Hosts make the better of the frenetic startRapid's final game of the season didn't take long to get going. After just 50 seconds top scorer Hamdi Salihi glanced a header just wide of Linz keeper Mandel’s post. The home side responded and took the lead in the 4th minute: a Sonnleitner miscued clearance fell to Kaufmann who took the chance to beat Raimund Hedl. It was to be the final competitive match of Hedl’s career: As of next season he will assume the role of goalkeeping coach as part of inbound manager Peter Schöttel’s training team. Heikinnen levels proceedings going into the breakAtdhe Nuhiu was guilty of overplaying in the 19th minute. After being put through on goal, the tall forward opted to try and find Salihi with a centre rather than taking the chance on himself. The ball was cut out by a Linz defender and the chance evaporated. Rapid found the equalizer their play merited however: Drazan's 35th minute cross was nodded down by Christoph Saurer to the oncoming Heikinnen, the Fin made no mistake and restored parity for the Green-Whites. Super Salihi puts Rapid aheadJust three minutes after the restart, Salihi put Rapid into the lead for the first time in the afternoon. The goal was his 18th of the season, his goal getting exploits have certainly been one of the bright spots of this years campaign. The Hütteldorfers never really looked under threat from then on. Substitute Christopher Trimmel rattled the crossbar in the 82nd minute, while Salihi repeated the act in injury time. Despite the close calls for Linz there were no more goals added to the scoreline and the three points confirmed Rapid's fifth place finish for the 2010/11 season.  36th round: LASK - Rapid 1:2 (1:1)Linzer Stadion, 5.900, Referee BruggerGoals: 1:0 Kaufmann ( 4.), 1:1 Heikkinen (35.), 1:2 Salihi (48.)LASK: Mandl - Bubenik, Winkler, Aufhauser, Schreiner - Hart, Metz (79./Majabvi), Duro (62./Piermayr), Kogler - Kragl (83./Barry), KaufmannSK Rapid: Hedl - Schimpelsberger (71./Hinum), Sonnleitner, Soma, Katzer- Saurer, Kulovits, Heikkinen, Drazan (58./Trimmel) - Nuhiu (93./Kuleski), SalihiYellow Cards: Aufhauser Drazan, Kulovits, Katzer(gw)
28.05.2011