Salzburg 2-2 Crvena zvezda (2-2 on aggregate).

Crvena zvezda progressed on away goals.

Dabbur 45’, 48’ PEN; Ben Nabouhane 65’, 66’

PATRICK GREEN reports on the action at Stadion Salzburg, Salzburg

El Fardou Ben Nabouhane’s quick-fire double cancelled out Munas Dabbur’s brace either side of half time to send Crvena zvezda through to the UEFA Champions League on away goals.

As Cüneyt Çakir’s whistle sounded to begin this Champions League play-off in Austria, the unmistakable sound of the Stadion Salzburg rose to a fever pitch. The first leg in Belgrade had been behind closed doors as a punishment for racist chanting. The result was a game without heart, without atmosphere, and without goals. But with a place in the Champions League at stake, and a full stadium, there would be no danger of that today.

Clearly the tension was affecting Crvena goalie Milan Borjan. The Canadian came rushing out for a ball played to young forward Patson Daka and missed it completely. Luckily for Crvena, Daka hesitated when there was an open goal and captain Vujadin Savić dealt with the situation and spared Borjan’s blushes. Salzburg were getting closer though, with Amadou Haidara next to test Borjan from distance. The keeper found it easier to deal with that attempt. It didn’t get easier for the Serbians and a lovely move saw Daka find Munas Dabbur and a lovely backheel by the Israeli found Daka once more, but the Zambian was just thwarted by Borjan.

Crvena saw chances hard to come by, and within twenty-five minutes Salzburg had already marked up eight attempts – the visitors could only manage one which was blocked. Their defence also seemed to inspire nothing but nerves, and when their forwards did get the ball they took pot shots from range that went nowhere near the goal – Nemanja Radonjić and Nemanja Milić among the offenders. Things seemed to get worse when their young midfielder Veljko Simić went down injured, but his replacement Dušan Jovančić offered a necessary change of tempo, although Crvena’s creative players still failed to do anything of note.

As the whistle loomed, it appeared as if the first half would end in frustration for the Austrians. But a flash of brilliance from the captain Andreas Ulmer was the difference as an incredibly precise cross found Dabbur whose finish was just as good as the assist. Yes, the defending was still shaky, but that takes away nothing from either man. That was the last action of the half, the packed stadium delighted thanks to Captain Fantastic and his Nazarene teammate. However, considering how Crvena had performed up to that point, being 1-0 down and still firmly in the match was nowhere near the end of the world.

The second half started the same way as the first, though. Hannes Wolf was bearing down on the box when Savić took him out but Çakir decided he was in the box. The Serbian protests waved away, Dabbur didn’t care where the foul was as he thumped home the penalty for his, and Salzburg’s second. Crvena coach Vladan Milivojević knew it was time for a change and withdrew the ineffective Milić, with Milan Pavkov being their second sub. He showed his intent early on, but his shot just went over the Salzburg bar.

Tensions were rising and multiplied when Pavkov went up with a Salzburg player for the ball. Both men were hurt and Marin Pogrančić decided inexplicably to stamp on Pavkov. Nenad Krističić was enraged and started a melee. Both men escaped with a yellow but Crvena were fired up now. Just minutes later, El Fardou Ben Nabouhane headed home a cross at the near post to give the Serbians a glimmer of light. They were determined, and it was just over 60 seconds later when they were attacking again. Krističić was determined to do something after his part in the fight and his cross found Miloš Degenek whose header was nodded home by Ben Nabouhane. Salzburg had lost their head and within a matter of minutes Crvena were ahead on aggregate and heading into the Champions League.

Salzburg were down but not out though, and they had several chances to bring Champions League football to the city. A free-kick from Yabo was well saved by Borjan who had by now more than made amends for his first-half error, and a goalmouth scramble from a corner yielded nothing. Their best chance came when André Ramalho put in a lovely cross to Haidara. If the Malian headed it to Dabbur he surely would have scored the winner but he was caught in two minds and wasted the opportunity. Haidara’s next ball found Dabbur but the Israeli’s shot was way too slow. Still the Austrians came forward, and a lovely cross found Ramalho’s whose lovely header was stopped by Borjan.

Even with five minutes of added time Salzburg just couldn’t find a winner, and the final whistle signalled a pitch invasion for the Red Star fans. The Austrians had wilted on their own pitch, which for the rest of the day belonged to Crvena zvezda.

Salzburg: Stankovic 5, Haidara 6, Samassékou 5, Dabbur 7 (Goal 45′ 48′ (PEN), Booked 90’+4), Wolf 5, André Ramalho 6, Ulmer 6 (c), Daka 4 (Sub off 69′), Lainer 4, Pongračić 4 (Booked 63′), Schlager 4 (Booked 81′, sub off 83′). Coach: Marco Rose

Subs: Walke, Van Der Werff, Yabo 5 (Sub on 69′), Prevljak 5(Sub on 83′), Minamino, Mwepu, Todorović.

Crvena zvezda: Borjan 6, Jovičić 6, Degenek 6, Krističić 6 (Booked 63′), Milić 5(Sub off 49′), Simić 5 (Sub off 37′), Rodić 5, Stojković 5 (Booked 75′), Ben Nabouhane 7 (Goal 65′, 66′), Radonjić 6 (Sub off 82′), Savić 5 (c). Coach: Vladan Milojević

Subs: Popović, Pavkov 6 (Sub on 49′, Booked 89′), Srnić, Babić, Jonathan Cafú, Jovančić 6 (Sub on 37′), Gobeljić 5 (Sub on 82′).

Referee: Cüneyt Çakir 7

Follow us on Twitter! @poss_football