FC Salzburg Just Made Those Champions League Comebacks Look Like Child’s Play

Oh sure, the little Champions League was kinda entertaining this week, what with Roma beating Barcelona and Real Madrid holding off Juventus. But the 6-5 FC Salzburg comeback against Lazio in the Europa League on Thursday made all the drama from Tuesday and Wednesday look like child’s play. 

Salzburg came into the match trailing 4-2 on aggregate after getting spanked by Lazio in Rome last week. Those two away goals gave the Austrian side a bit of hope, but few expected them to be the Red Bull-sponsored team in the Europa League semifinals. Instead, while RB Leipzig was capitulating in Marseille (5-2 defeat to lose 5-3 on aggregate), Salzburg rallied with four goals in 20 minutes, including three in a remarkable four-minute span.

The FC Salzburg comeback vs. Lazio trumped anything we saw in the Champions League this week. Photo: @EuropaLeague | Twitter

We’ll pick up the action in the 72nd minute. This was after Ciro Immobile got in behind the Salzburg defense to make it 5-2 on aggregate in the 55th, seemingly dashing all hopes for the home side. But Moanes Dabour quickly canceled out that goal a minute later. 

Starting in the 72nd minute, Amadou Haidara, Hee-Chan Hwang and Stefan Lainer all scored in quick succession to spark the remarkable Salzburg comeback, turning a 5-2 deficit into a 6-5 lead.

Haidara’s goal was an absolute bullet. Hee-Chan capitalized on some lazy defending and Lainer’s header came moments after Salzburg could have been given a PK for a handball in the box. In four minutes Salzburg went from two goals down to one up, though admittedly Lainer’s goal was unnecessary because Salzburg would have gone through on away goals at 5-5, but it helped break the spirit of Lazio.

55' Salzburg 0-1 Lazio
56' Salzburg 1-1 Lazio
72' Salzburg 2-1 Lazio
74' Salzburg 3-1 Lazio
76' Salzburg 4-1 Lazio

What a turnaround in Austria, Salzburg now lead 6-5 on aggregate! #UEL pic.twitter.com/6ic369YgaY

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) April 12, 2018

This fan’s reaction sums up our feelings on the Salzburg comeback. 

Salzburg is a stunningly beautiful city and it’s the hometown of Mozart. This FC Salzburg comeback vs. Lazio probably belongs right alongside Mozart and the city’s gorgeous vistas. Well, maybe not. But it was certainly better than the 0-0 draw between Bayern Munich and Sevilla.