Three points were undoubtedly the aim on Sunday as Rapid travelled to Wiener Neustadt for their last appointment of 2012. Unfortunately things didn't always transpire as one would have wished. Despite the lashing rain and appalling conditions, an exciting match began to develop right from kick off. The first chance fell to Rapid striker Terrance Boyd the USA man's low drilled effort just flashed the wrong side of the upright in the third minute. Five minutes later Rakowitz was busy keeping the Hütteldorfer defence on their toes with a smart volley that just missed the target. A spate of last gasp challenges and well timed tackles ensured that neither side could find the crucial final pass. Strange scene leads to debatable penaltyRapid came within inches of taking a 25th minute lead when Burgstaller played a perfect low cross for Boyd who at full stretch couldn't quite apply the final touch. The hosts were still carrying a threat themselves, looking dangerous from crosses and set plays, regularly getting to the ball first ahead of their markers. In the 38th minute a strange moment unfolded: a Gerson back pass was held up in the boggy pitch and Offenbacher nipped in to get to the ball before Königshofer, dinking it over the keeper but wide of the target. Despite having missed the target and having no control over the ball, both players momentum caused them to collide and the referee blew up for an extremely harsh penalty. Offenbacher took it himself but the effort was high, wide and not all handsome as he blazed yards over the bar. Unfortunately Neustadt's next meaningful attack lead to the first goal: Tadic got in ahead of Schrammel at the back post to convert a low cross from close range giving Königshofer no chance. Seconds later the whistle blew for half time, a classically disappointing time to concede. Chances but no equaliserBoth sides maintained the games high tempo following the break as Boyd and Rakowitz exchanged the opening efforts of the half. Substitute Harry Pichler then went close with a free kick shortly before the hour mark. As Mario Sonnleitner's 59th minute goal bound header was cleared of the line, one began to get the feeling that this might turn out to be one of those days. Markus Heikkinen almost pulled Rapid level with a long range shot, before Deni Alar came as close as Rapid had all afternoon when his expert free kick crashed into the woodwork and away to safety. The ball just didn't want to go in. Despite dominating the game, as the Green & Whites pushed forwards in search of the equaliser they became more susceptible to being hit on the counter: Offenbacher passed up the chance to bury Schöttel's side in the 67th minute but shot wide after having been set up cleverly by Mimm. Schrammel and Boyd had Rapid's last two real opportunities but it was all in vain as the extremely unfortunate Hütteldorfers failed to claim the equaliser their second half showing would have merited. It was just one of those days when Rapid did everything but hit the back of the net it certainly wasn't for lack of trying. Next year is a fresh start with all still to play for - Rapid! tipp3-Bundesliga, 20th round:Wr. Neustadt - SK Rapid 1:0 (1:0)Stadion Wiener Neustadt, 3.050 Attendance, Referee PrammerGoal: 1:0 1:0 (44.) Tadic Wr. Neustadt: Siebenhandl - Mimm, Ramsebner, M. Wallner, Berger - Piermayr, Hlinka - Rakowitz (92./Fröschl), Offenbacher (67./Pollhammer), Hofbauer - Tadic (86./Freitag) SK Rapid: Königshofer - Schimpelsberger, Sonnleitner, Gerson, Schrammel - Heikkinen (78./Schaub), Ildiz (46./Pichler) - Burgstaller, Alar, Drazan (68./Grozurek) - Boyd Yellow Cards: Mimm, Offenbacher, Siebenhandl, Wallner, Berger Königshofer, Drazan, Heikkinen (gw)
25.12.2012