Ratkov brace only enough for a point | OneFootball

Clinical visitors hold us

That didn't quite go as planned. On Matchday 5 in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga, FC Blau-Weiß Linz proved to be very clinical and held us to a 2-2 draw at the Red Bull Arena. The visitors scored with two goals from Simon Seidl, while a Petar Ratkov brace saw us tie the last match before the international break.

Match summary

It was a fluent begin with the visitors coming out eager to net their first league goal of the season and attacking boldly. The first clear chances came after around ten minutes of play.

A difficult moment in front of our target was defused by  Jacob Rasmussen, before Yorbe Vertessen won the ball in our own half and drove all the way forward – and his shot was saved by the visiting goalkeeper (11'). Alex Schlager had no chance when Simon Seidl broke past our defence with a one-two with Mensah and then slotted the ball inside the far post (15'). We were behind against the side bottom of the table.  There were few ways past the determined Linz deference. After more than a half hour of play, we increased our threat and Petar Ratkov netted the equaliser. After a Kitano ball threaded through the backline, the Serb won a challenge well and smashed us level in sharpshooter style (37'). The Upper Austrians were soon threatening again, however. A corner would have sent us behind again, were Stevie Lainer not able to head it clear off the line (39'). The game was hard-fought with no side able to take a clear advantage by the break.

Our side made some adjustments at the break, with two substitutions. That paid off as we dominated after the restart, and the Linz defence kept on their toes. We had a big chance to take the lead in the 55th minute, but Vertessen was unable to bundle the ball in on the rebound.  We lacked a clinical touch from further chances, which was something the visitors could not complain about. Around 15 minutes before the end, a long ball from the visitors found Seidl, who didn't only take it down perfectly, but twisted quickly and shot perfectly – as we fell behind once more (73').

The game was not finished there, however. A Yeo shot hit the arm of a defender and VAR decided it was a penalty. The chance to level from the spot was not one Ratkov was going to spurn, and he smashed the ball right into the corner of the net (89'). Ratkov almost headed in a winner, with Alajbegovic and Yeo also getting chances, but the points were ultimately shared.

The ADMIRAL Bundesliga continues after the international break on 13 or 14 September away at WAC.

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Thomas Letsch

Stefan Lainer

Match data

Line-ups & substitutions

FC Red Bull Salzburg: Schlager – Trummer (46. Terzic), Rasmussen, Gadou, Lainer – Diabate (46. Alajbegovic), Bidstrup © – Kjaergaard, Kitano (71. Yeo) – Vertessen (71. Baidoo), Ratkov FC Blau-Weiß Linz: Baier – Cvetko (65. Fofana), Maranda ©, Bakatukanda – Pirkl, Knollmüller (46. Briedl), Pasic, Anderson – Goiginger (65. Wähling), Seidl – Mensah (82. Huskovic)

Goals: Ratkov (37., 89.) - Seidl (15., 73.) Attendance: 8,450 Referee: Isa Simsek Yellow cards: Rasmussen (57./foul) - Anderson (82./foul), Schößwendter, sporting director (88./dissent), Turner (88./dissent)

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