Rapid travelled to Upper Styria to take on Kapfenberg in the last fixture of the season. Rapid had already seen off their opponents 3 times this season and were looking to complete the qaudrouple.Prolific marksman "Jimmy" Hoffer bagged two against the same oppostion in march, as Rapid ran out 6-0 winners at the Hanappi, and needed only two minutes to open his account this time round. The deadliest front pairing in Austria combined once again as Stefan Maierhofer played in his strike partner to finish with aplomb. It was Hoffer´s 25th of the season and the quickest Rapid had mustered all season. Kapfenberg did, however, manage to recover from the early setback and establish a foothold in the game. The Green and Whites, also with Christopher Trimmel, stood up to the physical battle coming out on top in 62% of all 50 - 50´s. Rapid headed back to the half time dressing room with their slender advantage very much in tact.It was in the second half that Rapid turned on the style to blow their hapless opponents away. In the middle of last week adidas made "Jimmy" Hoffer the first Austrian player to adorn the new Lionel Messi boots, and our deadly marksman celebrated by completing a hat-trick. Ten minutes into the second half "Jimmy" uses his electric turn of pace to slot home his second, leaving the increasingly beleagured home defence chasing shadows. It takes Hoffer less than ten more minutes to bag his third, easily outwitting would be marker Eisl before calmly finishing. Stefan Maierhofer missed the chance to put Kapfenburg to the sword after he failed to convert a spot kick following a foul on Jelavic inside the box. The scoring for the match and the season was rounded of by Yasin Pehlivan. Fresh from midweek international duty, the youngster fired home from the edge of the area in the 67th minute, capping a fine display from the Green Whites.36th round:Kapfenberg - SK Rapid 0:4 (0:1)Goals: 0:1 Hoffer (2.), 0:2 Hoffer (55.), 0:3 Hoffer (64.), 0:4 Pehlivan (67.)Stats of the GameVideo (Note: You have to be registered first)(gw)
31.08.2015