125 JAHRE SK RAPID
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22.11.2016

Canadi era opens with defeat in Salzburg

The first match of the new Damir Canadi era saw the new Rapid trainer team handed a tough assignment in the shape of a trip to Salzburg. Canadi and his staff had had very little time to work with his new players in the run up to the game owing to the international break and the late return to training of some of the players. Thus after the disappointments of recent weeks the match represented something of a free swing for the Hütteldorfers. Mario Sonnleitner donned the captain's armband for the afternoon, whilst Spaniard Tomi took a place on the bench after being nominated in the match day squad for the first time this season. With Joelinton and Kvilitaia in the starting line up, Canadi certainly afforded himself plenty of attacking options with his selection.

On the field however any romantic notions of new trainers and new eras were quickly placed in check by a sprightly and effective Salzburg outfit. The hosts applied pressure on Rapid from the kick-off, and the dangerous Dabbur drew a smart save from Richard Strebinger as early as the second minute. Red Bull continued to apply constant pressure on a hurried Green & White defence, and before the ten minute mark their efforts yielded reward: a smart pass from Berisha picked out Dabbur once more, and this time the Salzburg man made no mistake, slotting home with an efficient finish - 0:1 (8.). Following the early set back, Strebinger continued to feature amongst the most prominent Rapid players: firstly he turned a long range shot from Laimer behind for a corner (20.); before reacting superbly to tip another effort from Dabbur over the bar (26.). After just over half an hour, Canadi had seen enough and brought Grahovac in off the bench to try and stiffen up midfield at the expense of the unfortunate Joelinton. Despite the change and with Szanto pushed forwards the one way traffic continued: again Rapid were indebted to Strebinger when he came out on top when Dabbur was put clean through on goal (44.). Nonetheless the Rapid keeper was again fishing the ball out of the net before half time, as Stefan Lainer headed home from a corner to double the hosts' advantage - 0:2 (45.).

The tempo of the match fell away somewhat for large periods of the second half, but when chances did materialise, it was Salzburg who were creating them: not long after the restart Berisha was the next to test Strebinger with a sharp effort at the near post (50.). An off target free kick from Svanto was largely the best Rapid mustered before the unlucky Thomas Murg was once more forced to leave proceedings early due to injury. Canadi reacted to the situation by handing Tomi his first minutes Bundesliga minutes of the season.

The spirit Rapid showed at two goals down will surely have impressed their new Trainer, and had Mario Sonnleitner managed to direct his goal wards header a bit better from a corner they may have even found a way back into the match with a little over 15 minutes to play. Despite putting in plenty off effort, clear openings remained at a premium for the Hütteldorfers until injury time, when Tomi converted a penalty after a foul on Malicsek in the Salzburg 18-yard box - 1:2 (90.). Following the goal a spate of flying arms and cards erupted, when after a melee Tomi received a yellow card, Miranda received a second yellow and subsequent red, whilst Mario Sonnleitner was shown a straight red as tempers flared and emotions boiled over.

The goal had come too late for Rapid to mount any form of realistic come back, but will have provided a welcome consolation for Canadi and his side's efforts after they had been largely second best for most of the game. The hard work really begins on Monday, where the new Trainer team will quickly have to try and start imparting their ideas on their new charges ahead of a crucial trip to Belgium to face Genk in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

(gw)

tipico Bundesliga, 15th round:
RB Salzburg - SK Rapid 2:1 (2:0)
Wals-Siezenheim, 15.082 Attendance, Ref Harkam

Goals: 1:0 (8.) Dabbur, 2:0 (45.) Lainer, 2:1 (92.) Tomi (Penalty);

RB Salzburg: Walke - Lainer, Miranda, Caleta-Car, Ulmer - Lazaro, Laimer, Samassekou (87. Yabo), V. Berisha - Gulbrandsen (73. Radosevic), Dabbur (96. Wisdom);

SK Rapid: Strebinger - Pavelic, Sonnleitner, M. Hofmann, Schrammel - Mocinic (67. Malicsek), Szanto - Schaub, Joelinton (33. Grahovac), Murg (64. Tomi) - Kvilitaia;

Yellow Cards: Lainer, Lazaro; Grahovac, Schrammel, Tomi, Schaub, M. Hofmann

Y/R: Miranda (92.); Red Card: Sonnleitner (95.);