Image: GEPA pictures/ David Geieregger (GEPA pictures)
“Joker” Karim Konate (88th) made the late decision shortly before the end.
Jon Gorenc-Stankovic (40′) put the better guests in the lead in the first half, Amar Dedic equalized shortly after the restart (49′). Coach Matthias Jaissle’s team has a six-point lead two laps before the end. Due to the rounding off when the points were shared, the defending champion would have been ahead in the event of a tie.
At Salzburg, in front of 17,218 spectators in the sold-out Red Bull Arena, Nicolas Capaldo and central defender Strahinja Pavlovic returned after suspensions, Maurits Kjaergaard took over the left midfield part from Nicolas Seiwald, who gave the “six” for the not fully fit Lucas Gourna-Douath. Up front, Amadou Dante replaced the injured David Schnegg on left-back, while offensive man Stefan Hierländer and Emanuel Emegha up front were also new.
It was an open, intense duel, the opponents neutralized each other for long periods. Salzburg gave the guests more possession of the ball, their own offensive actions usually lacked ideas or the quality of the final pass. For the time being, however, Sturm could not work out any significant chances either. It took exactly half an hour before a pass from Alexander Prass sailed over the Salzburg defense and Emegha’s heber bounced off the post over goalie Philipp Köhn.
Salzburg responded a few minutes later with their only top chance before the break, but Junior Adamu clearly missed the target in the penalty area alone in front of goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo (36′). A standard finally put the Styrians in front. Manprit Sarkaria’s free-kick found the head of the free Gorenc-Stankovic, who had no trouble dozing off. Shortly before half-time, Köhn had to intervene after a dangerous cross from Hierländer in front of Emegha, who was ready to score.
Salzburg seemed to wobble, but got off to an ideal start in the second half. After Koita’s preliminary work, Adamu failed again from an ideal position, this time against Okonkwo, but Dedic didn’t let the dust-off be taken away from him. Salzburg’s game had become much more powerful in this phase, and Okonkwo had to intervene against both Sesko (52′) and Kjaergaard (53′).
Salzburg didn’t get any more real chances to score after that. Just as little as Sturm, who continued to fight at eye level and repeatedly launched fast advances. Both coaches then brought fresh energy with Konate and Dijon Kameri or Bryan Teixeira and Tomi Horvat. Eventually one of them would do the trick. Shortly after Hierländer headed over the goal from a short distance, 19-year-old Konate prevailed against Gregory Wüthrich in the penalty area and perfected the revenge for the defeat in the cup quarter-finals.
Source: Nachrichten
