Klagenfurt too harmless

Salzburg against Austria Klagenfurt from 5pm LIVE

Salzburg can celebrate an important three points in the title fight ...(Bild: GEPA)

Red Bull Salzburg have achieved the desired conciliatory end to the year! The team of coach Pepijn Lijnders defeated Austria Klagenfurt 3-0 (2-0) in the supplementary match of the Bundesliga on Saturday in front of more than 5000 fans.

Oscar Gloukh (40'), Dorgeles Nene (44') and Bobby Clark (73') scored for the "Bullen", who drew level with WAC in the table with 26 points, but remain fifth. They are ten points adrift of leaders Sturm Graz after 16 rounds. Klagenfurt (15) are tenth.

(Bild: GEPA)

Lijnders ordered his captain Amar Dedic back into central defense, while Aleksa Terzic and Mamady Diambou returned to the starting line-up. The Klagenfurters, who arrived with major personnel worries - Solomon Bonnah was ruled out at short notice - gave 17-year-old Matteo Kitz his Bundesliga starting debut. He replaced the suspended right-back Simon Straudi. Left-back Jonas Kühn and striker Nicolas Binder were given another chance from the start by coach Peter Pacult.

Petar Ratkov missed an excellent opportunity to take the lead after just 25 seconds following a pass from Bidstrup. The roles on the pitch were thus initially decided, with the runners-up dominating. Nicolas Capaldo headed just wide of Simon Spari's goal (7'). At the other end, Ben Bobzien failed to beat the keeper after Capaldo lost possession and made a good solo run in front of Alexander Schlager (16').

A brace decided the game
The visitors now got into the game better, while Salzburg had little to offer offensively. That changed shortly before the break. First, Gloukh struck via the inside of the bar after a beautiful series of combinations by the hosts and scored his seventh goal of the season. Just four minutes later, Nene increased his tally with an impressive direct shot from a Capaldo cross.

Pepijn Lijnders(Bild: GEPA)

At the break, Pacult introduced Christopher Wernitznig, who made his 400th Bundesliga appearance. Salzburg continued to dominate the game, but it was not until the 73rd minute that substitute Clark put the lid on it. After a fine Gloukh pass, the Englishman scored his first Bundesliga goal. The final highlight was a crossbar goal from Gloukh (83').

It was only the second win in the last eight Bundesliga games for the runners-up, while the Carinthians have now lost five in a row. The Christmas break is a short one for Salzburg, with a Champions League clash against Real Madrid (January 22) awaiting them in five and a half weeks' time. Klagenfurt's winter break does not end until February 8, when Pacult's team will host the "Bulls" in the Carinthian capital.

The result:
Red Bull Salzburg - SK Austria Klagenfurt 3:0 (2:0)
Wals-Siezenheim, Red Bull Arena, 5085 spectators, SR Sadikovski

Goals: 1:0 (40.) Gloukh, 2:0 (44.) Nene, 3:0 (73.) Clark

Yellow cards: Kitz, Robatsch

Salzburg: Schlager - Capaldo (78. Gadou), Dedic, S. Baidoo, Terzic - Bidstrup, Diambou (71. Bajcetic) - Yeo (85. Guindo), Gloukh, Nene (71. Clark) - Ratkov (71. Daghim)
Klagenfurt: Spari - Kitz (89. Mustafic), Mahrer, Robatsch, Kühn (46. Wernitznig) - Koch, Salifou (89. Delic), Cvetko - Bobzien (89. Schoppitsch), Jaritz - Binder (64. Wydra)