady Diambou (adductors), Takumu Kawamura (collarbone), Maurits Kjaergaard (ankle), Karim Konate (knee) and Alex Schlager (adductors). Nicolas Capaldo and Moussa Yeo are out suspended.