Narrow friendly defeat against Midtjylland

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FC Red Bull Salzburg

·15 January 2025

Narrow friendly defeat against Midtjylland

Onisiwo and Ratkov score in Estadio Algarve

We were beaten 2-3 in a friendly match in Faro at the Estadio Algarve by FC Midtjylland, who are currently second in the Danish Superliga as well as in the UEFA Europa League. Scoring for the Red Bulls were new signings Karim Onisiwo and Petar Ratkov.

MATCH SUMMARY

After seven days of intensive training in Albufeira, our team made an ambitious start to the clash against Midtjylland. We dominated the play and had several good opportunities, including for Oscar Gloukh (after good pressing), Adam Daghim (whose drilled ball across wasn't met) and Dorgeles Nene (whose ball across also didn't reach a team-mate). The Danish side in the UEFA Europa League only threatened our goal once in the opening half hour, but seized on the chance, scoring after some uncertainty in our defence to make it 1-0 (23'). After a quick team talk at the 30-minute mark, Thomas Letsch's side made their first change with our boys getting another chance a few minutes later – with Oscar Gloukh again unfortunate with his finishing. The goal then finally came via Karim Onisiwo, as the new signing converted from around 17 metres out via the inside of the post for a deserved equaliser (57').

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Five fresh players were introduced after the change of ends, who injected plenty of energy into our play. After Edmund Baidoo, one of the substitutes, was fouled in the box, another one - Petar Ratkov - stepped up to make it 2-1 (63'). The joy over taking the lead was short lived, as Chilufya equalised two minutes later. It was a close game thereafter with Onisiwo and Takumu Kawamura, who continued his recovery from injury, both had good opportunities. It was the Danes who ultimately got the winning goal though via Chilufya in the 88th minute.

LINE-UP

Blaswich (91' Zawieschitzky); Morgalla (31' Diambou), S. Baidoo (76' Gadou), Mellberg (61' Piatkowski/91' Verhounig), Terzic (46' Trummer); Yeo (61' E. Baidoo), Capaldo (46' Bajcetic), Bidstrup (61' Gourna-Douath), Nene (61' Kawamura); Gloukh (46' Onisiwo), Daghim (61' Ratkov)

TO NOTE

Today's friendly featured 60 minutes in the first half and 45 in the second.
Not available for action were Hendry Blank (knee), Bobby Clark (not yet match fit after illness), Amar Dedic (ankle), Gaoussou Diakite (achilles), Daouda Guindo (knee), Salko Hamzic (thigh), Maurits Kjaergaard (ankle), Karim Konate (knee) and Alexander Schlager (not yet match fit after illness).
Three FC Liefering talents appeared in Tim Trummer, Phillip Verhounig and Christian Zawieschitzky.
Our boys will have their final training session in Portugal on Thursday before they return to Salzburg on Friday and have a day off on Saturday. From Sunday they can then prepare for the UEFA Champions League match at reigning holders Real Madrid.

VIEWS

It annoys me a little that we didn't win the match, as we definitely had the chances for that. We did really well on the whole in the first block, but we need to be sharper in front of goal. When you get chances like that, you just have to make them count. The goal we conceded was our own doing - it was unnecessary. I was pleased that our new signing scored on his first appearance. We have gained a lot of insights from the friendly match, and we need to make use of them.

Thomas Letsch

I think it was a good friendly match for us, even if we were narrowly beaten. We played well up to the final third, and we have to be calmer in certain situations in front of goal. It was a great day for me today to get to appear for FC Red Bull Salzburg for the first time - and score a goal with my third or fourth touch.

Karim Onisiwo