Brenden Aaronson has played a vital role in the Red Bull Salzburg midfield this season and the American delivered his biggest goal to date in Saturday’s Austrian Cup Final.
Aaronson got the start for Jesse Marsch’s side against LASK and scored the second goal in a 2-0 triumph. Red Bull Salzburg claimed its third-straight Austrian Cup title, which is also the second-in-a-row for Marsch as manager.
Mergim Berisha broke the deadlock in the 45th minute for the current league leaders, helping set the tone for Aaronson’s insurance strike in the second-half. Red Bull Salzburg hit LASK on the counter on several occasions after halftime and Aaronson made them pay with a sweet strike into the top corner.
Aaronson was picked out with a pass just outside of the LASK box, before curling a right-footed effort into the top corner for his fifth goal of the season and his second in the competition.
Tooooooooor! @AaronsonBrenden #brendenaaronson pic.twitter.com/KEeezVQN1d
— Marijan ðŸ‡ðŸ‡· (@MarijanKelava) May 1, 2021
Enock Mwepu added further insurance to the result in the 88th minute, sealing a 3-0 victory for Red Bull Salzburg in Klagenfurt.
Aaronson became the first USMNT player to win the Austrian Cup while Marsch has now lifted three domestic trophies in his time as manager. Both players will have the chance to lift the league title later in May, leading Rapid Vienna by six points with four matches left to play.
The former Philadelphia Union Homegrown Player has continued to impress in his time in Austria and could have a say in the final weeks of the league season for Red Bull Salzburg.
Up next for Red Bull Salzburg is a trip to Sturm Graz before a home date with Rapid Vienna on May 12th.
It wouldn’t be a shock if Aaronson moves to RB Leipzig as early as the January transfer window. Red Bull maximizes profits by selling talent their system develops (see Haaland transfer market). Leipzig will probably sell another player or two if the price is right, and backfill with players like Aaronson.
I’d like to think that’s in the plans, but I wonder. Leipzig are so deep in the midfield and they still haven’t incorporated Dominik Szoboszlai into the team and Konrad Laimer will likely be returning from injury. It’ll be interesting to see who comes and goes this summer.
I was a little worried Salzburg would be distracted by the Marsch leaving news but I guess since many of them are planning to leave to it probably didn’t bother them. When he got hired I like and I think none of their previous 5 managers had stayed beyond 5 years all leaving for bigger jobs.
After a brief period of adjustment Aaronson has settled in really well for RB. He’s shown considerable skill and understanding of movements. I would not be surprised, if after another year of progress & development, that a well positioned German or Mid table English club comes knocking.
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I still see him as a back-up with the USMNT….but that’s only because of the talent ahead of him (Pulisic, McKennie, Reyna, Musah)…but if he keeps up this level of play he could become a rotational starter.
With three game qualifying windows we’re going to need guys like Aaronson to play quite a bit. Weah another guy that is going to be needed especially until 2022 when hopefully Morris and Ledezma are back from injury.
You lost me on Morris but everything I agree with you
Cylo: not real high on Morris either but if he gets back to 2019 form after this latest injury he’s a depth option against Concacaf opponents.
At this point I’ve basically written off Ledezma for this cycle. Luca De La Torre has jumped ahead of him for the remainder of this cycle because of the ACL injury. However, Ledezma is young enough that he’ll be able to push for inclusion and possibly a starting roll for 2026.
Morris on the otherhand is basically done. I expect Weah (now healthy) and De La Fuente (going to be sold this summer) to be the back-up wing attacker options. Arriola will likely be in the running for this cycle, but I don’t see him being selected to the final 23. Morris, however will lose too much time/ground. He’ll be out all of 2021 MLS Season…than need 3-6 months to get back to form/fitness. I just think too many others will have overtaken him by then to consider him an option.
Lost, hadn’t really looked at qualifying schedule but your right timeline doesn’t really work well for Morris. Richie might be back for the last six matches of qualifying if his recovery goes well.