Bulls on a roll

Salzburg against BW Linz from 19.30 LIVE

Man of the evening was Oscar Gloukh

(Bild: APA/KRUGFOTO)

A spirited Salzburg team also won their second game of the new Bundesliga season. In their first home game, Pepijn Lijnders' side beat Blau-Weiß Linz 5:1 (2:1) on Saturday to celebrate a successful dress rehearsal for Tuesday's second leg of the Champions League qualifier against Twente Enschede. 

The man of the evening was Oscar Gloukh, who turned the game around with three goals (15th, 34th, 62nd) after trailing 1-0 early on.

Blau-Weiß, a kind of "fearful opponent" of the favorites in the previous season with a 1-0 win and a 1-1 draw, had taken the lead through Conor Noß (12th), but ultimately could do little to counter Salzburg's unleashed offensive power. Starting XI debutant Moussa Yeo (73') and Mads Bidstrup (77') completed the resounding victory. After the 1:0 opening win over Austria Vienna, Blue & White suffered their first defeat.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Lijnders wanted "new sources of energy" for the clash with the underdogs. Half a dozen were given the chance, with 18-year-old Bundesliga debutant John Mellberg a real surprise at left-back.

Salzburg had more of the play as planned in a fast-paced encounter and also had a few half-chances, but after twelve minutes felt reminded of the previous season. Noß went for goal after a high ball, beat Samson Baidoo somewhat luckily and shot into the far corner.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

However, Salzburg did not allow any doubts to arise and continued to whirl offensively. Three minutes later, Gloukh equalized at 1:1 with a dry low shot into the far corner from a good twelve metres after beautiful preparatory work by Dedic. Less than 20 minutes and a lot of Salzburg pressure without any concrete chances later, the Israeli had finally turned the result on its head. Playing together with Petar Ratkov, he combined through the middle and gave goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid no chance at all.

The home side continued to pile the pressure on the now hard-pressed Linzers with plenty of pace. They were lucky not to concede any more goals. Gloukh failed to beat Schmid (38'), Yeo shot just wide of the far corner (39') and a penalty for a foul on Adam Daghim could also have been awarded. Defensively, however, the Bullen eleven, which had moved far back, proved vulnerable in places, and the supposed 2:1 by Noß turned out to be just offside (20').

Salzburg go one better 
Salzburg continued seamlessly after the restart, and now Linz's pinpricks were completely absent. Schmid had to intervene against Yeo (48'), a slightly deflected Ratkov shot went just wide (53'). It was only a matter of time before it "rang" again. Finally, Gloukh finished off one of the numerous penalty area combinations to make it 3:1. Substitute Dorgeles Nene later rattled the outside of the net (67') and failed to beat Schmid with a shot (69'), but Yeo's shot was then unstoppable. In the closing stages, "Joker" Bidstrup was also allowed to celebrate after Maurits Kjaergaard's precisely timed pass.

Red Bull Salzburg - Blau-Weiß Linz 5:1 (2:1)
Wals-Siezenheim, Red Bull Arena, 10,698, referee Barmaks

Goals: 
0:1 (12.) Noß

1:1 (15.) Gloukh

2:1 (34.) Gloukh

3:1 (62') Gloukh

4:1 (73') Yeo

5:1 (77.) Bidstrup

Salzburg: Blaswich - Dedic, Piatkowski, Baidoo, Mellberg (64. Terzic)- Capaldo (64. Kjaergaard), Diambou, Gloukh (74. Bidstrup) - Daghim, Ratkov (64. Dorgeles), Yeo (77. Gourna-Douath)

BW Linz: Schmid - Pasic (63. Schmidt), Maranda, Moormann - Anderson, Dantas (46. S. Seidl), Briedl, Ibertsberger (46. Pirkl) - Dobras (46. Goiginger), Ronivaldo (71. Gölles), Noß

Yellow cards: Piatkowski or Maranda, Briedl