Branko Boskovic failed to recover in time for the short trip across Vienna, his place in Zoran Barisic's first squad instead went to left back Lukas Denner, a surprise inclusion who joins Barisic in making the transition from reserve to first team squads. That was where the surprises ended though, as straight from kick off the confident Austria team began to impose themselves on a Rapid outfit sorely lacking in form and confidence from the previous weeks. Austria's first meaningful attack lead to a clear sight of goal for Jun, thankfully the inform striker fired his effort high over the bar when many expected to see the net bulge (4.). What the home side may not have expected was Rapid's high tempo defensive game, pressing high up and all over the pitch in an effort to contain and disrupt the Favoriten side's fluency. Despite the high energy and effort, Rapid were still clinging to the opposition coat tails somewhat as they tried to keep the score line even. A goal behind at the break....Chances inevitably began arriving on a more consistent basis though, and Jan Novota was called into action to deny a Hosiner shot (17.), before a header from the same player narrowly went over (19.). The Austria pressure finally told in the 26th minute when Jun was played in down the right hand side of the penalty area. The Czech squared up indecisive defender Michael Schimpelsberger and wrong footed keeper Novota with a low shot into the near corner - 1:0. Crucially Rapid managed to prevent a second goal in the run up to half time, restricting their opponents to a handful of half chances. The Hütteldorfers remained in the game at half time, but to get themselves onto the score board they would need to show more in the second half. ....but stormed back into lifeThe call for more attacking thrust was then more than answered as Rapid hauled themselves level: good work from Guido Burgstaller and Christopher Trimmel saw a low ball played into Deni Alar at the near post, who expertly turned home from close range - 1:1 (52.)! Unperturbed, Austria hit back almost immediately: Jun was again afforded too much room Schimpelsberger backed off and from about 12 feet Jun curled and unstoppable side foot effort into Novota's far corner - 2:1 (56.). It wasn't proving to be Schimpelsberger's day as he was then stretchered of the field with a suspected tear to his Achilles tendon to round off a thoroughly miserable afternoon.  Deserved equaliserDespite trailing the Green & Whites remained compact at the back and continued to foray forwards. Suddenly a swift counter attack played in Alar who got to the ball down the right hand side of the penalty area before the onrushing Austria keeper Lindner and a defender, cleverly back heeled the ball to Marcel Sabitzer who in turn coolly swept the ball into the net with the Violet's keeper nowhere to be found - 2:2 (65.)! The goal completely changed the nature of the game: for the first time in the match the hosts started to succumb to the pressure of an expectant home crowd and Rapid started turning the screw. Right until the final whistle the game remained and edge if your seat affair, with both sides passing up late chances to snatch victory. A Louis Schaub effort in the 92nd minute threatened to complete a remarkable turnaround for Rapid, but Lindner managed to deal with the low drive from distance. The match finished 2:2 and represented a complete contrast to the previous three derbies from this season: Rapid had done the club and the supporters proud, and shown that with the correct fighting spirit so synonymous with the shirt, they can still fashion results with the odds stacked against them. This match should be just the mental jolt the side needed ahead of the visit of reigning champions RB Salzburg to Hütteldorf next weekend. tipp3-Bundesliga, 30th round:FK Austria - SK Rapid 2:2 (1:0)Generali Arena, 12.500 Attendance, Referee HarkamGoals: 1:0 Jun (28.), 1:1 Alar (53.), 2:1 Jun (56.), 2:2 Sabitzer (66.)Austria: Lindner - Koch, Rogulj, Ortlechner, Suttner - Holland, Dilaver (75./Kienast) - Gorgon (87./Simkovic), A. Grünwald, Jun (82./Stankovic) - HosinerSK Rapid: Novota - Schimpelsberger (61./Schaub), Sonnleitner, Gerson, Katzer - Trimmel, Wydra (88./Grozurek), Kulovits, G. Burgstaller (79./Pichler) - Sabitzer, AlarYellow Cards: Hosiner, Grünwald Kulovits, Burgstaller, Wydra, Schimpelsberger, Trimmel (gw)
29.04.2013