Goalless draw at WAC

FC Red Bull Salzburg

·27 October 2024

Goalless draw at WAC

All square against hosts' ten men

In one to file under 'hard-fought encounter', precious few chances came at either end in our latest league encounter. We pushed after WAC had a player sent off but had to be content with a point.

Match summary

It was clear from the word go that it was going to be a game of patience, with our side having more of the play but struggling to break through the defensive ranks of the hosts. The flow was disrupted by some niggly fouls from both teams in the opening phases.

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Chances were few and far between. Our best early opportunities came in the 17th minute as Stefan Bajcetic had a go from distance and Karim Konate headed just wide. Dorgeles Nene also went close with a long-range curly shortly afterwards.

The hosts dropped well back with only Ballo able to break into our area every now and again, with Janis Blaswich having the quietest of afternoons - with fewer than 20 touches of the ball by the end of the first-half. Lijnders' boys were unable to fully breach the WAC defensive lines in the first period though, and we went goalless into the break despite having 70% possession.

The hosts pushed forward at the start of the second period but were unable to create anything of real note. A major twist then came a few moments later as Pink jumped into a challenge and caught Lucas Gourna-Douath, who came on at the break for Kjaergaard, on the ankle. The referee had no hesitation in showing the WAC striker a straight red card as Konate & Co had an extra man for the final 39 minutes plus stoppage time.

WAC continued to put up a good fight, only for our Red Bulls to increase their dominance. Aleksa Terzic, who was brought on for Daouda Guindo, took aim but fired well off-target after being teed up by Konate (68'). We got a big chance to win it late on as Terzic crossed for Konate, who sent his header from close range off-target (85'). It was one-way traffic, but the ball would not go into the destination we wanted of the WAC net - as Konate hit it wide again (89')!

WAC ventured forward at the start of the five minutes of stoppage time and Janis Blaswich saw his first action of the second half, but we were not able to fashion any late openings either.

It therefore remained a 0-0 draw, despite the three points surely being within our reach with the man advantage for 40 minutes ...

We will now focus on our encounter on Wednesday evening. WSG Tirol visit the Red Bull Arena at 20:30 CET with a spot in the quarter-final of the UNIQA ÖFB Cup at stake.

Views

We were dominating already before the red card and controlling the game - it only went in one direction afterwards. We created enough chances to win. Things are not going our way right now, and it's hard to accept, but I saw a team that kept on believing right to the end.

Pepijn Lijnders

We have to do better in the final third. I have to praise WAC too, as they defended really well. We aren't doing bad, now we just have to give 100% over 90 minutes on the pitch – we have to keep at it!

Samson Baidoo

The performance today wasn't good enough, and things aren't going our way right now - we have to put so much in to get a goal. The important thing is that we showed again today how much of a team we are and stuck together - we have to work though and show a reaction on Wednesday!

Mads Bidstrup

Line-up

Substitutions

Gourna-Douath for Kjaergaard (46'), Terzic for Guindo (63'), E. Baidoo for Bajcetic (63'), Morgalla for Capaldo (79'), Daghim for Bidstrup (84')

Yellow cards

Gourna-Douath (55' foul), Bajcetic (58' foul), S. Baidoo (63' foul)

Injury news

Not available for the clash were Amar Dedic (adductors), Gaoussou Diakite (hip), Oscar Gloukh (thigh), Fernando (whiplash) and Moussa Yeo (ankle).