We travelled to Salzburg devoid of the services of injured pair Branko Boskovic and Christopher Dibon, but with the determination to make life as difficult as possible for our in form opponents. The side showed their intent early on through Guido Burgstaller who, on receiving an excellent ball from Steffen Hofmann, tricked his way inside his marker before firing off a stinging snap shot with his left foot that rolled along the outside of the net at the near post (4.).The Green & Whites positive early start stung the hosts into an immediate reaction: sloppy play in possession on the right hand side of the penalty area from Rapid yielded the ball to Ulmer, who crossed dangerously across the six yard box to Alan, who somehow put his effort high over the bar from a matter of yards with the goal at his mercy (8.). Salzburg were clearly in the ascendancy through the first half but couldn't turn their domination into a goal: Kampl missing with a shot (12.) before Mane was denied by an expert stop from Jan Novota (29.).Deadlock broken minutes before half time...As the half wore on and the breakthrough for the home side continued to prove elusive, frustration and a bit nervousness began to creep into their play. This change in atmosphere manifested itself in a poor challenge from Alan on Sonnleitner, which on another day may have seen the Salzburg striker receive a red card for his efforts (40.). Just two minutes before half time though the breakthrough finally arrived, albeit with a huge slice of good fortune when a tame Hierlaender effort took a wicked deflection off Harry Pichler and left Jan Novota stranded - 1:0 (43.). And so with a one goal deficit the Hütteldorfers headed into their half time team talk. It was clear that to take anything from the game Rapid would have to carry more attacking threat in the second period....but Rapid refuse to go underBoth teams began the second half somewhat cautiously, like a boxer waiting for his opponent to make a move. As the game began to come to life once more, it was again Salzburg who were creating the chances: Soriano tested the ever reliable Novota with a decent strike (58.), before Kampl went close with an effort from distance (61.). The Rapid defence stood firm though and Zoran Barisic's charges retained a firm foothold in the game. Not long after Salzburg's initial burst at the start of the second half, Rapid's dogged ability to hang on in the match was richly rewarded: Captain Steffen Hofmann played a cutting forward pass to Marcel Sabitzer on the edge of the Salzburg box, who, with the keeper a good ten yards from his line, cleverly laid the ball off to Terrence Boyd rather than take the shot on himself. Boyd gobbled up the opportunity and rounded off a slick move with a firmly struck side footed effort that went through home keeper Gulasci's legs - 1:1 (64.)! It was the perfect way for Boyd to re-introduce himself to first team affairs following his lay off with a shoulder injury. If Salzburg weren't in the mood to capitalise on their chances, it seemed that Rapid certainly were!Rapid came forwards more in the closing stages of the game, but remained compact in defence. They also didn't let their pressing game drop, and it was a tactic that the Salzburg side was finding hard to navigate with any success. Both teams kept probing and hunting a winning goal until the game's conclusion, but neither side managed to fashion a clear cut chance in the final twenty five or so minutes. The final whistle duly went and Rapid could celebrate a hard fought but certainly merited point with the loyal band of travelling Green & White supporters packed into the away sector. An excellent result for Rapid that keeps the Red Bulls within touching distance in the formative Bundesliga table.tipp3-Bundesliga, Match Day 7:RB Salzburg - SK Rapid 1:1 (1:0)Red-Bull-Arena, 16.532 Attendance, Ref OuschanGoals: 1:0 Hierländer (43.), 1:1 Boyd (65.)RB Salzburg: Gulacsi - Klein, Ramalho, Hinteregger, Ulmer (90./Svento) - Kampl, Hierländer, Ilsanker, Mane (83./Reyna) - Alan (56./Meilinger), SorianoSK Rapid: Novota - Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Behrendt, Palla - Petsos (72./Schaub), Pichler - Burgstaller, Hofmann, Sabitzer - Boyd (77./Grozurek)Yellow Cards: Hinteregger, Hierländer, Klein Boyd, Petsos, Pichler, Sabitzer(gw)
03.09.2013