Bulls contest genuine friendly with Bulls as New York win.
Friendly: Red Bull Salzburg 2-3 Red Bull New York (H/T: 0-0),
Bulls’ goals: Rakic, Janocko; Angel, Sassano, Magee.
Just 19 hours after the full-time whistle was blown on their league tie with Wacker Innsbruck, Red Bull Salzburg today met their US sister team at the Bulls Arena.
Giovanni Trapattoni mainly fielded players who didn’t play yesterday for the Austrian champions, along with a host of young talent.
Niko Kovac was rested again as he is still to recover from a nasty case of flu. It is unlikely that he will be back in time to make the trip to Innsbruck on Sunday.
It was clear from the opening few minutes that this match would have none of the bustle and ill-feeling that somewhat marred Red Bull New York’s friendly with Red Bull Salzburg Juniors earlier in the week. It would prove to be a genuinely friendly match under the cool late-winter sun.
The first chance of the match fell to the American Bulls after 8 minutes when Dave van den Bergh’s shot from the edge of the area shaved the top of the bar.
After 13 minutes Bodnar made a superb solo burst down the right side, but the Hungarian Salzburg player’s cross was stylishly punched away from goal by Conway beyond the reach of the preying Rakic and Mahop. Chances are few and far between as the first half settles into a terse midfield affair.
After 32 minutes Daniel Borman drives agonisingly close to the far post from the inside-left. That really should have given New York the lead.
After 40 minutes the referee blows for half-time as had been agreed with the coaches prior to kick-off. 0-0!
After the turnaround Öbster and Vuijc come on for Salzburg to replace Pitak and Mahop. The Austrian Bulls are now playing with considerably more drive as they really put their opponents under the cosh. A quick-fire double then fires Salzburg into a 2-0 lead after 57 minutes:
55 minutes: 1-0 to the champions. Djordje Rakic slots inside the far post from the left after being supplied by Janocko. Just two minutes later Rakic plays on to Janocko and the Slovakian fires a goal from the edge of the area via the inside of the post.
A relaxed Red Bull Salzburg are then punished for trying to take the pace out of the game. After 65 minutes Juan Pablo Angel narrows the deficit to 1-2 with a luscious drive from the edge of the area. The American Bulls then go and add an equaliser just five minute later as Luke Sassano applies a crisp 12-yard finish to a Claudio Reyna pass.
Trapattoni’s stunned team then stumble to defeat. With one minute left on the clock, New York’s number seven Mike Magee hammers home from five yards to complete the comeback.
With two minutes stoppage time added to the scheduled 85 minutes of play, referee Gruber signals an end to a thoroughly entertaining match. The Americans can take comfort from a justly deserved 3-2 win over their Austrian friends!
