Secure comfortable away victory

A rapturous reception greeted the Hütteldorfers as they took to the field for their first competitive action of the season. Mario Sonnleitner lined up in the back four alongside Tanju Kayhan, while Raimund Hedl won the battle of the keepers to take his place in goal.


The first chances of a lively opening period fell to Rapid, namely in the shape of firstly Christopher Trimmel and then Veli Kavlak. On 12 minutes the deadlock was broken. Jelavic dummied a Kayhan pass and it found found its way through to Steffen Hofmann. Hofmann kept his cool and slotted the ball under the approaching keeper to hand Rapid the initiative. The home side mustered their biggest threat of the half ten miuntes later as a rasping free kick from rattled the cross bar from 25 yards. It was the closest either team came to adding to the scoreline and Rapid took their slender lead into the half time break. 


Thomas Hinum came into the fold at the expense of Hamdi Salihi at the start of the second half for his debut, as the Viennese switched to a 4-5-1 formation with Jelavic up top on his own. The first real clear cut opening came and went on 65 minutes as Jelavic got on a Hofmann cross. From close range the strikers downward header missed the target with the goal at his mercy. Shortly afterwards Pacult sent on Drazan for the industrious Kavlak. In the closing stages Rapid doubled their advantage through a Trimmel header. The youngster got on the end of a Hofmann free kick to ensure the sting should be taken out of Thursday´s rematch in Hütteldorf.

Attention now turns to domestic action as Rapid get their Bundesliga campain underway at newly promoted Wacker Innsbruck on Sunday.

Should Rapid overcome FK Suduva Mrijampole, our team will face Bulgarian qualifiers PFC Beroe Stara in the third round.

The first leg is to be played in Sofia on July 29th. The date for the return leg is not yet confirmed, as European ties must be scheduled in coordination with our city rivals Austria. Should they be successful in their tie we will play the second leg of our game on the 3rd of August, kick off 18.00 in the Hannapi. Should they go out of the competiton, we will line up against Bulgarians on he 5th of August instead, kick off times tbc

FK Suduva Marijampole - SK Rapid 0:2 (0:1)

Marijampole, 4.000, Referee Christoffersen

Goals: 0:1 Hofmann (12.), 0:2 Trimmel (82.);

SK Rapid: Hedl - Kayhan, Sonnleitner, Patocka, Katzer - Trimmel (85. Dober), Hofmann, Heikkinen, Kavlak (69. Drazan) - Jelavic, Salihi (46. Hinum);

(gw)