Saturday afternoon represented Rapid's fourth and final chance to finally register a victory over the Bundesliga's newest members from Wolfsberg, but again they came up just short. The Green and Whites did manage to avoid what would have been a fourth defeat, although in the context of this most recent encounter that would have been an extremely unfair outcome for our side. Despite creating a slew of concrete openings Rapid came up against an inspired Dobnik in goal for the visitors and couldn't find a way past. An injury and triple chanceAn attacking Rapid line up took to the field again in what has become a familiar 4-3-3 formation: Heikkinen, Boskovic and Alar were the midfield trio supplementing a forward three of Schaub, Sabitzer and Grozurek. The offensive minded team, including Christopher Trimmel who was making his 150th appearance in Green & White, set about their task and immediately got on the front foot. The obvious positivity around the team was dealt a hammer blow though in the 10th minute: worringly Deni Alar crashed to the turf with no other player in his immediate vicinity and signalled instantly to the bench that he required attention. The initial diagnosis suggests a ruptured achilles. We will keep you informed of all the latest with Deni and all of our thoughts are with him at this tough time. Terrence Boyd was sent on in his place and got himself involved in the game straight away as his volleyed effort from a headed knock down just cleared the post (22.). A few minutes later Rapid could have taken the lead three times within one passage of play: firstly Marcel Sabitzer got himself on the end of a corner but unfortunately turned the ball onto the crossbar, the rebound fell back at his feet and he again drove the ball into the bar and a third effort was then cleared off the line by some desperate Wolfesberg defending (25.)! Lady luck had completely deserted Hütteldorf for the duration of this game. Rapid kept probing until the half time whistle, but despite their dominance in possession and in terms of territory, couldn't create another clear cut opening. Little reward for an excellent performanceDirect from the second half restart the Hütteldorfers put together the games best move: Boyd found Schaub with a deep defence splitting pass, who in turn centered the ball to Boskovic who had made his way into the penalty area, but the Montenegran international was foiled by the first of a number of excellent saves by WAC goalie Dobnik (48.). Lukas Grozurek also failed to find a way past the inspired stopper in the 66th minute, two minutes after he had guided an effort narrowly wide of the target (64.). The lively Sabitzer was the next to threaten Dobnik's goal, but he got just too much elevation on his 71st minute long range shot. It looked as though it would just be a matter of time before the breakthrough finally arrived, especially when Boyd went agonisingly close with a shot on the turn (76.). But with the minutes ticking down it began to look like the Carinthian side might hold on for an unlikely point. Branko Boskovic had a last gasp opportunity for Rapid but his header failed to work Dobnik (90.), who had been in superb form to earn himself a clean sheet. The score line remained nil - nil, a result that cements Rapid's third place in the Bundesliga, but a point was scant reward for the effort and performance. tipp3-Bundesliga, 33rd round:SK Rapid - WAC 0:0Hanappi-Stadion, 13.400 Attendance, Referee HameterSK Rapid: Novota - Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Pichler, Katzer - Heikkinen, Boskovic - Schaub (71./Wydra), Sabitzer, Grozurek (83. Starkl) - Alar (14./Boyd)WAC: Dobnik - Kerhe, Jovanovic, Sollbauer, Suppan - Putsche - De Paula, Polverino, Liendl (85./S. Stückler), Jacobo (71./Hüttenbrenner) - Topcagic (75./Rivera)Yellow Cards: Heikkinen Rivera, Dobnik (gw)
22.05.2013