When the fixture list was drawn up at the start of the season, few people would have believed this match would represent a game between the 6th and 7th placed sides. That was however the reality of the situation and therefore heaped even more pressure on the game between two of the powers of Austrian football. More than 2.500 Rapid fans were dotted around the stadium in a crowd of just over 20.000, another fine show of support from the green white faithful.A severely depleted Rapid side took to the field without Vennegoor of Hesselink, Hinum, Payer and of course influential skipper Hofmann. In came Kulovits, Saurer, Trimmel and Salihi as Pacult opted for a 4-5-1 with Hamdi Salihi as the lone striker. An early heavy clash of heads between Katzer and Zarate looked to have ended both players afternoon's prematurely, but remerkably both players managed to carry on after lengthy treatment. The home side grabbed an early lead as Christopher Trimmel's weak back pass found only the lurking Roman Wallner. The Salzburg striker made him pay with a clinical tenth minute left foot finish. It was just what Rapid didn't need after doing well to withstand early Red Bull pressure. A flowing 17th minute move by Rapid saw the ball come to Trimmel on the right flank. The young winger fizzed an excellent low ball across the 6 yard box, with Salihi just inches away from restoring parity for the Hütteldorfers. Lightning nearly struck twice for the hosts as this time Yasin Pehlivan produced a moment of madness and again played in Roman Wallner 1 on 1 with Hedl. This time the Rapid custodian came out on top, driving Wallner wide and producing an excellent save. In an exciting closing period to the half, Salzburg keeper Tremmel did well to keep out a deflected Salihi effort before Saurer tested him from long range. It was to be the last goalmouth action of the half as it ended 1-0 to the hosts.Both teams emerged from their respective half time team talks unchanged. The first chance of the second period fell to Salihi, his header from a looping cross lacked sufficient power to test Tremmel. Then the moment of controversy. Another poor back pass, this time by Red Bull centre half Afolabi, played in Trimmel. The Rapid man appeared to get to the ball before onrushing keeper Tremmel, knicked it past him then went down under the keeper's challenge. It appeared to all that a penalty and a red card would surely follow but referee Einwaller remained unmoved. The same cannot be said for Peter Pacult, the Rapid coach sent to the stands following some extremely animated protests. Replays suggested the decision may not have been as clear cut as initially thought but a penalty would normally be awarded in 9 out of 10 such cases. Pacult ordered the first change of the game from the stands in the 65th minute, Drazan coming on for Kulovits with Saurer shifting to the right flank. Rapid continued to play with cool heads following the penalty disappointment and looked capable of salvaging a point. Gartler came on for Saurer and Dober for Katzer, the left backs early head wound again re-opened. Dober unleashed a ferocious 79th minute free kick but keeper Tremmel was up to the task. The hosts hit back, an 84th minute free kick from Leitgeb found Wallner in space but his tame effort wasn't good enough to beat Hedl. Rapid then pushed forward and excerted a good spell of pressure on the hosts. An under pressure Tremmel punch found it's way on the left hand side to Christopher Drazan. The winger put in a sumptuos cross and at the back post an unmarked Markus Heikkinen stole in to level the scoreline with a precise header across goal. It was a well deserved moment for the finn, who has given everything whilst wearing the captains arm band on loan from Steffen Hofmann. Salihi and Wallner still had half chances to snatch three points for their respective sides but the whistle went and no one could really complain at the outcome of a hard fought and engaging contest. A big couple of games now await Pacults side. Up first is a second clash with CSKA Sofia whereby Rapid will be looking to continue their Europa League revival, and afterwards, a mouthwatering clash with table toppers Sturm Graz. It could be a big week in Rapid's season and the Green-Whites will approach it with renewed confidence following this excellent display in Salzburg. Bundesliga, 13th round:RB Salzburg - SK Rapid 1:1 (1:0)Red-Bull-Arena, 20.100, Referee Einwaller Goals: 1:0 Wallner (12.), 1:1 Heikkinen (87.)RB Salzburg: Tremmel - Schwegler, Sekagya, Afolabi, Hinteregger - Schiemer - Zarate (76. Jantscher), Mendes, Leitgeb, Svento (82. Hierländer) - WallnerSK Rapid: Hedl - Kulovits (65. Drazan), Sonnleitner, Soma, Katzer (77. Dober) - Heikkinen, Pehlivan - Trimmel, Kavlak, Saurer (74. Gartler) - SalihiYellow Cards: Kulovits, Saurer(gw)
31.08.2015