Within a minute of the kick-off, Salzburg’s Leonardo had an opportunity to hand his side an early lead but failed to capitalize on the chance. Rapid were looking to hit RB Salzburg on the break with Guido Burgstaller looking the best outlet, but in the first half the Green-Whites failed to manufacture a clear cut chance. Occasionally Rapid worked their way into the final third but the final pass was sorely lacking.Half Time Deficit Controversy reigned on the half hour mark as a firmly struck cross headed towards Markus Heikinnen. The Finn protected his face with his hands and, rather harshly, referee Eisner awarded Salzburg a soft penalty. Mendes da Silva duly dispatched the spot kick meaning Ricardo Moniz' side took a 1:0 lead into the half time break.Hectic Closing StagesIn second half both sides displayed a far greater sense of urgency. However a Salzburg second was looking more likely than a Rapid equalizer, but as the game wore on, the Hütteldorfers began to exert more and more pressure on the Salzburg backline. The travelling Viennese breathed a collective sigh of relief in the 66th minute as Jantscher narrowly fired over when well positioned to take the game away from Rapid. Relief turned to jubilation as Steffen Hofmann buried a classic Hofmann-like free kick in the far corner to drag his side back on level terms. Hopes of snatching the three points soon faded however: Maierhofer nearly restored the hosts’ advantage with an 85th minute header, and then Rapid’s fate was virtually sealed two minutes later when Jantscher rounded off a swift Salzburg counter attack. Defeat was confirmed in the 94th minute via a Heikinnen own goal.   Despite a spirited second half showing, Rapid finally succumbed to a defeat that blows the title race wide open at the top of the Bundesliga, with three teams level on 38 points as we move into the business end of the season.  tipp3-Bundesliga, 24th round:RB Salzburg - SK Rapid 3:1 (1:0)Red-Bull-Arena, 19.500, Referee EisnerGoals: 1:0 Mendes (32./Penalty), 1:1 Hofmann (74.), 2:1 Jantscher (86.), 3:1 Heikkinen (95./ET)RB Salzburg: Walke - Schwegler, Lindgren, Sekagya, Ulmer (78. Hinteregger) - Cristiano, Mendes - Teigl (84. Maierhofer), Leonardo, Jantscher - Soriano (73. Leitgeb)SK Rapid: Königshofer - Schimpelsberger, Sonnleitner, Pichler, Katzer - Heikkinen, Prager (83. Kulovits) - G. Burgstaller, Hofmann, Drazan (78. Alar) - Nuhiu (64. Gartler)Y/R-Card: Burgstaller (89.)Yellow Cards: Mendes, Leonardo, Jantscher Heikkinen, Prager (gw)