Crisis prolonged

LIVE from 5pm: Red Bull Salzburg against WSG Tirol!

There was no winner for Red Bull Salzburg against WSG Tirol ...

(Bild: GEPA)

Red Bull Salzburg once again failed to achieve the hoped-for escape! The former serial champions had to settle for a 1-1 draw against WSG Tirol, failed to pick up three points, as they did in the 0-0 draw in Klagenfurt at the start of the spring, and are now without a win in five competitive matches.

Coach Thomas Letsch's side are still only fifth after the 18th round of the Bundesliga, but the defeat of leaders Sturm has at least reduced the gap to first place to nine points.

American Quincy Butler took advantage of the home side's recent uncertainty to score an early 0:1 (2nd). After the break, substitute Moussa Yeo (53) saved his team from defeat. As with the 0-0 draw in the first head-to-head of the season, there was no winner. It was a great partial success for the visitors, who were able to take home something countable for the first time in the league at their seventh attempt in Wals-Siezenheim. The ninth-placed team's lead over bottom-placed Altach shrank to five points as the Vorarlberg side ended their long losing streak.

Gloukh played with rail
Letsch made two changes to his starting line-up compared to the recent clean sheet. Oscar Gloukh was fit to play despite a broken hand thanks to a splint, but veteran Karim Onisiwo had to miss out due to adductor problems. Leandro Morgalla replaced the injured Takumu Kawamura in the team. Compared to the 0-0 draw against Hartberg, only Bror Blume appeared in the Tyroleans' starting XI, replacing the injured Stefan Skrbo.

(Bild: GEPA)

Salzburg took the uncertainty with them and completely missed the start. WSG appeared dangerously in the penalty area after just a few seconds, and the ball ended up in the goal with the second action after just 1:28 minutes. After an ideal through pass from Blume, Butler gave Salzburg goalkeeper Alexander Schlager no chance with a powerful high shot in his 200th Bundesliga game.

Shortly after Adam Stejskal had prevented the equalizer with a foot save from Yorbe Vertessen (8'), Schlager defused a Müller shot (12'). In defense, the Tyroleans kept the spaces very tight with a five-man backline, and the hosts lacked ideas for long stretches. However, there were still chances to make it 1:1, but Hendry Blank (31), Gloukh (32), Vertessen (35) and Nicolas Capaldo (45.+1) lacked the finishing touch.

Yeo brought momentum
The 5345 spectators whistled at the break. Letsch responded with a double substitution and was particularly fortunate with the introduction of Yeo. The 20-year-old striker from Mali immediately revitalized the "Bulls'" attacking play and also quickly scored as a "joker". After beautiful preparatory work by Vertessen, Yeo had little trouble finishing from the five. A lightning double was in the air, but the striker missed two chances (56', 57').

The Tyroleans then recovered and were able to keep the game open for the most part. The home side came closer to victory, but Gloukh missed (82') and the Israeli and Vertessen found their masters in Stejskal with a double chance (90'). Salzburg's hopes were not fulfilled as Letsch had hoped before his fifth competitive match in charge. The must-win came to nothing.

The result:
Red Bull Salzburg - WSG Tirol 1:1 (0:1)
Wals-Siezenheim, Red Bull Arena, 5345 spectators, SR Semler

Goals: 0:1 (2.) Butler, 1:1 (53.) Yeo

Yellow cards: Blank, Bidstrup or Butler, Müller

Salzburg: Schlager - Morgalla (64. Nene), S. Baidoo, Caufriez (46. Gadou), Blank - Clark (46. Yeo), Capaldo, Bidstrup, Gloukh - Daghim, Vertessen
Tirol: Stejskal - David, Lawrence, D. Gugganig - Butler (85. Anselm), Naschberger, Müller, Sulzbacher - Blume (63. Jaunegg), M. Diarra (63. Hinterseer), Vötter (63. Üstündag)