THINKING BIG
…Daka eyes Spanish giants in Champions League
CHIPOLOPOLO striker Patson Daka says it would be a good experience for his Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg to meet Spanish giants Barcelona or Real Madrid in the Group stages of the Champions League.
Daka netted twice as Red Bull Salzburg sailed through to the group stage of the UEFA Champions League for a second consecutive time after beating Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv in a second leg playoff encounter played on
Wednesday evening at Red Bull Arena. In an interview after he scored a crucial brace to help Salzburg to match on to the group stage of the lucrative UEFA Champions League, Daka described the win as a dream come true.
Daka said Salzburg showed good mentality and played as a team to triumph 5-2 on aggregate after winning the first leg played in Tel Aviv last week by 2-1.
"It's a great feeling. I'm happy that the dream has come true, we have been waiting for this moment and I'm happy that we have shown good character today we have shown good mentality, we played as a team like always and we showed that we really wanted it and it is a very memorable night for us," said Daka.
"We have played Liverpool, Napoli, I think it will be a good experience to meet the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona. It will be a good experience for us and we are keeping our fingers crossed."
Daka has now scored an impressive nine goals in six matches this season.
Compatriot Enock Mwepu also put in an impressive 90 minutes shift for the Austrian champions.
Mwepu had the first shot on goal for Salzburg in the second minute but it was Daka who broke the deadlock 16 minutes after kick off when he promptly dispatched the ball into the bottom left.
Kar-Zev scored the equaliser for the visitors before Szoboszlai scored from a penalty to restore Salzburg's lead in the dying minutes of the first half. Daka completed his brace with a headed goal in the 68th minute to guarantee Salzburg's second consecutive feature in the league of champions.