Mali forward Dorgeles Nene strikes as Salzburg cruise in UEFA Champions League qualifying first leg win

Mali national team forward Dorgeles Nene got on the scoresheet in style on Wednesday as Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg eased to a dominant 4-1 first leg victory way from home over Norway’s Brann in UEFA Champions League qualifying.

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Hosts Brann got off to an excellent start, taking a 1-0 lead into halftime following Saevar Magnussen’s goal. However, Salzburg stormed back and asserted their dominance in the second half and it was Nene’s goal that sparked the onslaught. A brilliant assist from highly regarded Israeli playmaker Oscar Gloukh set up Nene for an instinctive volley that left Brann goalkeeper Matias Dyngeland with no chance.

Halftime substitute Karim Onisiwo doubled Salzburg’s tally less than three minutes later to put the visitors on the front foot. Two late goals caused severe damage to any hopes of an upset for Brann, who now must go to Austria and win by at least three goals in the second leg to advance.

Salzburg are bidding to reach the league phase of the UEFA Champions League again after having a disastrous campaign in the competition last season (3 points in 8 games). Despite their reputation as a producer of future stars at the highest levels of European club football, Salzburg finished runners-up to Sturm Graz for a second consecutive season last year in the Austrian Bundesliga after winning the previous ten top flight titles in Austria.