Salzburg party after the downpour: Pachuca KO 2-1, Austrians alone at the top of group H
Salzburg party in Cincinnati: the 2-1 against the Mexicans of Pachuca launches the Austrians to the top of group H. A marathon match, lasting almost four hours, due to a very long stoppage (an hour and forty minutes) at the beginning of the second half due to a downpour that forced the evacuation of the public from the stands. An entertaining first half, with Pachuca looking for a goal for a long time but in vain (Rondon a great protagonist), but which found in its path the great performance of the young number one making his debut for Salzburg, Zawieschitzky, protagonist of three decisive interventions before the half hour, in the phase of play in which the Mexican striker had the best chances of the match. Then, however, just before the break (42'), a sudden restart by the Austrians led to Salzburg taking the lead with Gloukh, who with a right-footed curler on an assist from Sulzbacher gave the lead to the Austrians. Before, however, Pachuca had been the absolute protagonist, led by Salomon Rondon, one of the great protagonists of the Mexican championship.
After an initial opportunity by Ratkov, the Rondon show began. A great diagonal on which Zawieschitzky managed to intervene, then repeating himself on Montiel. Salzburg with more quality, but Pachuca much more concrete and effective, with a 4-2-3-1 that transformed into a 4-5-1 in the offensive phase. The Austrians responded to the Mexican pressure with Gloukh (27'), but Moreno closed the door. Then, in the 31st minute, the best opportunity for the Mexicans, with the usual Rondon, who shot again finding the Salzburg number one ready to lift it over the crossbar. Danger averted for Letsch's men, still in difficulty on another thrust by Palavecino. Then, in the 42nd minute, the Austrian counterattack with Nene led to Sulbacher's assist for Gloukh, a feint on Pedraza and an unstoppable conclusion for Moreno.
In the second half, the Austrians started well, but after nine minutes the referee interrupted the match due to a sudden weather alert for Cincinnati, with black clouds over the Tql Stadium, which then led to a violent storm. Spectators evacuated from the stands, then the restart after a one hundred minute stop. There Pachuca found the equalizer with a splendid free kick by Gonzalez. The Austrians reacted immediately, however, and there the limitations of Lozano's team emerged. Thus, on a thrust by Bidstrup, Onisiwo - who had replaced Baidoo - jumped very high beating Moreno. Final score 2-1, and now Real Madrid is forced to chase.
La Gazzetta dello Sport
