Last-minute winner seals dramatic opening win!

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Last-minute winner seals dramatic opening win!

Karim Konate wins it against Hartberg​

Our Red Bulls celebrated a well-deserved home victory against TSV Hartberg to kick off the season. However, we had to be patient for a long time, as despite numerous scoring opportunities, the long-overdue 1-0 lead only came in the final minute thanks to Karim Konate.

Match summary​

Off we go – lively opening in Röhl's debut​

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The new season started for our Red Bulls with several fresh faces. In the Bundesliga debut of head coach Danny Röhl, Chris Zawieschitzky started in goal in front of a completely revamped back line. Abubakr Barry and Gaoussou Diakite also provided fresh impetus in midfield.

3' - 9' – Chances by the minute​

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Our lads took control from the outset. Diakite tested the Hartberg goalkeeper for the first time with a long-range effort. The opportunities then came thick and fast: after a strong solo run by Redzic, he laid the ball off to Aguilar, whose shot from a promising position, however, lacked precision. Shortly afterwards, the right flank once again proved to be the way through - as a perfectly placed cross from Veratschnig was met by Diakite with a challenging volley, but his effort narrowly missed the target.

17' & 18' – Hartberg hit back, but we respond​

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After a quarter of an hour, the visitors became more active and created their first big chance. A dangerous counter-attack demanded everything from our defensive debutant Zabransky, who cleared the danger with a last-ditch sliding tackle. Moments later, TSV Hartberg had another opportunity to take the lead, but striker Postl only found the side netting after a cross. Our lads responded immediately: the lively Redzic set up Diabate, whose strengths, however, lie more in tackling than finishing.

24', 27' & 29' – No reward despite pressure​

With over 80 percent possession, our Red Bulls largely pinned the visitors back in their own penalty area. After a sharp corner, Schmid got a shot away in the thick of the scramble, but couldn't get the ball over the line. Just moments later, Barry was served the ball in the opponent's penalty area, but he too missed the target. Barry then tried again from distance – and his powerful shot narrowly missed the Hartberg goal.

31' – another effort and goalless at the break​

Even after half an hour, the chances were clearly on our side. Vertessen followed up a rebound decisively, but was too late to get the decisive touch against the well-positioned Hartberg goalkeeper. That it was still 0-0 at this point was hard to believe, given the number of clear-cut opportunities, and it would remain that way until halftime.

46' – Huge chance after the restart​

Just seconds after the restart, our Red Bulls should have taken the lead. Veratschnig played a precise cross-field pass into the centre, where Vertessen escaped his marker. With a clear shot on goal, the striker put the ball over the crossbar from five meters out.

60' – Great acclaim for the debutant​

To counteract the profligacy in front of goal, Danny Röhl brought on fresh attacking impetus after an hour: new signing Haris Tabakovic entered the pitch for the first time as a Red Bull to loud cheers from the fans.

64' – deflected volley and more misfortune​

Then bad luck struck. The visitors only partially cleared a corner kick, falling to Diakite, who volleyed the ball directly towards goal from distance. However, one of his own team-mates got in the way and deflected the ball. Overall, the second half was considerably more sluggish and featured fewer clear-cut chances than the first.

80' – Hartberg defence holds firm​

The visitors had by now retreated deep into their own half. Our lads kept searching for the opening. Newly introduced Mazurek tried his luck from outside the penalty area, but Liverpool loanee Pecsi in the Hartberg goal simply saved everything he had to.

90' & full-time - huge relief at the end!​

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Would we settle for a draw? No way! Schmid delivered a perfectly weighted cross into the center, where substitute Karim Konate rose with perfect timing and headed it home. The winner sent the nearly 8,000 fans in the Red Bull Arena into a collective frenzy of celebration in the final minute as they celebrated a well-deserved league opening victory!

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An expected goals figure of almost four for our team underscores the overwhelming dominance of our lads – and in the end, this tireless effort was also reflected on the scoreboard. With the first three points in the bag, our Red Bulls have made a perfect start to the new ADMIRAL Bundesliga season, before heading into international competition on Thursday with a home match against Pafos in the UEL qualifier. Tickets are now on sale!

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Match details​

Line-ups & substitutionsFC Red Bull Salzburg: Zawieschitzky – Veratschnig ©, Boma, Zabransky, Schmid – Diabate, Barry (69. Konate) – Redzic, Diakite (80. Krätzig), Aguilar (69. Mazurek) – Vertessen (60. Tabakovic)TSV Hartberg: Pecsi – Wilfinger (90. Drew), Komposch, Schopp, Coulibaly, Gerstl (46. Pazourek) – Kainz ©, Markus, Diarra (90. Feldhofer) – Hoffmann (71. Urrutia), Postl (46. Gattermayer)

Goal: Konate (90.)Attendance: 7,735Referee: Alain SadikovskiYellow cards: none

Injury news​

• Not available were Anrie Chase (thigh), Sota Kitano (ill), Stefan Lainer (heel), Johannes Moser (groin) and Justin Omoregie (thigh).
• Adam Daghim was released for contract discussions with another club.

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