Some fans had barely found their seats before Rapid were celebrating the first goal of the afternoon. In the second minute Green - White Captain Hofmann was felled on the right hand edge of the box. He got up to take the free kick himself, floating a lovely ball into the Ried box. Markus Katzer found himself in space and made no mistake, rising to head the ball into the net, giving Gebauer in the Ried goal absolutely no chance. Veli Kavlak started the game in rip roaring fashion, causing the away defence all sorts of problems down the left flank. His attacking threat nearly manifested in a goal in the 6th minute. The lively winger cut in off the flank to deliver an excellent ball across the face of the 6 yard box. Hamdi Salihi strained every muscle to try and get the decisive touch but came up about half a foot short. Just a minute later Kavlak again caused problems, this time his deflected shot bounced up to Salihi, his acrobatic overhead effort firing over the bar. The next Rapid player to try his luck was player of the year Hofmann. His stinging free kick beaten away by Gebauer in the Ried goal as Rapid threatened to overrun the bedraggled visitors. Another good effort from Kavlak was followed by an opportunity for Branko Boskovic. In the 38th minute a cute one-two between Boskovic and Salihi saw the midfield man with a presentable opportunity. A clean left footed strike from 14 yards however lacked direction and was gathered comfortably by Gebauer. The second half got underway and within two minutes Ried were somewhat suprisingly level. Soma conceded a free kick on the left hand side of the box next to the touchline. The long haired Lexa took the kick and Burgstaller was on hand at the far post to hand the visitors a somewhat undeserved leveller following their first real attack of the match. Following the Ried goal the visitors grew in confidence and began to look capable of upsetting the applecart. The two sides exchanged blows. Mario Konrad played in Drazan, on for Boskivc, whose low cross narrowly evaded Salihi. Florian Sturm responded for the visitors driving in off the wing and fully extending Helge Payer with a lashed drive. Only a minute later Salihi headed wide from a Drazan cross as the game swept from end to end. It was Rapid who struck the decisive blow with half an hour remaining. Steffen Hofmann´s lofted pass was latched onto by second half sub Gartler. With limited space to work in the Rapid young gun did tremendously well to cut the ball back across the face of the goal. Hamdi Salihi was again in the right place at the right time to put Rapid ahead against his former employers. As the game wore on Rapid managed to take the sting out of their opponents, a couple of long range Lexa efforts towards the end being the best they could muster. The whistle went and Rapid secured the half way championship. A two point lead over Red Bull Salzburg is an encouraging result and Pacult and his men will be confident of finishing the job when the league resumes next year. SK Rapid - Ried 2:1 (1:0)Hanappi-Stadion, 15.300, Referee HofmannGoals: 1:0 (2.) Katzer, 1:1 (47.) Th. Burgstaller, 2:1 (63.) SalihiSK Rapid: Payer - Kulovits, Soma, Jovanovic, Katzer - Hofmann, Heikkinen, Boskovic (46. Drazan), Kavlak (78. Pehlivan) - Konrad (59. Gartler), SalihiRied: Gebauer - Grasegger, Stocklasa, Th. Burgstaller - Brenner (66. Hadzic), Mader (77. Drechsel), Schrammel - Lexa, Ziegl, Sturm (62. Nuhiu) - NachoYellow Cards: Hofmann, Katzer Sturm(gw)
31.08.2015