Tabakovic Hat-Trick Caps Salzburg Comeback in 3-3 Draw with Pafos

Tabakovic Hat-Trick Leads Salzburg Comeback in Six-Goal Draw

Pafos and Red Bull Salzburg drew 3-3 in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round at Alphamega Stadium in Limassol. Pafos appeared in control after taking a 2-0 half-time lead, but H. Tabakovic’s three-goal second-half surge put Salzburg ahead before M. Mammadov restored parity six minutes from full time.

Pafos Build Two-Goal Half-Time Lead

Pafos made the brighter start and opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Lele finished a move assisted by Bruno to give the home side an early advantage, while Salzburg struggled to prevent Pafos from turning its promising opening into a lead.

The hosts doubled their advantage in the 37th minute when Biel found the net, sending Pafos into the interval 2-0 ahead. Salzburg’s N. Veratschnig was shown a yellow card one minute earlier, adding to a difficult first half for the visitors. The result also extended Pafos’ recent mixed run, following two defeats and one win in its three previous matches.

Salzburg’s Second-Half Revival

Salzburg’s response after the restart completely changed the direction of the match. H. Tabakovic pulled one goal back in the 54th minute after receiving assistance from D. Redzic, giving the visitors renewed momentum and putting pressure on Pafos’ two-goal advantage.

The turnaround continued four minutes later when Tabakovic converted a penalty to make it 2-2. Pafos’ Bruno had been booked in the 48th minute, but the key development was Salzburg’s improved attacking output, which transformed a two-goal deficit into an increasingly even contest.

Tabakovic Completes Hat-Trick

Tabakovic completed his hat-trick in the 70th minute, scoring Salzburg’s third goal and completing a remarkable reversal of the half-time score. His three goals came in a 16-minute period, making him the clear standout performer and putting Salzburg 3-2 ahead after Pafos had controlled the opening phase.

The forward’s contribution reflected Salzburg’s clinical second-half response following a positive pre-match result. Pafos, which had entered the game with inconsistent form, suddenly faced the prospect of losing despite its commanding first-half display. Tabakovic’s hat-trick was the defining individual performance of the six-goal draw.

Mammadov Secures Late Equaliser

Pafos continued to push after falling behind and found an equaliser in the 84th minute. M. Mammadov scored with Lele providing the assist, completing a late response that denied Salzburg victory and brought the final score to 3-3.

The draw divided the match into two distinct phases: Pafos dominated the first half, while Salzburg controlled the scoring after the break before the hosts recovered late. No current standings data was available for either team, so the effect of the result on their league positions cannot be determined. Lele finished with a goal and an assist, while Mammadov’s late strike secured the result for Pafos.