Title hopes end in Graz

FC Red Bull Salzburg

·9 May 2025

Title hopes end in Graz

End-to-end battle ends badly

League leaders Sturm Graz proved to be more clinical in front of goal in the big match and their early two-goal lead proved the difference. Two matches before the end of the season, our title dreams are therefore over as we no longer have a chance of being crowned champions of Austria this season.

Match summary

It was a case of all or nothing as we went into Matchday 30 of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga at a sold-out Merkur Arena. Both sides began in attacking mode with Samson Baidoo being the only change to our starting line-up at right back. We pushed forward while Horvat and Kiteishvili approached our target. With half chances falling at both ends, the first decisive blow sadly came at ours - as our boys were too slow to react to a Graz attacking move and Aleksa Terzic deflected a Böving shot unstoppably past Alex Schlager - with the authorities deeming the strike an own goal (18').

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We could already see at this stage of the game some patterns that would reappear - with a clinical edge lacking in attack, as Vertessen hit wide on the turn. At the back, the ball landed to Böving once again and Terzic deflected a shot from Horva into the path of the Dane, who smashed in the second (20').

Our XI were in no mood to give in though, with so much at stake. Our attackers had a go from just about everywhere in the first half (22', 28', 30', 32', 40'), with the best chance falling to Adam Daghim's head. The breakthrough for our boys came at the ideal time of just before the break as Oscar Gloukh crossed the ball in and Dorgeles Nene headed us back in contention shortly before half-time (45').

As much as our boys tried to start the second period well, the league leaders struck again minutes after the restart. Lavalee got a header on target from a corner, and Alex Schlager made a fantastic save, only for Wüthrich to race in and pounce (48'). We weren't two goals down again for long as Aiwu cut a sharp ball from the returning Karim Onisiwo into his own net (59'). Sturm were just a tick more clinical and knew how to raise their game at the right time.

In the 72nd minute, Karic raced past the backline and Chukwuani netted from close range. Our Red Bulls continued to look for a route back, but the best they could create in the final minutes was a Ratkov header that flew over as we bowed out of the title race.

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They scored with their first two shots, and it was a real blow. To concede so early in the second half also hurt us and shouldn't have happened. The defeat is a painful one, but we would like to give 100% in our final two matches to finish the season as well as possible.

Samson Baidoo

They were simply the better team before we scored. They scored twice in their first two chances in the first half. We just weren't sharp enough in certain situations today. Conceding straight after the restart like that from a corner just shouldn't happen. It is our own fault today! We all know what the defeat meant. I can only thank the fans for the great support. It is really tough at the moment, but next week we want to go again.

Mads Bidstrup

It was an exciting match in the first half, as it went from end to end - and we had the upper hand in plenty of situations we should have made count. We then went into the break 1-2 down - but the third goal knocked us out of our stride. When you are two goals behind for the whole match, it's going to be tough. Ultimately, we have to congratulate Sturm. They deserved to win as they had the extra edge and extra drive in attack. We weren't good enough in that regard to win today.

Thomas Letsch

Line-up

Substitutions

Onisiwo for Sulzbacher (56'), E. Baidoo for Mellberg (56'), Ratkov for Nene (69')

Yellow cards

Gadou (68' foul)

Injury news

Not available for the match were Nicolas Capaldo (toe), Maximiliano Caufriez (back problems), Daouda Guindo (knee), Maurits Kjaergaard (ankle), Karim Konate (knee) and Moussa Yeo (knee).