Strong! Salzburg win Champions Hockey League quarter-final first leg against Färjestad
This was another strong international performance by the Austrian champions. EC Red Bull Salzburg celebrated a 3:1 victory over Färjestad Karlstad, winners of the league phase, in the Champions Hockey League quarter-final first leg at the Eisarena Salzburg on Tuesday and took the lead into the return leg in two weeks' time. The return match will take place on 17th December. ORF SPORT + will once again broadcast the game live.
1 min read
Salzburg delivered an almost perfect performance in the first leg against the best team in the league phase. Ryan Murphy put the home side ahead in the 17th minute, but the visitors from Sweden equalised through Marian Studenič just 33 seconds later.
In the middle period, the Red Bulls dominated proceedings and produced an exceptionally strong performance – even while shorthanded. In the 29th minute, Nash Nienhuis scored shorthanded to make it 2:1, his first goal in the shirt of the “Mozart City side”.
Färjestad Karlstad appeared to have equalised again a few minutes later, but after a video review, the referees decided not to award the goal. Instead, they handed Jeremy Groleau a game misconduct penalty for an illegal check to the head or neck. This gave Salzburg a five-minute power play, which they ruthlessly converted: new signing Scott Kosmachuk made it 3:1 in the 38th minute.
For the 30-year-old, it was already his third goal in his seventh game. The score remained 3:1 to the home side until the final buzzer, meaning Salzburg take a two-goal lead into the return leg in Sweden on Tuesday, 17th December at 19:00.
CHL play-off format
The top 16 teams from the 24-team field contest the round of sixteen. 1st plays 16th, 2nd plays 15th, and so on. This subsequently determines the play-off bracket through to the final. The play-off ties are decided over two legs, with the aggregate score deciding if the points are level. Only the final is played as a single, decisive match.
Champions Hockey League – quarter-final first leg
EC Red Bull Salzburg vs Färjestad Karlstad 3:1 (1:1,2:0,0:0)
Tue, 03rd December 2024, 18:00
Red Bull Salzburg scorers: Ryan Murphy (17th), Nash Nienhuis (29th/SH1), Scott Kosmachuk (38th/PP1)
Färjestad Karlstad scorer: Marian Studenič (18th)
Return leg:
Färjestad Karlstad vs. EC Red Bull Salzburg
Tue, 17th December 2024, 19:00 - >> live on ORF SPORT +
