Salzburg lived up to their role as favorites and scored a deserved win against committed but unlucky Rieder. Luka Sucic gave the Bulls the lead in the 27th minute with a goal well worth seeing. A header from Maximilian Wöber (52′) shortly after the break and a goal from a counterattack by Benjamin Sesko (87′) made things clear for the big favourites.
In the turbulent final phase, Ried had the chance to ensure an exciting finish. The Upper Austrians, who had also lost 3-0 ten years ago, were denied a goal. After their successes in 1998 and 2011, the Rieders are now holding three cup titles. The record winner is Austria Wien with a total of 27 successes.
Sucic’s artful shot to make it 1-0
Luka Sucic once again demonstrated his perfect shooting technique and scored in the 27th minute to give Salzburg the lead.
Salzburg at its best, Ried with a chain of five
After the strong rotation in the league game against Puntigamer Sturm Graz, Salzburg coach Jaissle returns to the top line-up. The only small surprise was Sucic instead of Brenden Aaronson in attacking midfield. Ried trainer Christian Heinle went back to the tried and tested and sent his team onto the field with a chain of five. Ante Bajic acted as the solo leader at the forefront. Before the game began, there was a minute’s silence in memory of the legendary coach Ivica Osim, who died on Sunday.
After that, the final started as expected. Ried was still without ball contact when Salzburg fired the first – harmless – shot on goal through Sucic after just one minute. Ried didn’t play games at the back, hit the balls uncompromisingly and hoped to create chances. Salzburg had the next opportunity from a long pass. Karim Adeyemi prevailed in the running duel, but did not finish properly (9th).
Dream goal brings Salzburg leadership
After a quarter of an hour, the linesman had to be changed. The fourth official, Rene Eisner, took over the job on the touchline and immediately flagged Adeyemi for offside. After an action by the DFB striker, Salzburg lost the lead. Adeyemi sprinted deep into the opposition defense and put the ball back on Sucic. The 19-year-old scored a fantastic goal from 20 meters into the Kreuzeck (27th). The goal also withstood VAR review, which checked Adeyemi for offside.
Rieder didn’t hide and certainly had offensive approaches, which, however, did not really pose a threat to Salzburg. Goalie Philipp Köhn was the focus twice. Once the 24-year-old Bajic cleared uncompromisingly (30′), a few minutes later he rushed out of his goal and was faster on the ball than the Ried striker (39′). Due to the interruption, six minutes were added to the first half, in which Salzburg dominated. Another goal before the break did not succeed.
Preliminary decision by Wöber’s header goal
The second half was unchanged in terms of personnel, in which Rieder had the first chance. Bajic let Rasmus Kristensen drive wide in the penalty area, but his shot from the far post was saved by Köhn (47′). An unnecessary corner then further reduced the outsider’s chances. After a short corner kick, Noah Okafor brought the ball up to the middle. Wöber beat Bajic in a head-to-head duel and defeated Ried goalie Samuel Sahin-Radlinger from close range (52′).
Wöber makes it 2-0
A few minutes after the change of sides, the preliminary decision was made for Salzburg. Maximilian Wöber was there after a cross and scored Salzburg’s second goal with his head (52′).
Clearly superior to the rest of the field and with a two-goal lead, Salzburg could not go wrong. After Andreas Ulmer’s Stangl pass, Adeyemi shot over the goal from close range (60′). Just a few minutes later, the striker was the center of attention again. After Okafor crossed in, Adeyemi initially put the ball too far in front of him, but then tipped it over the line without considering losses while sliding. The fact that the 20-year-old endangered Ried goalie Sahin-Radlinger caused heated discussions. The goal didn’t count anyway, because the VAR had recognized an offside position.
Heated final phase in Klagenfurt
After an overhead kick from Bajic, with which Köhn had no problems (68th), and a chance from Kristensen on the other side (69th), things got heated again out of nowhere with fifteen minutes to go. Rieder Leo Mikic went down after a duel on the edge of the penalty area. Then there was a pack formation and a scuffle. The result was yellow cards for Sucic and Bajic, but despite a VAR check, there was no exclusion.
After a double chance for Adeyemi in the 81st minute, Heinle once again put everything on one card. With Dorgeles Nene and Josef Weberbauer, the Ried coach brought in two fresh offensive forces and broke the five-man chain. This move almost led to success. Bajic initially failed because of Köhn. The ball came to Mikic, who lifted it on goal. But Wöber saved acrobatically in front of the line (83rd). The Salzburg central defender was the center of attention again shortly afterwards. After a shot by Mikic, Wöber’s defense was not counted as a handball by VAR (85′).
The decision caused a lot of trouble for the Rieders – also on the sidelines. Tempers had not yet calmed down when Salzburg finally put an end to the game. After a cross from Adeyemi, Sesko had no problem getting the ball over the line (87′). The 18-year-old scored his fifth goal and became the top scorer in the cup. In the final phase, the experienced Zlatko Junuzovic was also used by Salzburg and was able to celebrate another title with his colleagues.
Sesko ensures the final score
Benjamin Sesko made it 3-0 in the 87th minute and thus ensured the final score in the cup final.
Comments on the game:
Matthew Jaissle (Salzburg coach): “In fact, today was the first time I really felt pressure before a game. The favorite role was clearly distributed. Accordingly, the relief is already huge. Compliments to Ried, they did it very, very well until the end. They tried to keep the game tight, took the duels hard, closed the spaces. It wasn’t easy for us. But we’ve also done really well. Of course we didn’t make it 3-0 early enough, but all in all it was a well-deserved win.”
Christian Heinle (Ried trainer): “We sold really well. The defeat today is irrelevant (for the relegation battle in the league/note). We knew we had two finals in a row, and as I said, we did really well in the first. We have to take this momentum with us, even if it’s bitter shortly afterwards. But next week against Altach we’ll be back one hundred percent.”
Andreas Ulmer (Salzburg captain): “We have resolved to play a good game and get on well. The 1-0 was of course an outstanding goal from Luka, which we are happy to take with us. But I also think we were really good at controlling the game and we absolutely deserved to win. These are moments that I will remember forever.”
Uniqa ÖFB Cup, final
Sunday:
Salzburg – Ried 3:0 (1:0)
Klagenfurt, Wörthersee Stadium, 7,800 spectators, SR Harkam
Torfolge:
1:0 Sucic (27.)
2:0 Woeber (52.)
3:0 Sesko (87.)
Salzburg: Köhn – Kristensen, Solet, Wöber, Ulmer – Capaldo (63./Aaronson), Camara (90./Junuzovic), Sucic, N. Seiwald – Okafor (73./Sesko), Adeyemi (90./Kjaergaard)
Ried: Sahin-Radlinger – Wießmeier (57th / Mikic), Meisl, Lackner (82nd / Nene), Plavotic, Pomer – Stosic, Ziegl, Satin (82nd / Weberbauer) – Nutz, Bajic
Yellow cards: Sucic and Bajic
The best: Wöber, Adeyemi, Köhn or Bajic, Ziegl
