Zoran Barisic's first team sheet of the season didn't throw up any major surprises - captain Steffen Hofmann had, as expected, overcome his back injury and made the starting line up, whilst new boy Petsos had to settle for a place on the bench. Straight from the kick off the hosts nearly caught stole in front when a De Paula cross from the right flank found Topcagic in a good position but he fired wide with only fifteen seconds on the clock.However after ten minutes or so Rapid found their rhythm and began imposing themselves on the game: first Louis Schaub tried his luck (12.), before he expertly played in Guido Burgstaller with a reverse pass, whose first time strike was parried away at the near post by home keeper Dobnik (13.). Further chances came and went for both players with Rapid clearly in the ascendancy and looking likely to pierce Wolfsberg creaking defence.A moment of luck, a moment of qualityA goal had looked in the offing for the Hütteldorfers and it was of little surprise when the breakthrough finally arrived: an attempted clearance from defender Jovanovic spooned up into the air and inadvertently played in a grateful Burgstaller who gleefully accepted the gift, bringing the ball under control with one touch before coolly slotting a low effort past Dobnik - 0:1 (27.)! Ten minutes later a touch of class from the impeccable Louis Schaub double Rapid's advantage: having gathered the ball on the edge of the area Schaub skilfully flicked the ball past his marker, ran round the beleaguered defender picking it up on the other side and stroked it home into the far corner with a classy low finish - 0:2 (37.)! Wolfsberg almost managed pulled a goal back before the half time whistle when Thomas Schrammel headed the ball onto his own post whilst trying to defend a free kick, but Rapid survived the scare and went into half time two goals to the good.Game of two halvesZoran Barisic's team talk would have been calling for more of the same from his players who had put in a superb first half performance but unfortunately the second forty five was to be a different affair: Wolfsberg emerged a more determined proposition and from the whistle put our side under pressure. It was from a corner that the home side scored to get the themselves back into the game as loose marking from Rapid allowed Micic enough space to strike Topcagic's knock down into the roof of the net - 1:2 (57.). It was a disappointing way as well as time to concede a goal that gave rewedded hope to WAC. Guido Burgstaller had the chance to restore the two goal advantage and put the game to bed following a counter attack, but with Dobnik out of position and the goal gaping good last ditch defending deflected his effort behind for what should have been a corner but was mistakenly interpreted as a goal kick by the match officials (68.). At the other end the hosts were looking dangerous themselves, and Rapid were indebted to a flying save from Jan Novota that denied a Baldauf header and kept the Green & Whites slender lead in tact (76.).Just as it looked like we had weathered the storm disappointment struck: seconds after Sabitzer had missed a glorious chance to wrap up the match (88.), Harry Pichler left a leg hanging in the penalty area that made enough contact with Kerhe to convince referee Schörgenhofer to award a penalty. Liendl converted the spot kick, sending Novota the wrong way to square the match - 2:2 (89.). With the last kick of the game Rapid nearly snatched back the win, but with the ball rolling across the goal line, Mario Sonnleitner just failed to make the crucial contact (90.). The game finished a 2:2 draw which, based on the excellent first half display, will be viewed as something of a let down from a Green & White point of view.tipp3-Bundesliga, 1st Match day:WAC - Rapid 2:2 (0:2)Wolfsberg, Lavanttal-Arena, 6.800 Attendance, Referee SchörgenhoferGoals: 0:1 Burgstaller (29.), 0:2 Schaub (37.), 1:2 Micic (57.), 2:2 Liendl (89./PE)WAC: Dobnik - Dunst (64./Segovia), Jovanovic, Sollbauer, Baldauf - Micic (84./Hüttenbrenner), Liendl - Kerhe, De Paula, Gotal (55./Polverino) - TopcagicSK Rapid: Novota - Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Dibon, Schrammel (72./Denner) - Boskovic (66./Pichler), Hofmann, Wydra - Schaub (82./Boyd), Burgstaller, SabitzerYellow Cards: Dunst, Topcagic / Schrammel, Sabitzer, Burgstaller, Pichler(gw)
30.07.2013