Champions League: Salzburg opens the door to the group stage

At the Tel Aviv stadium, which was empty due to security regulations due to the coronavirus pandemic, Dan Biton ensured a perfect start for the hosts in the ninth minute. Salzburg, which dominated the game for a long time but never exuded domination like in the domestic league, turned the game around in their favor after the break thanks to Dominik Szoboszlai (49th / penalty) and Masaya Okugawa (57th). .

Due to the result and away goals, Salzburg are now the clear favorites for the second leg and have a good chance of reaching the Champions League group stage for the second time since Red Bull joined the team. Maccabi needed at least two goals to stay in the race for promotion. Even a 1-0 defeat would be enough for Salzburg to rise. The second leg of the play-off is scheduled for next Wednesday (9pm) in Wals-Siezenheim.

Marsch is rebuilding something

Last year, Salzburg had played in the group stage for the first time after the Austrian champions had a fixed place due to the five-year ranking. The “policemen” had never passed the qualification. The 2020 play-off was already the twelfth attempt by a Salzburg team sponsored by Dietrich Mateschitz. They failed twice against Israeli teams: in 2009 at Maccabi Haifa and in 2010 at Hapoel Tel Aviv.

So that history does not repeat itself, coach Jesse Marsch offered an eleven that had changed three positions compared to the last Bundesliga game against Altach against Maccabi, thinned by the corona virus: nine players and seven supervisors had caught the insidious pathogen . Mergim Berisha was a bit surprising in the storm alongside Patson Daka in the starting eleven. Maximilian Wöber returned to defense and Masaya Okugawa was allowed to start.

Cold israeli shower

The Salzburg team emphasized from the outset that it had resolved to make a preliminary decision quickly. And the guests almost got off to a dream start. In less than two minutes, only one flight by goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum stood in the way of a successful free-kick by Dominik Szoboszlai. In front of the only spectator, Willi Ruttensteiner, who had been granted a special status as head of the Israeli team, Maccabi needed some time to even cross the middle line.

The Israelis’ first visit to the middle of Salzburg paid off immediately. After a long pass from Eylon Haim Almog, Wöber attacked Biton too hesitantly, and the 25-year-old lifted the ball over Cican Stankovic, who was too far ahead of the goal, to guide Maccabi into the net. In less than nine minutes it was 1-0 for Tel Aviv, contrary to the course of the game. Salzburg coach Marsch could see that his body temperature had risen significantly even without fever.

The American led his team to attack loudly. But usually it played out relatively unimaginatively in between, and there Maccabi was very close to each other. However, the guests, especially Szoboszlai, had a chance to match. But the Hungarian first faced Eytan Tibi (15th) standing alone in front of the goal, then Tenenbaum was back at the post with a free kick (23rd). Salzburg had significantly more possession of the ball, but the Israelis didn’t care one bit. The home team left the design of the game to Szoboszlai and Co. to quickly switch to counterattacks in case of errors.

Elfer initiates the change

Marsch reacted to the break and brought the Sekou Koita for Berisha, which many had waited for all along. The latter was not noticed in the first 45 minutes. The fact that it was 1: 1 less than four minutes after the restart was not due to Koita, but to Szoboszlai. The Hungarian scored from the penalty spot after English referee Michael Oliver decided the Israeli foul in a duel between Daka and Matan Baltaxa (49th). Goalkeeper Tenenbaum almost solved the injustice from Maccabi’s point of view, but the Brazilian-born goalkeeper’s fingers were too short for Alzerl.

Due to the important away goal, the pressure fell from Salzburg’s shoulders. The ball was now running back and forth between its own ranks, also because Tel Aviv softened its rigid defensive concept somewhat. Available rooms clearly played on the cards for the guests, because just eight minutes after the draw, Salzburg had two away goals and a lead on their books. Okugawa reversed the result from close range (57th). The 24-year-old Japanese was the enforcer after Koita had delivered the ball exactly to his foot with a Stanglpass.

Suddenly Maccabi was challenged to play the game. Salzburg, however, could take over the Israeli tactic and await the counterattack. Only the standards became really dangerous for the guests. Biton twice tried to surprise Stankovic with a free kick (66th, 70th), but both times the Salzburg goalkeeper was on the post. Strong support was also necessary, as Tel Aviv came closer to matching Salzburg’s third goal. Six minutes before the end, Stankovic pulled Biton’s long-range hammer from the corner (84th). In injury time, Noah Okafor was still 3-1 on his foot, but the ball returned to the field after his powerful shot from the crossbar.

Voices for the game:

Jesse March (Salzburg coach): “It was a very tough fight for us. Congratulations to the opponent, he played very well. Even before the match, we were sure that it would not be easy against our opponents. Victory, especially after losing 1-0, is very important to us. In the end it was a good performance in this heat and against a good opponent. It’s only halfway through, we still have a lot to do. The advantage with two away goals is very important for us. “

Giorgios Di (Maccabi coach): “I don’t see it as a missed opportunity. We can say that we play well against a good team. We wanted to fight and not lose the game. Still, I am happy with the performance of my players. They gave it their all in every phase of the game. We have to believe that something is still possible in Salzburg and compete with confidence in ourselves and represent our club in the best possible way. “

Champions League, play-off first leg

Tuesday:

Maccabi Tel Aviv – Salzburg 1: 2 (1: 0)

Tel Aviv, Bloomfield Stadion, SR Oliver (ENG)

Sequence of objectives:
1: 0 Biton (9.)
1: 1 Szoboszlai (49./Elfmeter)
Okugawa 1: 2 (57.)

Maccabi: Tenenbaum – Biton, Tibi, Yeini, Baltaxa (82./Hozez), Davidzada – Karzev (71./Shechter), Golasa, Barsky (61./Ben Haim), Biton – Almog

Salzburg: Stankovic – Kristensen, Ramalho, Wöber, Ulmer – Okugawa (76./Okafor), Bernede, Mwepu, Szoboszlai (86./Camara) – Berisha (46./Koita), Dhaka

Yellow cards: Yeini, Donis (coach) or Szoboszlai

Second leg on 30 September in Wals-Siezenheim: Champions League group stage climbers, Europa League losers