FC Blau-Weiß Linz’s game at home against league dominant Salzburg couldn’t have started any worse: the Bulls took the lead after just six seconds. It was a goal for the history books: With his goal, Salzburg’s Petar Ratkov set a new record for the fastest goal in an Austrian Bundesliga game – and thus replaced a former Salzburg kicker: the Czech Patrik Jezek in the duel in July 2007 between Red Bull Salzburg and Altach after ten seconds.
When the Blue-Whites kicked off, Ratkov immediately sprinted into the opponent’s half and put goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid under pressure, who should have sent a stopped ball from defender Manuel Maranda into the opponent’s half. Ratkov blocked Schmid’s attempt to clear the ball and the ball went straight into the goal.
Bitter: Before Linz had kicked off, Ratkov was already in the opponent’s half. The violation of the rules was not recognized by the referee team around referee Alan Kijas, and at the same time the VAR was not allowed to correct this, as intervention in a kick-off situation is not intended.
Video: This is what Blue and White goalie Nicolas Schmid says about the early goal:
Maranda scores from a free kick variation
Despite the horror star, coach Gerald Scheiblehner’s team did not allow themselves to be disconcerted – and struck back coldly: Manuel Maranda equalized after a free kick variation.
As turbulent as the game started, it became calmer as the game progressed: Blue and White got a better grip on Austria’s series champions, only allowing the Struber team to have opportunities towards the end of the first half: headers from Fernando (34 .) and Ratkov (42nd) as well as a shot from the penalty area by Luka Sucic were not on goal.
Video: Blue and White goalscorer Manuel Maranda on the 1-1 draw against Salzburg:
The luck of the hardworking
In the second half, Salzburg increased the tempo – but Linz missed the first great chance: Paul Mensah initially couldn’t push the ball past guest goalie Alexander Schlager, then Simon Pirkl narrowly missed the ball (50′).
Afterwards, luck was also on the side of the blue-whites: in the 51st minute, BW goalie Schmid and Maranda had worked together to save against Salzburg striker Fernando, and two minutes later the bar had to prevent a goal from being conceded when Sucic shot . Oscar Gloukh also had a chance to take the lead again (64′): he shot the ball just past the far corner from very close range.
The blue-whites survived the period of pressure – and left their hearts on the pitch in the finish. Substitute Kristijan Dobras was a little too over-motivated: the 31-year-old flew off the pitch after a rough start at the finish. With the 1-1 draw, Linz remains unbeaten against Salzburg in their third competitive game since its founding (two wins, one draw). Like Ratkov’s goal, this is probably a record in Austria.
Video: Blue and White captain Fabio Strauss after the game:
Author
Raphael Watzinger
Sports editor
Raphael Watzinger
