VSPG Wels hosted Austria Salzburg in the opening round of the Second League Regular Season on Sunday, 2 August, and the visitors left with a 2-0 victory. The result puts Salzburg seventh in the table with nine points from five games, while Wels remain fourteenth on just four.
The first half had its moments without drama. P. Gobara picked up a yellow card for Wels in the 44th minute, and S. Spitali came on for Salzburg as a substitute just before the break. By then, the match felt like it was settling into a rhythm neither side could quite break.
The breakthrough came after the hour mark. T. Crnkic found the net for Salzburg in the 60th minute, and C. Gebauer added a second in the 73rd. They switched off at the back in those periods, and the away end never stopped celebrating.
There was plenty of business in the final 20 minutes. T. Crnkic was substituted in the 74th minute after his goal, and C. Wernitznig and S. Pirkl also came off. The yellow cards kept coming—Drammeh, Hofer, Pirkl, Sahin, and Kahrimanovic all went into the book for Wels.
The statistics tell you something about the game. Wels had 51 per cent possession and 24 shots, but only six on target. Salzburg managed six shots on target from 11 attempts and scored twice. Many shots with two goals means chances went begging, and here's the thing—Wels blocked nothing and had just two corners.
Salzburg now sit three points clear of mid-table with two games played more than Wels. The hosts have won one, drawn one, and lost three already. It was a straight knockout for their hopes of a fast start, and by then the visitors had made their statement.