Karim Konate bags winnerWe have taken a vital win in our first domestic competitive match of the new year. Our Red Bulls took a deserved 1-0 win away at ten-man WAC to make the semi-finals of the U...
Karim Konate bags winner
We have taken a vital win in our first domestic competitive match of the new year. Our Red Bulls took a deserved 1-0 win away at ten-man WAC to make the semi-finals of the UNIQA ÖFB Cup. Following an early red card for the hosts, Karim Konate smashed an early winner (19') before we missed several chances to seal a more comfortable win.
Match summary
Thomas Letsch opted to stick rather than twist following our UEFA Europa League clash on Thursday, making only two minor changes: Stefan Lainer replaced Trummer in the starting eleven, and Clement Bischoff started in place of Kerim Alajbegovic.
From the opening whistle, our lads left no doubt about their ambitions. Aggressive pressing put WAC under immense pressure deep in their own half. Karim Konate made the first statement of intent as early as the fourth minute: after a pinpoint cross from Mads Bidstrup, the Ivorian's shot struck the post. The decisive moment of the match came after almost 20 minutes when Edmund Baidoo turned on the turbochargers. WAC defender Cheick Diabate could only stop the onrushing youngster with a foul. The referee brandished a red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity – a harsh decision, but one that stood up to a VAR review (19').
Just five minutes after the sending-off, we were able to convert our dominance into a goal. Following a well-rehearsed corner routine, Konate demonstrated perfect timing and headed the ball into the net for a well-deserved 1-0 lead (24'). The striker showed he wasn't going to be satisfied at that, as he soon had a chance to score his second (27').
The game then settled down somewhat. While the hosts, playing with ten men, focused primarily on defensive stability, our team controlled the tempo and circulated the ball confidently.
At the start of the second half, WAC began to show more attacking intent, although Alex Schlager had a quiet enough 30th birthday. Still, our numerical advantage wasn't as noticeable as it had been in the first half.
With about 30 minutes remaining, we picked up the pace again, creating numerous opportunities to extend our lead to 2-0. Baidoo (61'), Krätzig (70'), Yeo (74' and 89') plus Alajbegovic (90+2') had excellent opportunities, but couldn't find the back of the net. At the other end of the field, WAC also became dangerous from time-to-time towards the end. In stoppage time, Schlager even had to make a save from a powerful Zukic volley.
In the end, only one thing counted - the win and the resulting qualification for the semi-finals!
Views
We got off to a great start and were very alert even before the red card. We let them remain in the game for too long though. We had enough chances to seal the game early. Of course, in the end, we kept on having to deal with the long balls, as 1-0 is a dangerous scoreline. We need to be calmer in possession at certain times, and you could tell that Thursday's game wasn't that long ago. However, we have to aim to see games out more confidently. In the end, though, we're in the semi-finals, which was the goal.
Thomas Letsch
After a red card, a game like this is always strange. We needed to control it more and score more goals. We missed a lot of chances, especially towards the end, to seal the deal. It's always a tough place to play, so we'll take the win. I'm very proud and happy that we've made it to the next round.
Frans Krätzig
We came here with the very clear aim of advancing to the next round. We achieved that, so we can go home happy. We controlled the game from the start, and the red card played right into our hands. Turning 30 is a great occasion, and a win like this certainly makes it even sweeter.
Alex Schlager
Match details
Line-ups & substitutions
Wolfsberger AC: Polster – Matic, Diabate, Wimmer ©, Renner (70. Wohlmuth) – Avdijaj (70. Chukuwu), Sulzner, Zukic, Schöpf – Gattermayer (70. Kojzek), Pink (23. Baumgartner)FC Red Bull Salzburg: Schlager – Lainer, Gadou (46. Drexler), Schuster, Krätzig – Diabate – Bidstrup ©, Kitano (83. Alajbegovic) – Baidoo (77. Onisiwo), Konate (46. Yeo), Bischoff (64. Kjaergaard)
Goal: Konate (24.)Attendance: 3,025Referee: Jakob SemlerYellow cards: Sulzner (10./Foul), Avdijaj (41./Foul) - Gadou (37./Foul)Red cards: C. Diabate (19./Denying goalscoring opportunity)
Injury news
Not available were Takumu Kawamura (knee), John Mellberg (thigh) and Valentin Sulzbacher (calf). Yorbe Vertessen was out ill.
Category: General Sports
