Salzburg scythed down by clinical Lech

KKS Lech Poznań moved top of the Group A standings after a consummate 2-0 win against FC Salzburg.

The Polish outfit impressed in a 3-3 draw against Juventus a fortnight ago, in contrast to their opponents' 2-0 defeat by Manchester City FC. The hangover from those results was evident in Poznan but it was not until after half-time that Manuel Arboleda and Sławomir Peszko found the target to earn the hosts their just reward.

Artjoms Rudņevs was Lech's hat-trick hero on Matchday 1 and was the spark for his side once more, but twice failed to capitalise from early half-chances. Sergei Krivets' view of Gerhard Tremmel's goal was not much better just before the half-hour and his first-time volley rolled harmlessly wide. Marcin Kikut did find the target prior to the interval but Tremmel was down swiftly and a corner was as good as it got.

Tremmel also denied Krivets after the restart but was left flat-footed when Arboleda deftly headed the ensuing corner into the roof of his net. If that goal was overdue for Lech after failing to find the net in three home European ties this season, Salzburg's first clear opening of the night – 59 minutes in – was equally long in coming. Dušan Švento was the final cog in a clinical counterattack only to be thwarted by Jasmin Burić.

Briefly sparked into life, the visitors nevertheless struggled to pierce a defensive line stoically marshalled by Arboleda and captain Bartosz Bosacki. Left-back Franz Schiemer twice went close with his bandaged head, but was caught off duty ten minutes from time. Lech broke with devastating precision, Jacek Kiełb feeding Štilić, whose cross was greeted at close range by a sliding Peszko. Krivets hit the post late on but it mattered not.