Excitement grew around the Rapid camp on Friday as news filtered through from Nyon about the mouth watering tie the UEFA Champions League draw had thrown up. Zoran Barisic's side had been paired with Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam in a battle of the record domestic title holders from their respective countries. However, it was important for the players to remain focussed: Friday also represented the resumption of domestic competitive football in the shape of the ÖFB Samsung Cup and an away fixture against SC Weiz. The starting line up yielded debuts for two summer recruits: Richard Strebinger came in between the posts in place of the ill Jan Novota, whilst Stephan Auer was deployed at right back - a spot he had been filling admirably during the pre-season preparation.  Hütteldorfers brush opponents asideA travelling band of 600 Green & White supporters formed a large percentage of the 2525 crowd in the sold out Siemens Energy Stadium, and after seven minutes they had already had plenty to celebrate. With the game just two minutes old the Hütteldorfers forged ahead through Flo Kainz, who converted a Philipp Schobesberger cross with a smart first time effort, struck as he was falling away from the ball – 1:0 (2.). Just seconds later Schobesberger passed up an opportunity to get himself on the scoresheet, but Kainz wasn't in so generous a mood as he gobbled up the next opportunity, tapping home Schobesberger's low cross for his and Rapid's second of the evening - 2:0 (6.). Part timers Weiz were understandably having problems containing the lightening Schobesberger, and just 60 seconds after Kainz's goal the Rapid wide-man atoned for his early miss, beating the home keeper with aplomb after being put through by Robert Beric - 3:0 (7.).On ten minutes the hosts pulled one back: Weiz man Steiner broke into the box and gave the home crowd a moment to savour as he found the corner of the net in a moment he'll never forget -1:3 (10.). Thanos Petsos rattled off a couple of efforts that nearly restored Rapid's three goal advantage, but in the evening sun the Green & Whites took the sting and tempo out of the match, comfortably controlling proceedings in second gear.Comfortable second half run outThe second half saw the introduction of Steffen Hofmann, Stefan Schwab and Philipp Prosenik who were given the opportunity to ease into this gentle work out. Prosenik came on to replace Beric, but not before the Slovene had picked up where he left off last season: Schwab broke into the box and fired off a shot that struck the post and rebounded to Beric, who made no mistake following in like good strikers do - 4:1 (68.) and Beric's last involvement of the evening. Schwab was again instrumental in adding to the scoreline as the minutes wound down when a wicked cross from the midfield man was inadvertently turned into his own net by Weiz's Friedl - 5:1 (87.). Right on the final whistle Prosenik was denied a goal by a stroke of bad luck when his header cannoned back off the cross bar (90.). The score line thus remained 5:1 and Rapid emerged unflustered and untroubled to register themselves for the next round. Next week a far harder proposition lies in store as the visit to Vienna of SV Ried marks the start of our 2015/2016 Bundesliga campaign.ÖFB-Samsung-Cup, 1st Round:SC Sparkasse Weiz - SK Rapid 1:5 (1:3)Friday 17th July 2015Siemens Energy-Stadium, 2525 AttendanceGoals: 0:1 Kainz (2.), 0:2 Kainz (6.), 0:3 Schobesberger (7.), 1:3 Steiner (10.), 1:4 Beric (68.), 1:5 Friedl (87., own goal)SK Rapid line up: Strebinger Auer, Sonnleitner, Dibon, Schrammel Petsos, Wydra (64. Schwab) Schobesberger, Schaub, Kainz (60. S. Hofmann) Beric (70. Prosenik)(gw)
20.07.2015