By MICHAEL MIYOBA
CHIPOLOPOLO midfielder Enock ‘Computer’ Mwepu was the hero of the day for Red Bull Salzburg who retained the UNIQA ÖFB Cup populary known as the Austrian Cup after beating LASK Linz 3-0 in the final.
Mwepu scored the third goal and provided an assist for the second goal as the Austrian giants whitewashed LASK Linz to conclude the Austrian Cup with five goals and four assists in six games.
Compatriot Patson Daka who also finished the competition on five goals played the first 72 minutes and was unfortunate to miss a penalty a few minutes before he was substituted.
And speaking after the match, Mwepu dedicated the win to the fans.
“What a night. That special feeling of scoring and assisting in the final and help the team clinch the title. This is for you our special fans. We have retained the cup to where it belongs,” said Mwepu after the win.
Salzburg dominated the entire final but got their first goal in the dying minutes of the first half when Mergin Berisha smashed the vital opening goal.
Soon after curling a free-kick into the side netting from 20 metres out, he dispatched an effort which Andi Ulmer pinged the ball across before Aaronson and Daka both let it run for Berisha to break the deadlock.
Mwepu was key to ensuring that Salzburg got their second goal in the 67th minute when he chased the ball down the flank and pulling the ball back to Brenden on the edge of the box.
The American youngster set up the shot and smashed it right in to give Salzburg a 2-0 lead.
Mwepu finally added the final goal two minutes before the final whistle as he bundled the ball into the back of the net after benefitting from super sub Karim Adeyemi’s assist as the Zambian duo bagged their third consecutive Austrian Cup trophy.
