A dramatic last-minute goal in Rome saw Red Bull Salzburg clinch a famous victory over Italian giants Lazio in the opening Europa League match on Thursday night.
With less than 10 minutes left on the clock Salzburg turned the tide as the Italian giants looked to be coasting to victory after Pasquale Foggia’s 59th-minute opener gave them the lead. But a brave fightback by the visitors saw Franz Schiemer put the visitors level before Marc Janko pounced three minutes into extra time.
“A great win that will resound around the world,” declared an ecstatic Huub Stevens. Lazio coach Davide Ballardini was not so happy.
But the warning signs had been there from the start. Wearing black armbands in honour of six Italian troops killed in a suicide car bomb attack in Afghanistan, Lazio dominated the opening passage of play.
But the visitors refused to be cowed, and fought back with Somen Tchoy setting up early chances for Nikola Pokrivac and Christoph Leitgeb. The Cameroon international was involved again when Emilson Cribari nearly netted an own goal while cutting out a centre from Dušan Švento.
At the half time whistle, the visitors were sitting pretty but Lazio looked more business-like in the second half, putting Eddie Gustafsson’s goal under pressure. The chances started to come thick and fast and Salzburg had their skipper to thank for keeping them level. First Matuzalem fired one after going one on one with the keeper. Then the Swede denied Foggia and Mauro Zarate, before he was finally beaten from 25 yards.
That looked to be that, but the Italians couldn’t shut down the game as Salzburg fought back. On 82 minutes a cross caused a mix-up in the Lazio box and Schiemer pounced to set the match up fore a thrilling finale.
GEPA
Deep in extra time, Ulmer took control of the ball wide on the left and crossed for Janko, who found himself in plenty of space as he turned to calmly steer the winner past Albano Bizzarri.
“We didn´t expect that win. Lazio were the dominant team for a long time but we made the best of our chances,” said Janko. “I am happy that I scored but the performance of the whole team was great. Now we have tasted blood. We want more!”
“What a sensational evening. We didn’t surrender, because we didn’t want to go back to Austria empty handed,” added Gustaffson. “In the end, we were amply rewarded.”
The team showed a very constructive approach,” said coach Huub Stevens. “We showed a lot of discipline and patience. To win in Rome against Lazio is a great win for Austrian football and for Red Bull Salzburg.”
Next fixtures (October 1)
Levski Sofia v Lazio
Salzburg v Villarreal
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