Steffen Hofmann travelled with the side to Linz, however due to his ongoing back problems our captain was only a spectator from the bench. Christopher Trimmel again donned the armband in Hofmann's absence as he had done in the previous outing against PSG. The stand in skipper had bagged a goal after fifteen minutes against the Parisians and again had an opening after a quarter of an hour in Linz: he couldn't repeat the feat this time round however and his header went narrowly wide of the target. It was the first clear cut chance of a game in which both sides were struggling to find their rhythm and create chances.Jan Novota in good formThe hosts were struggling to create chances at the other end and a header from Barry that clipped the bar in the 24th minute was as close as Linz would come to finding a goal during the entire game. Lukas Grozurek tested the LASK keeper with a header (26.) before Rapid's lower league opponents enjoyed their best spell of the game, reigning down a flurry of long range efforts on Jan Novota's goal (33., 34., 37.). Vujadinovic had a good opportunity from close range but Novota was putting in a sterling performance for the Green & Whites and again came out on top (43.). The second half would take on a different look which was just as well for the travelling Viennese faithful.Guilt-edged chances for RapidShortly after the break the Hütteldorfers finally began to make inroads and create opportunities: Marcel Sabitzer could count himself unlucky when his goal bound header, following a deflected Burgstaller shot, was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Linz keeper Pavao (50.). Louis Schaub was the next to hit the woodwork when his floated ball from the edge of the penalty area grazed the goal frame (54.). An error of judgement from Pavao whilst attempting to claim a cross nearly presented Rapid with the breakthrough moment, but Grozurek's resulting header was cleared off the line (55.). Rapid were clearly in the ascendancy and kept pushing for the crucial goal for the remainder of the half: the hosts barely managed to cross the half way line as the efforts from Zoran Barisic's side kept on coming, but neither Sabitzer (72.) nor Schaub (82.) could find a way past the Linz goalie.Penalty shoot out lotteryAfter failing to capitalise on their numerous chances, Rapid faced the prospect of extra time. Brian Behrendt went close with a long range bullet (97.), before Burgstaller tried his hand, again without the desired results (102.). It increasingly looked like being one of those days when the ball refuses to cross the line, to which Harry Pichler will also testify after his late last ditch effort failed to rescue Rapid from the dreaded lottery of a penalty shoot out (118.). Following nine successful penalties Sabitzer stepped up with the score 5:4 to Linz and saw his effort cruelly turned onto the bar by Pavao, who took the plaudits as LASK progressed into the next round.The game didn't represent all doom and gloom for our side: in the first competitive fixture of the season the performance was good, with a goal the only missing piece of the puzzle. There were plenty of chances during the 120 minutes to avoid penalties, and on another day the team could have ran out comfortable winners. Next Saturday the boys travel to Wolfsberg for the first league match of the 2013/14 campaign, whilst on Friday Rapid's European opponents will be revealed as the draw for the Europa League 3rd round qualifiers takes place.Austrian FA-Samsung-Cup, 1st Round:LASK Linz - SK Rapid 5:4 (pe.). (0:0 a.e.t.)Sunday, 14th July 2013, Linzer Stadion, 6200 AttendanceLASK Linz: Pavao Stadlbauer, Barry, Hieblinger, Klapf Buric, Schröger Kogler, Fabiano, Freudenthaler (76. Takougnadi) Vujanovic (78. Templ)SK Rapid: Novota Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Dibon, Schrammel Wydra (74. Pichler), Boskovic (97. Behrendt) Schaub Sabitzer, Burgstaller, Grozurek (74. Boyd)(gw)
16.07.2013