Sunday's can be beautiful things: in the summer sun Rapid travelled to face the defending Bundesliga champions in the next clash of the titans. The Huetteldorfers were looking to take the momentum from the Novi Sad match into the game against Red Bull Salzburg. Unfortunately injury prevented Markus Katzer and Christopher Drazan from making the trip westwards. Thomas Schrammel and Michael Schimpelsberger were drafted in as replacements. The two attack minded defenders would be looking to put their opposing numbers on the defensive. The first chance went the way of the hosts: Schiemer got on the end of a corner but directed his header wide of the target. The travelling Rapid fans breathed a collective sigh of relief. Rapid recovered their composure and began to assert themselves on their opponents. The Green & Whites slick possesion football would more or less last the entire fixture, and eventually lead to the win. All that was missing at this point was a goal, and Deni Alar soon rectified this fact. Steffen Hofmann tested keeper Walke with a long range effort, the Salzburg keeper spilled the ball and Alar was on hand to stroke the ball home with a very accomplished left foot finish. One-Nil, 26 minutes on the clock. Guido Burgstaller alomst extended the lead in the 32nd minute, then Nielsen fired off a repost for the hosts to remind Schöttel's side that they wouldn't have things all their own way. The hosts were visibly shaken though and minutes before half time Burgstaller had the chance to capitalise on the insecurity in the Salzburg ranks, but failed to get his volley on target. Rapid emerged for the second half unchanged and looked to pick up where they had left off. A beautiful curling left footed strike from Steffen Hofmann looked to have added the second, but the mercurial skippers effort hit the woodwork rather than the back of the net in the 48th minute. The Huetteldorfers were looking good on the ball and also dangerous on the counter: by contrast the Austrian champions looked devoid of ideas and answers. A 75th minute break away found substitute Lukas Grozurek with the ball at his feet on the left flank. The tricky winger cut in off the flank, leaving two defenders in his wake, stepped inside another, and then fired off a ferocious drive that beat Walke at his near post. 2-0, 15 minutes to play. Salzburg were handed an immediate lifeline though as Kulovits bundled Soriano over in the box, leaving the referee with little choice but to award a spot kick. Soriano took the penalty himself and blazed wildly over the bar, much to the enjoyment of the Rapid contingent in the crowd. The last shreds of hope seemed to evaporate with the miss and it was Rapid who nearly added a third: man of the moment Deni Alar struck the woodwork again with an 83rd minute free kick. But two goals were enough, and Rapid recorded their first victory on Salzburg soil since the 2008, 7-0 demolition of Trappatoni's Red Bull. Ninth time lucky! Actually not lucky, thoroughly deserved, and also proof after the derby shambles that this Rapid team have what it takes to mix it with the favorites in this year's Bundesliga race. tipp3-Bundesliga powered by T-Mobile, 4th roundRB Salzburg - SK Rapid 0:2 (0:1)Red-Bull-Arena, 16.600 Attendance, Ref EisnerGoals: 0:1 Alar (26.), 0:2 Grozurek (76.) RB Salzburg: Walke - Schwegler, Schiemer, Sekagya, Ulmer - Leitgeb, Ilsanker (57./Zarate) - Nielsen, Hierländer (65./Maierhofer), Jantscher (79./Teigl) - Soriano SK Rapid: Königshofer - Schimpelsberger, Sonnleitner, Gerson, Schrammel - Prager, Kulovits - Alar (85./Heikkinen), Hofmann, G. Burgstaller (70./Grozurek) - Boyd (51./Trimmel) Yellow Cards: Schwegler Boyd, Schimpelsberger, Kulovits, Trimmel (gw)
21.08.2012