The bubbling atmosphere in the Hanappi was kicked up a further couple of notches as we were informed via the big screens by no other than Steffen Hofmann that the talisman has decided to remain at the Hanappi and has agreed a new contract. It was a timely message and set the stage for this top of the table clash.Pacults starting line up saw starts for Hannes Eder, restored to the heart of the defence, and Nikica Jelavic back up top alongside Rene Gartler following his outing as a substitute against Wiener Neustadt. The first goalmouth action happened in the 8th minute. Salzburg broke quickly following a Rapid free kick. A cross from the right was nodded home but the referee's whistle had blown long before the ball hit the net following a foul in the build up. The opening 15 minutes were a highly charged affair with both sides attempting to get their foot on the ball and play, but the high intensity was leading to a few mistakes disrupting the flow of the game. Rapid had threatened sporadically, earning free kicks in and around the Salzburg box, and the visitors, despite neat approach play, were struggling to conjure any genuine goal threat of their own.Rapid came close to breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute. Markus Katzer accelerated down the left, his swinging cross was met by Rene Gartler. His downward header was parried by Gustafsson in the Red Bull goal but gathered in at the second attempt. Veli Kavlak then seized a lose ball and drove forwards, his 25 yard drive just wide of the upright as The Hütteldorfers looked to raise the tempo.Salzburg threatened Payer´s goal for the first time in the 32nd minute. Hannes Eder brought down Janko in a dangerous postion, Wallner failed to capatalise though, his drove wide of the target. Minutes later a lovely Hofmann pass perfectly bisected the Salzburg defence, Jelavic latched on to it but was forced wide, his cut back from the by-line allueded everyone. Five minutes before the break Ragnvald Soma showed he was switched on, getting across the area to shut out Leitgeb as Salzburg showed menace. The big Norwegian then vitally got his head on a cross bound for Salzburg star man Marc Janko.On the stroke of half time Schiemer was booked for lashing out at Steffen Hofmann. A half that Rapid could pierce the visitors backline in the second period. Rapid threatened to get in 5 minutes after the restart. Kavlak and Katzer linked up down the left with the full back bursting into the box. The Salzburg defence just squeezed him out in time and his cross/shot lacked the required power to trouble Gustafsson. On 54 Rapid threatened again, Jelavic´ low ball across the 6 yard box just evades Rene Gartler before Pehlivan makes a rare forray forwards, losing his footing at the vital moment after getting into a dangerous postion. Just a minute later the tie swung in Rapid´s favour. A blatant Schiemer dive on the edge of the Rapid box earned himself a second yellow following his needless lash at Hofmann in the first half and Salzburg were forced to play out the rest of the match with 10 men. On the hour mark Soma passed up a glorious chance to put Rapid 1 up. A free kick caused panic in the Salzburg box and dropped to Soma. 5 yards out from goal the defender snatched at his chance and somehow dragged his shot wide. Pacult sought to capatalise on the numerical advantage, sending on Hamdi Salihi in place of Gartler in the 63rd minute.Despite the game flowing in 'Rapids direction it was Salzburg who snatched the lead in the 67th minute, Afolabi rising unchallenged to meet a corner. His downward header rose into the roof of the net with Rapid again left to ponder the room he was afforded in the box. Pacult responded to the set back by sending on Branko Boskovic in place of the defence minded Yasin Pehlivan. It was the visitors who threatened again though, a half cleared corner dropped to Pokrivac, his stinging shot just wide of the target. The last 15 minutes arrived with Rapid needing a piece of magic or a spark to lift them as Salzburg began to look comfortable sitting in on their advantage.Christopher Trimmel came on for Kulovits in the 80th minute as Rapid attempted to salvage something from the match. With 7 minutes to go Rapid sprung into life. A quick one - two between Boskovic and Salihi saw Boskovic with a shooting opportunity. From a tight angle his powerful effort crept just over.As the clock ticked away Rapid began to look increasingly desperate and slightly bereft of the necessary guile to break down the 10 men. Pacult will be seeking marked improvement from his side in coming weeks. 22nd round:SK Rapid - RB Salzburg 0:1 (0:0)Hanappi-Stadion, 17.500 Zuschauer (sold out), SR DrabekGoal: Afolabi (67.)SK Rapid: Payer - Kulovits (80./Trimmel), Eder, Soma, Katzer - Hofmann, Heikkinen, Pehlivan (70./Boskovic), Kavlak - Gartler (63./Salihi), JelavicSalzburg: Gustafsson - Schwegler, Sekagya, Afolabi, Schiemer - Leitgeb (83./Augustinussen), Opdam, Pokrivac, Svento (81./Tchoyi) - Janko, Wallner (59./Ulmer)Y/R: Schiemer (57./Unsportlichkeit)Yellow Cards: Katzer bzw. Schwegler  (gw)
31.08.2015