There were three changes to the side that had comfortably beaten WAC on the weekend: Jan Novota was back in goal, Thomas Schrammel swapped to the right flank, with Stefan Stangl coming in at left back. The influential Flo Kainz was also back in the side following suspension. In difficult, windy conditions a completely different game unfolded in comparison to Saturday's encounter, with a motivated and determined WAC side looking to avoid a repeat performance.The hosts registered the first shot of the match, as Kehre exploited space outside the Rapid box but failed to get his long range effort on target (9.). The Hütteldorfers' first sight of goal arrived on the quarter hour mark when a probing Schrammel cross was helped on its way by Kainz towards Beric, who unfortunately was unable to get anything on the ball. Just as it appeared the Green & Whites were warming to their task WAC stole ahead: Wernitznig played a perfectly weighted pass in behind our defence for Kehre to run onto, who steadied himself before finding the corner of the net - 0:1 (25.). Just two minutes later Rapid's task became doubly difficult when sloppy play conceded possession in a dangerous area to Wernitznig, who wasted no time in firing off a precise long range effort that nestled in the back of the net - 0:2 (27.). The Cup dream was hanging by a thread. Despite finding defensive stability in the rest of the half, the Viennese were unable to offer much in the way of goal threat: a free kick that never looked likely from Deni Alar was as good as it got in the remainder of the first forty-five minutes.Unable to find a responseWith Rapid in desperate need of a reply they emerged for the second half looking a better outfit and promptly put together a good passing move that culminated in Stefan Schwab getting a low, flat effort off on goal (48.). A free kick from Kainz followed shortly afterwards as Rapid began to build up a head of steam and apply some pressure to a Wolfsberg side that was dropping deeper and deeper, happy to protect what they already had. But after WAC had adjusted and began sitting tight and compact chances became few and far between for Rapid as the minutes ticked worryingly by.In the closing stages the Green & Whites did all they could to try and force the issue: Schrammel tried his luck from range, before substitute Prosenik sent a glancing header agonisingly wide of the upright (85.). Rapid did finally in injury time manage to pull a goal back, when a floated cross from Schobesberger alluded keeper Dobnik, clipped the back post and went over the line - 1:2 (95.). However the goal was little more than a consolation as the final whistle went as soon as play was restarted. And so ended another cup campaign, too early once more from a Green & White perspective. On Sunday we welcome Salzburg to Vienna for what could prove to be a pivotal match in deciding the outcome of this year’s Bundesliga.Trainer Zoran Barisic: "We are disappointed, especially with the first half. WAC were on the ball and made the most of our mistakes. Unfortunately we didn’t managed to use the chances we created in the second half to get a goal back. But the team gave everything. Kainz needed to take over Stangl’S position for the first goal, but didn’t manage to prevent the ball being played in. We wanted to get in behind their defence in the first half but couldn’t find our passing range. We gave the ball away cheaply which we normally don’t do."ÖFB-Samsung-Cup, Quarter FinalWAC - SK Rapid 2:1 (2:0)Lavanttal-Arena, 3.500 Attendance, Ref DrachtaGoals: 1:0 Kerhe (25.), 2:0 Wernitznig (28.), 2:1 Schobesberger (95.)WAC: Dobnik - Berger, Sollbauer, Drescher, Baldauf - Standfest, Hüttenbrenner - Jacobo (91./Seebacher), Silvio, Wernitznig (86./Oussale) - Kerhe (75./Tschernegg)SK Rapid: Novota - Schrammel (84./Wydra), Sonnleitner, M. Hofmann, Stangl - Grahovac (76./Prosenik), Schwab - Schobesberger, Alar (67./S. Hofmann), F. Kainz - BericYellow Cards: Drescher, Jacobo F. Kainz, Prosenik(gw)
07.04.2015