For the first time since taking over, Trainer Zoran Barisic deployed his troops in a 4-3-3 system: Harry Pichler switched into the centre of defence with Heikkinen and Kulovits supplying the muscle to supplement Dominik Wydra's creativity in midfield. The forward trio was comprised of Burgstaller, Alar and Sabitzer. Straight from the kick off Rapid looked to execute a high tempo game and got in and about Salzburg. The tactic of winning possession early looked promising in the opening 10 minutes, and Trimmel nearly rounded off the strong start with a goal, but his header from a corner went just wide. Reigning Champions Salzburg began to create space as their slick passing game started to click, luckily for us they were enjoying the bulk of their possession away from the areas in which they could do damage. A long range Hierländer effort kept Jan Novota on his but narrowly missed the target (24). An attractive game developed before the 15,000 strong Hanappi crowd, but neither side could manufacture real clear cut opportunities and went into the break with the deadlock yet to be broken. Four goals in the second halfFollowing the break clear cut chances remained at a premium: A Marcel Sabitzer free kick easily cleared the bar but was the first sign of intent from either side (52.). It was hard to see where a break through goal would come from, as both teams, whilst attempting to remain positive, largely cancelled each other out. Suddenly the moment arrived: A long Gerson ball was cleverly brought under control by Sabitzer, who squared for the unmarked Deni Alar to slot home into an empty net - 1:0 (64.)! Disappointingly the old adage of teams being vulnerable directly after scoring came home to roost immediately for Rapid as a forward ball picked out Alan, who shot into the corner to level things just a minute later and with Salzburg's first attack following the restart - 1:1 (65.). Third goal seals itThings were about to get worse for the Hütteldorfers: Klein made his way into the penalty area and managed to draw enough contact from a Kulovits challenge to convince the referee to award a penalty which Alan coolly converted - 1:2 (70.). Rapid now had to come forwards in search of an equalizer and a flurry of efforts followed: firstly Burgstaller tried his luck (74.), before Sabitzer drew and excellent save from Eddy Gustafsson (79.). Christopher Trimmel was again unlucky, as for the second time in the match he got to a corner first, but this time he directed his header over the crossbar (80.). At the opposite end of the field Salzburg were looking to kill off the Viennese' challenge: Jan Novota spilled an 83rd minute Kampl effort, but Mane couldn't capitalize and failed to get the rebound on target. In the dying moments Salzburg finally made the game safe as Kampl picked out Svento, the Slovakian's first touch took him away from Novota and he slammed home the third of the afternoon for the Red Bulls. It rounded off the scoring in a game where arguably a fair result would probably have been a point a piece.  tipp3-Bundesliga, 31st round:SK Rapid - RB Salzburg 1:3 (0:0)Hanappi-Stadion, 15.100 Attendance, Referee DrachtaGoals: 1:0 Alar (63.), 1:1 Alan (65.), 1:2 Alan (70./Penalty), 1:3 Svento (90.)SK Rapid: Novota - Trimmel, Gerson, Pichler, Katzer - Heikkinen, Kulovits (78./Boskovic) - Burgstaller, Wydra (69./Boyd), Sabitzer - AlarRB Salzburg: Gustafsson - Schwegler (62./Klein), Sekagya, Rodnei, Svento - Ilsanker (58./Vorsah) - Kampl, Hierländer, Berisha, Mane - Alan (82./Teigl)Yellow Cards: Katzer, Pichler Vorsah, Rodnei, Mane (gw)
29.04.2013