"Zoki" Barisic's first line up included the fit again Helge Payer in goal. Katzer, Sonnleitner, Soma and Kayhan made up the back four with Kulovits and Heikinnen sat in front to play deep and protect. Drazan started wide left, with Prokopic oppostie him on the right flank, Steffen Hofmann took up a position "in the hole" behind lone striker Hamdi Salihi. It was Salihi who had the first chance of the afternoon, breaking through the Wacker backline only to see his shot repelled by Innsbruck keeper Planer in the 6th minute. Rapid off to a strong startIt took just four further minutes for a rampant Rapid side to get their noses in front. Innsbruck defender Abraham clearly blocked off captain Hofmann in the box, Salihi stepped up and rifled the ball home from the spot to hand “Zoki’s” side a well deserved lead in this crunch encounter. Rapid kept pressing, driving the Innsbruck side back into their own half. Chances for Katzer and Salihi underlined the Green Whites growing superiority. The Rapid bench was forced into a change on 25 minutes: Heikinnen was replaced by Trimmel, owing to a groin injury. Rapid loanee Bergmann fired off the hosts first shot off the afternoon after half an hour, but it was easily dealt with by Payer. The Rapid keeper was forced into action again just minutes later as he this time denied Bugric. The game then lost a bit of its impetous and the Hütteldorfers took their slender lead into the half time changing rooms.Picking up where they left offThe embattled Mario Sonnleitner failed to re-emerge for the second half following a hip injury and was replaced by Jürgen Patocka, making his 100th appearance for Rapid. Not content with a one goal lead, the Viennese again looked to get on the front foot and really go for the Tyrol side’s throat. A Markus Katzer header almost secured a second for Rapid on 50 minutes, keeper Planer just kept the visitors at bay. Payer Assist, Drazan RocketA long clearance from Helge Payer found Drazan lurking on left wing. The young winger beat two Innsbruck players on his way into the box and rifled a thunderous drive into the nearside bottom corner to double the Rapid advantage. It was real reason to celebrate for Drazan as it was his first goal in 18 months. The home side passed up a couple of presentable opportunities and were made to pay by Steffen Hofmann: Salihi headed an excellent Drazan cross back across the box and Hofmann volleyed home to end the tie as a contest and ensure that all three points made the trip back to Hütteldorf.Despite some half chances for both teams the scoreline remained unchanged. Barisic's debut in the dugout could hardly of gone better as he oversaw only the 4th Rapid away victory of the season and reignited the Green-Whites interest in the top of the Bundesliga table. 29th round:Wacker Innsbruck - SK Rapid 0:3 (0:1)Tivoli neu, 13.700, Referee DrachtaGoals: 0:1 Salihi (11./Penalty), 0:2 Drazan (63.), 0:3 Hoffmann (70.)Wacker Innsbruck: Planer - Dakovic, Bea, Svejnoha, Pichler - Abraham - Bergmann (80. Wernitznig), Merino, Perstaller (54. Bammer), Schreter (54. Bilgen) - BurgicSK Rapid: Payer - Kayhan, Sonnleitner (46. Patocka), Soma, Katzer - Heikkinen (25. Trimmel), Kulovits - Prokopic, Hofmann, Drazan (73. Saurer) - SalihiYellow Cards: Perstaller, Bea Kulovits (gw)
18.04.2011