125 JAHRE SK RAPID
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12.05.2016
tipico Bundesliga

1:1 and a point rescued

With a host of injury problems to contend with, it was an unfamiliar looking Rapid side that took to the pitch on Wednesday evening for the match against Altach. In addition to Stephan Auer and Christopher Dibon, Philipp Schobesberger was the latest name added to the growing list of players on the treatment table. The absence of so many first team regulars presented the chance to some of the stars of tomorrow from the reserve side to showcase their talents: 18 year-old Attila Szalai came into defence to partner Mario Sonnleitner, whilst there was also a place on the bench for Dino Kovacec (utility player/right back).

With fans getting a glimpse of the next generation of Green & White talent, three long serving players bid the club and emotional farewell: Deni Alar and Michael Schimpelsberger will leave Hütteldorf this summer after having given the club five years of loyal service; whilst Thanos Petsos departs after three years in Green & White. President Michael Krammer joined the three leaving players on the pitch prior to kick off to thank them for their efforts and acknowledge their contribution to the club. We wish them all the best in their future careers.

After the emotional sendoff it was on to the main event. Rapid were looking to round off their time in the Ernst-Happel-Stadium with one more win in the final match before making the long anticipated move back across the city to Penzing and their brand new Allianz Stadium. A mazy run into the penalty area from Louis Schaub ended with the diminutive forward squaring the ball to Steffen Hofmann, who failed to get enough on his effort from a good position to beat Altach keeper Dobras (8.). With the Green & Whites doing the pressing and looking dangerous, it came as a shock when Altach went ahead: an exquisite long range shot with the outside of the left boot from Netzer gave Richard Strebinger absolutely no chance, as the spinning ball dipped perfectly and just grazed the underside of the bar on its way into the back of the net - 0:1 (22.). The guests from Vorarlberg then caught the Rapid defence square with an incisive counter attack, with Aigner set through on goal. Luckily for the Viennese Strebinger was alert to the danger, raced off his line and just got to the ball before Aigner could compose himself and produce a finish (34.).

As the clock ticked down towards half time Rapid started exerting increasing pressure on Dobras’ goal as they pushed for an equaliser. Grahovac put a long range effort just over (37.), before Flo Kainz rattled the frame of the goal with a beautiful curling free kick; the rebound from which zipped quickly to Mario Pavelic, who couldn't adjust his body in time and unluckily saw his snap header go wide of a gaping goal. On the stroke of half time Zoran Barisic’s side breathed a collective sigh of relief when Altach forward Harrer failed to convert an Aigner cross from the edge of the six-yard box (42.).

The half time introductions of Stefan Nutz for Steffen Hofmann, and Philipp Prosenik for Matej Jelic had the desired effect as a newly invigorated and purposeful Rapid set about looking for a way back into the game. Prosenik was involved in the next hearts in mouths moment, when he teed up Kainz with a deftly cushioned header, Kainz in turn guided his powerful shot onto the crossbar for the second time in the match (68.)! With Altach happy to sit deep and hold on to their lead, it was up to the Huetteldorfers to unlock the compact Vorarlberg side.  

In the dying embers of the game Rapid continued to push and Barisic threw Tomi into the fray to add extra bodies up front. With just two minutes left on the clock the Green & Whites finally found a way through: a free kick from Nutz was pushed onto the bar by Dobras; the rebound was met by the diving Stefan Schwab as he headed the ball home into an unguarded net from close range - 1:1 and a point rescued (88.)! In injury time it looked like Rapid might snatch the victory, but Louis Schaub's last gasp effort rolled the wrong side of the near post. It remained 1:1 as the Hütteldorfers bid farewell to their home of the past two seasons.

(gw)

tipico Bundesliga, 35th round:
SK Rapid - SCR Altach 1:1 (0:1)
Ernst-Happel-Stadium, 14.200 Attendance, Ref Harkam

Goals: 0:1 Netzer (22.), 1:1 Schwab (88.);

SK Rapid: Strebinger - Pavelic, Sonnleitner, Szalai (77. Tomi), Schrammel - Schwab, Grahovac - Schaub, S. Hofmann (46. Nutz), Kainz - Jelic (62. Prosenik);

Altach: Kobras - P. Salomon, Zech, A. Pöllhuber, Zwischenbrugger, Schreiner - D. Luxbacher (73. Galvao), Jäger, Netzer - M. Harrer (89. Tajouri) Aigner (65. Topcagic);