Coach Peter Schöttel sent an attack-minded team out on to the pitch for the top of the table clash against SV Ried. The Huetteldorfers were looking to put the previous three goalless draws behind them and set up with Burgstaller and Nuhiu up front. Christian Thonhofer came into the team on the right hand flank. A strong 16.200 onlookers packed into the Hanappi and witnessed a highly charged Rapid outfit battling for every ball and displaying the attacking dynamism that had been lacking in their previous outings. The first two efforts came in the shape of a Nuhiu header and a 14th minute Katzer shot. On the half hour mark ex-Rapid man Hinum had Lukas Königshofer scrambling, but his long-range effort went wide of the target. The visitors were looking cagey, trying to do damage on the break whilst holding a deep defensive line. Rapid began to turn the screw in the closing stages of the first half Gebauer did well to save a 38th minute Nuhiu header as the Green & Whites took the upper hand. Burgstaller lifted the ball over Gebauer in the 40th minute after good build up play involving Hofmann and Drazan, but his goal bound effort was scrambled to safety just yards short of the line. Tempers flared on the stroke of half time when Hadzic went in strongly on Christopher Trimmel, earning himself a yellow card. The Rapid winger reacted angrily and received a red card from referee Schörgenhofer. The Viennese faced 45 minutes of football a man light. An unchanged Rapid came out for the start of the second half clearly fired up by the perceived injustice of Trimmel's dismissal. Two minutes after the restart it was Drazan who got the first effort on goal his drive just missed the far post. Finally in the 51st minute, the long awaited goal arrived Pichler headed a Hofmann free kick across the face of the goal and unfortunate Ried defender Karner turned the ball into his own net. Not a classic by any stretch, but 10 man Rapid had finally broken the drought and given themselves a crucial, but slender, advantage. The Huetteldorfers clearly had the monkey off their backs and began to play with a freedom lacking in previous outings in fact, it was hard to tell which side had the man advantage. The next chance again fell to Hinum though, but Lukas Königshofer remained sharp and denied his ex-team mate. Deni Alar came into the action with 20 minutes remaining and nearly made the game safe in the closing moments. The youngster went on a mazy run, leaving two opponents in his wake but pulled his effort just wide of the post. Markus Heikinnen then rounded off a sweeping counter by putting the ball in the net but was judged to have been offside. The score line remained 1:0 and Rapid secured a narrow, but richly deserved, three points - finally! tipp3-Bundesliga, 23rd roundSK Rapid - SV Ried 1:0 (0:0)Hanappi-Stadion, 16.200, Referee SchörgenhoferGoal: 1:0 Pichler (51.) SK Rapid: Königshofer - Thonhofer, Sonnleitner, Pichler, Katzer - Heikkinen - Trimmel, Burgstaller (82./Schimpelsberger), Hofmann (91./Kulovits), Drazan (76./Alar) - NuhiuRied: Gebauer - Karner, Reifeltshammer, Riegler - Hinum, Ziegl (73./Meilinger), Schreiner (61./Zulj) - Lexa (56./Nacho), Hadzic, Beichler - GuillemRed card: Trimmel (42.)Yellow Cards: Heikkinen, Sonnleitner Hadzic, Beichler, Meilinger (gw)
06.03.2012