The afternoon got off to a respectful start as Ex-Rapid trainer Vlatko Markovic was remembered during a beautifully observed one minute silence having recently passed away. Once the game had kicked off a determined Rapid outfit set about attempting to finally get a first victory over bogey team Wolfsberger AC since the side from Carinthia won promotion to Austria's top tier. The Green & Whites determination and good start manifested itself in an opening goal: a free kick from Steffen Hofmann evaded the entire WAC defence allowing Louis Schaub to steal in and clinically finish with a crisp shot into the far corner - 1:0 (10.)!The goal drove Rapid on in search of another and with the guests' wobbling somewhat a seemingly crucial second duly materialised: a scrappy passage of play saw the ball fall to Thanos Petsos who lashed home from 25 meters via the underside of the crossbar - 2:0 (20.) and a superb goal from a player building somewhat of a reputation as a long range specialist! Just minutes later Steffen Hofmann found himself one on one with goalie Dobnik but missed the chance to all but seal the game as his effort went wide of the target (26.). It was a golden opportunity missed that somehow seemed to signal a shift in momentum. With Wolfsberg feeling they had been thrown a lifeline they threw caution to the wind and began to dominate proceedings.Game turned on its headNow Wolfsberg flooded forwards looking to make the most of the chance Rapid's profligate finishing had provided. Wave after wave of attacks came down the flanks and finally yielded a goal for the Carinthians: a ball into the box caused chaos as Rapid failed to clear their lines, a couple of Wolfsberg players failed to get shots away, but not Liendl who joined the melee from deep and fired a rasping shot into the roof of Jan Novota's net - 2:1 (30.) and the cat firmly amongst the pigeons. Five minutes later Gotal passed up an excellent opportunity to level but lifted his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Rapid survived until the break but the second half brought little relief for the Hütteldorfers: defence quickly turned into attack for WAC who seized on a loose ball from Petsos and surged forward with intent, Liendl crossed low into the box for Gotal who finished off the move after finding himself in acres of space - 2:2 (54.). The visitors smelt blood and before Rapid had the chance to steady the ship Jan Novota was again picking the ball out of his net: Kehre bombed down almost the entire flank unchallenged and crossed to the unmarked Topcagic, who pushed his header back in the direction from which Novota was travelling leaving the keeper no chance - 2:3 (54.) and the comeback was complete within nine breathless second half minutes.Unsatisfied with three goals the Carinthian outfit made the points safe by adding a fourth: Topcagic again got on the end of a cross, this time from a corner, and directed his header goal-wards Jan Novota managed to parry the ball but didn't get it away from the danger area and Rnic was on hand to stab home from close range - 2:4 (70.) and that was the game. Despite searching for a response and a few efforts from the likes of Schaub and Dibon, Rapid were unable to penetrate a packed Wolfsberg defence and went down to a painful defeat. It's important that the result is now pushed to one side as Thursday brings another stern test in the shape of Ukrainian giants Dynamo Kiev in the Europa League.tipp3-Bundesliga, Match Day 10SK Rapid - WAC 2:4 (2:1)Gerhard Hanappi-Stadion, 12.200 Attendance, Ref DrachtaGoals: 1:0 (10.) Schaub, 2:0 (20.) Petsos, 2:1 (30.) Liendl, 2:2 (51.) Gotal, 2:3 (56.) Topcagic, 2:4 (70.) RnicSK Rapid: Novota - Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Dibon, Palla - Pichler (73. Behrendt), Petsos - Schaub, S. Hofmann (61. Sabitzer), Burgstaller (61. Grozurek) - BoydWAC: Dobnik - Standfest, Sollbauer, Rnic, Baldauf - De Paula, Polverino - Kerhe, Liendl (90. Salentinig), Gotal (77. Jacobo)-Topcagic (72. Falk)Yellow Cards: Palla Sollbauer(gw)
05.10.2013