Saturday saw the visit of lowly Kapfenberg and an excellent chance for Rapid to get back to winning ways after Wednesday´s disappointment in Hamburg. A strong finish to the first half of the season would see the Green-Whites enjoying christmas festivities in pole position in the league.It didn´t take long for Rapid to make their intentions clear. In the first minute of the game Veli Kavlak tricked his way past his marker before firing off a shot. Wolf in the away goal just managed to claw the ball away to safety. Steffen Hofmann fired just over with a stinging drive in the 17th minute, seconds before Rapid actually took the lead. The adventurous Markus Katzer foraged down the left and worked his way into the penalty area. Kapfenburg captain Fukal stopped Katzer in his tracks, chopping down the Rapid man and giving referee Drachta no option but to point to the spot. Steffen Hofmann slotted the ball to the keepers´right with alarming ease to get the Hütteldorfers up and running.Rene Gartler was looking lively in attack and did his best on 23 minutes to double the lead. The young striker jinked past a defender before playing a cross - cum - shot across the 6 yard box. The stetching Jelavic just failed to make the vital contact.Jelavic only had to wait 10 minutes though before getting his name on the scoresheet as he finished a flowing move. Branko Boskovic picked up the ball in midfield and drove deep into KSV territory. The elegant midfield man played an inch perfect ball to Hofmann who had found space on the right flank. The Rapid skipper floated a wicked cross onto the head of Jelavic who made no mistake with a bullet header past stranded Kapfenberg keeper Wolf. It was an excellent finish to cap a wonderful sweeping move. The second half began at a fairly slow tempo. With Rapid´s European excertions clearly taking their toll they maintained a comfy rythm, not looking to over stretch an already burdened squad. In fact the first real second half opening arrived just before the hour mark, Steffen Hofmann´s powerful drive well saved after he was teed up by Jelavic on the right hand side of the box. Three minutes later an excellent deep cross from Stefan Kulovits was met on the volley by Rene Gartler. The front man just failed to keep control of his rasping effort. It was to be Gartler´s last involvement as he was withdrawn, replaced by Hamdi Salihi.Helge Payer was finally called into action in the 70th minute, turning away a near post effort as the plucky visitors applied some pressure to the Rapid goal. Just three minutes later Payer was again into action, this time quickly off his line to deny substitute Felfernig in a one on one situation.Kapfenberg got their rewards for a sustained period of pressure in the 78th minute. Jürgen Patocka, on his return to first team action, failed to deal with a Boris Hüttenbrenner lofted pass, allowing Marek Heinz to nip in. The KSV forward rounded Payer and slotted the ball home to the delight of the small hoard of travellers from Steiermark.Then a good sight for Rapid. Following a spell on the sidelines the ever popular Christopher Drazan replaced hard working Veli Kavlak with little under a quarter of an hour remaining.Substitute Salihi then spurned the chance to bury the visitors in the 81st minute, shooting wide from close range when a pass may have served better. Two minutes later Rapid again almost killed off the game. Hofmann played in Nikica Jelavic, Wolf in the away goal again saving the visitors with another smart stop, this time down low at the near post.With 5 minutes left on the clock Andi Dober, on for Branko Boskovic, crossed into the box. Salihi controlled the ball and with his back to goal, the man who always seems to score swivelled and fired home. The game was ended as a contest and cemented Rapid´s place in top spot.18th round:SK Rapid - Kapfenberg 3:1 (2:0)Hanappi-Stadion, 15.300, Referee Drachta Goals: 1:0 Hofmann (18., Elfer), 2:0 Jelavic (34.), 2:1 Heinz (79.), 3:1 Salihi (85.) SK Rapid: Payer - Kulovits, Soma, Patocka, Katzer - Hofmann, Heikkinen, Boskovic (80. Dober), Kavlak (75. Drazan) - Gartler (66. Salihi), JelavicKapfenberg: R. Wolf - Gansterer, Schönberger, Fukal, Osoinik - D. Hofer (77. Kozelsky), Majstorovic, Scharrer (61. Wieger), Hüttenbrenner - Heinz - Pavlov (61. Felfernig) Yellow cards: Kulovits Fukal, Heinz, Schönberger (gw)
31.08.2015