RECAP: Leipzig Second Half Surge Carries First Bundesliga Win

photo from Getty Images

by Anthony J. Merced

A second half surge saw RB Leipzig eliminate a deficit and win by four goals against VfB Stuttgart in their first home game of the 2023-24 Bundesliga campaign. The goals came from all of the field with the notorious Red Bull press saw defenders, wingers and forwards hitting the back of the net.

Leipzig and Stuttgart traded jabs in the midfield with few obvious chances. It wasn't until the 35th minute when Stuttgart surprised the hosts and took the lead due to a unfamiliar turnover by David Raum. His pass into the midfield was intercepted and turned into the opening goal by Serhou Guirassy. Goalkeeper Janis Blaswich got a hand on the ball but it wasn't enough to keep it out of the net.

Leipzig found their way back into the game in the second half when a goalkeeping error from Stuttgart on a clearance became the equalizer. Benjamin Henrichs rushed the keeper and deflected the clearance into the net. Leipzig took the lead in the 63rd minute when Dani Olmo's deflected shot found the back of the net. From there the flood gates opened as Lois Openda, Kevin Kampl and Xavi Simons joined in the goal scoring fun.

The win is the first for Leipzig in the Bundesliga and erases a disappointing start to the campaign. It also allowed new players like Openda and Simons to get their goal-scoring legs under them as they will be relied upon for Leipzig to make a run at Bayern Munich and their first Bundesliga title.

Next up is a trip to the German capital against Union Berlin on Sunday, September 3rd.

STARTING XI:

RB Leipzig: Blaswich; Henrichs, Simakan (85' Klostermann), Orban, Raum, Schlager, Kampl, Simons (80' Werner), Olmo (85' Baumgartner), Openda (79' Forsberg), Poulsen (79' Sesko)

VfB Stuttgart: Nubel; Stenzel (70' Massimo), Anton, Zagadou, Ito, Karazor, Egloff (70' Haraguchi), Mvumpa (58' Sosa), Jeong (90' Leweling), Fuhrich (90' Mittelstadt), Guirassy

SCORING SUMMARY:

35' (VfB Stuttgart) Serhou Guirassy

52' (RB Leipzig) Benjamin Henrichs

63' (RB Leipzig) Dani Olmo assisted by Xavier Quentin Simons

66' (RB Leipzig) Lois Openda assisted by David Raum

74' (RB Leipzig) Kevin Kampl

76' (RB Leipzig) Xavier Quentin Simons assisted by Lois Openda

DISCIPLINE:

61' (RB Leipzig) Xaver Schlager - YELLOW CARD

65' VfB Stuttgart) Lilan Egloff - YELLOW CARD

Comments

Red Bulls Acquire Midfielder Frankie Amaya from FC Cincinnati

photo by Matt Kremkau The rumors have become reality as Frankie Amaya has become a New York Red Bulls player. The news comes after Amaya signs a new deal with New York following a trade from FC Cincinnati for $500 thousand in allocation money this season and $450 thousand in 2022. "We are very pleased to complete this deal," said Director of Sport Kevin Thelwell. "Frankie is a player we've watched closely, and we are confident that his skills and attributes are a good fit for our philosophy and style of play. We look forward to getting him into our environment and achieving success together in the years ahead." The 20 year-old midfielder was the first overall pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft and played in 40 total games for FC Cincinnati, scoring one goal over that time. Amaya was also a major part of the US Men's National Team U20's Concacaf Championship win in 2018. The potential is there and his age and ability match the direction New York has taken o...

Tolkin and Edelman Called into Olympic Camp

photo by Matt Kremkau by Anthony J. Merced New York Red Bulls homegrown players John Tolkin and Daniel Edelman have been called into the US Olympic training camp ahead of friendlies later in the month. Tolkin, 21 years-old, has been called into Gregg Berhalter's camps in the past while Edelman will be making his first trip to the national level. Tolkin, now entering his fifth year as a New York Red Bulls player, has experience with the national team going all the way back to 2018 with the US Under 17 team. In 2023, he played four games for the Under 23 team and four games for the main national team as well. While he isn't a first choice pick yet, Tolkin's consistency hasn't gone unnoticed by US Soccer scouts and another solid showing could see him inch closer to a starting position. For Edelman it will be is first selection to such a camp. His experience with the Under 20's was extensive as he helped the team win the U20 Concacaf Championship in 2022. That tournamen...

Editorial: New York Red Bulls are Fun to Watch

photo by Matt Kremkau by Daniel Feuerstein The New York Red Bulls 2024 season starts off and running. In their first three matches, they have looked different from their last five to six seasons of doom and despair when trying to attack or have a lapse in judgment on the defensive end. The two big editions for the club are undoubtedly the imports from Sweden in Centerback Noah Elle & attacking midfielder Emil Forsberg. Two players who are a part of the Swedish National Team have started off well in Major League Soccer. We all knew what we were getting right away from Forsberg. A high-energy creative and attacking midfielder who was already bought in from day one, when Director of Sport Jochen Schneider went to Leipzig and brought him over. He was already committed to making the trip to the United States to play his brand of soccer, and so far he hasn't disappointed. Even though he has come close three times off of free kicks, hitting the crossbar twice and being saved by the ke...

Red Bull News Network

Search This Blog