Salzburg earns a point against Milan
FC Red Bull Salzburg got their start in the premier class with a 1-1 draw against Italian champions AC Milan. Noah Okafor even gave the Bulls a brief lead in front of a full house. Milan manage to equalize before halftime.
Salzburg was awarded a point on Tuesday for a strong performance against a top European team. At the start of the soccer Champions League, the “Bulls” drew 1-1 (1-1) at home against Italy’s champions AC Milan and can approach the next task in the coming week with a lot of self-confidence. Then on Wednesday there will be an away game at English giants Chelsea, who are already under pressure after a 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb.
Noah Okafor (28th) gave Matthias Jaissle’s team the lead in front of a full house (29.520), Alexis Saelemaekers (40th) ensured the final result in the Group E match before the break. Thanks to a courageous performance, the home side had the better chances overall and should probably cry a little for the win. They lost Maximilian Wöber shortly before kick-off and Oumar Solet just before the break – and with them both regular central defenders.
Jaissle has to change at short notice
Due to Luka Sucic’s groin injury, Jaissle gave confidence to 18-year-old Dijon Kameri behind leaders Fernando and Noah Okafor. The ÖFB national team player who has not yet had a European Cup appearance for the “Bulls” and only three in the league and made his starting eleven debut last Saturday in a 2-0 win against WSG Tirol. Jaissle, on the other hand, had no choice when it came to Wöber, who also injured his groin during the warm-up and was replaced by new signing Strahinja Pavlovic.
But that doesn’t affect the field. Pavlovic misjudged a high ball in the 8th minute, but the otherwise inconspicuous Olivier Giroud shot too quickly, goalie Philipp Köhn was there. Milan were able to clearly have more possession of the ball and, as expected, repeatedly credited advances, but most of the actions died successfully for the high Salzburg lower band. Apart from the Giroud conclusion, a warped volley from captain David Calabria (7th) and Köhn’s intervention in a dangerous free kick (18th) were worthwhile.
Salzburg with a bold start
Salzburg showed their offensive virtues right after the start. Andreas Ulmer and Co., like von Jaissle, played extremely courageously, employed the Milan defense with a lot of speed and introduced themselves in the first minute with Köpfler (close) and Nicola Schusss Capaldos (far) next to Milan. Again and again they appeared in front, a blocked long-range shot by Maurits Kjaergaard (16th) and a deflected Fernando shot into the arms of Maignan (24th) were noteworthy. A good ten minutes later, the Brazilian didn’t give up on sixteen meters, conquered the ball and assisted Okafor. The Swiss central defender Pierre Kalulu felt dizzy and shot into the far corner – nicely with a “Gurkerl”.
But Milan remained unimpressed. After an “excursion” by Köhn, Solet saved against Rafael Leao (31′), shortly before the break the Portuguese, who had not been conspicuous until then and was in good hands with CL debutant Amar Dedic, then made his appearance: Milan released perfectly from the Salzburg pressing, Leao’s cross found the abandoned Saelemaekers in the center, who shot in easily.
The fact that Solet was also injured shortly before the break made the malaise in the defense center perfect (42nd), he had to be replaced by Bernardo. But that didn’t stand in the way of a good performance after the break. Fernando missed the apparently “100 percent” after a Kjaergaard cross from five meters (53rd), a little more than ten minutes later he also had to leave the field with a muscle injury.
While Milan was hardly compelling as a result – Pobega shot wide of the far corner (61st), Divock Origi headed next to it (76th) – Salzburg continued to score tirelessly for a possible victory. Nicolas Seiwald forced Maignan to save from more than 20 meters (62′), Sesko narrowly missed the finish from a similar distance (86′). In stoppage time, it was Origi who missed the ball in the penalty area, luckily for Salzburg (91′). The hosts were even luckier when the pole on Leao’s shot prevented Milanse from an undeserved victory (94′).
Scorer Noah Okafor after the game: “It’s a shame we didn’t get three points. But we can build on that. I’m sure we can cause a surprise.” When asked if it was his best CL game so far: “You can say that. I tried to play bravely, I feel in top shape.”
Matthias Jaissle after the game: “It was brutal emotionality. There was cool energy not only for me, but also in the stadium. A compliment to the fans. The atmosphere was just as we wanted it to be. We performed in such a way that the fans can go home happy.”
Soccer Champions League Group E – 1st Round:
FC Salzburg – AC Milan 1: 1 (1: 1)
Wals-Siezenheim, Red Bull Arena, 29.520 (sold out), SR Jovanovic/SRB
Crack: 1-0 (28′) Okafor, 1-1 (40′) Saelemäkers
Salzburg: Köhn – Dedic, Solet (Bernardo 42), Pavlovic, Ulmer – Capaldo, Seiwald, Kameri (Gourna-Douath 65), Kjaergaard – Fernando (Sesko 65), Okafor (Adamu 93)
Milan: Maignan – Calabria (57th Dest), Kalulu, Tomori, Hernandez – Bennacer (57th Pobega), Tonali – Seekemaekers (80th Messiah), De Ketelaere (70th Diaz), Leao – Giroud (57th Origi)
Yellow cards: Capaldo, Gourna-Douath or Tomori, Calabria, Diaz, Origi
The best: Solet, Seiwald, Okafor or Hernández, Leao, Tonali