Those that said that lightning couldn’t strike twice after FC Red Bull Salzburg’s away triumph in Lazio in the Europa League will be eating their words after a convincing 2–0 win over Spanish side Villareal on October 1.
More than 18,000 fans packed Salzburg’s Red Bull Arena, and saw both sides come close to scoring during the match’s early stages. Red Bulls goalkeeper Eddie Gustafsson produced a smart save as early as the third minute to deny the visitors’ Giuseppe Rossi. Minutes later, Marc Janko blasted high, wide and not-so-handsome at the other end after a clever one-two with midfielder Somen Tchoyi, then headed just wide as the Red Bulls began to build a head of steam.
Having seen another Rossi effort, from a free kick, go just wide of the Salzburg goal, the Spanish side found themselves 1–0 down to their hosts’ own set-piece on 21 minutes. Christoph Leitgeb’s inch-perfect free kick was met by the irrepressible Janko for a deserved opening goal.
Villareal were stung into action, countering with a spell of pressure that saw another fine one-handed save from Gustafsson to deny Cani, then a ball headed just wide a minute later by Joseba Llorente.
But Salzburg, fielding the same line-up for the fourth consecutive match, held firm to maintain their advantage at the interval, and started the second period unchanged.
© GEPA Pictures
The chances continued to come as Janko and Tchoyi terrorised the Villareal defence, with the odd chance at the other end dealt with by the Red Bulls back line.
Cameroon international Tchoyi (pictured) finally got his own reward on 84 minutes as a long throw-in caused indecision in the Villareal defence. Tchoyi took the ball, left two players for dead and smashed a shot into the visitors’ net from a narrow angle.
As a Mexican wave rippled around the Red Bull Arena, fans chanted the name of manager Huub Stevens. The Red Bulls’ miserable record at home in Europe had been put right in the most spectacular fashion, and two late chances from Rabiou Afolabi and Dusan Svento could have made the scoreline even more convincing.
“Two matches and six points in the bag – who would have thought it?” said a delighted Stevens after the match, “especially against such strong teams!”
Gustafsson, whose stopping skills played as much a part as Tchoyi and Janko’s heroics upfield, paid tribute to the Red Bulls’ approach to the match.
“We were really disciplined today,” said the 32-year-old Swede. “We knew that if we created chances then we could beat a team as good as this. And it all worked out!”
The result, also described by Franz Schiemer as “beyond our wildest dreams”, takes the Red Bulls top of Group G, with Levski Sofia their next opponents on October 22. The Bulgarian side were thrashed 4–0 on their own ground by Lazio in their latest match.
Europa League Group G table
Team Played W D L Pts
Salzburg 2 2 0 0 6
Lazio 2 1 0 1 3
Villarreal 2 1 0 1 3
Levski Sofia 2 0 0 2 0
Next fixtures (October 22)
FC Red Bull Salzburg v PFC Levski Sofia (Red Bull Arena)
SS Lazio v CF Villareal (Stadio Olimpico)
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