The key clash of the 16th round of fixtures in the tipp3-Bundesliga took place on Sunday evening in the Hanappi stadium. A resurgent Rapid, buoyed by the midweek elections of the new club President, took on league leaders RB Salzburg. The incentive was certainly there for the Green & Whites prior to kick off: firstly to cut Red Bulls lead at the top of the table and secondly to claim second spot. The stakes were high for both sides in Hütteldorf...We went into the game without the services of the suspended Harry Pichler or the injured Branco Boskovic. Into the fold came youngster Osarenren Okungbowa to take a place on the bench – another young prospect making the step up from the reserves. An attractive spectacle unfolded in the first half, and with both teams looking to come forward and take the initiative an open end to end encounter developed. Straight from kick off Salzburg applied pressure on the Rapid goal with an early succession of corners, before Christopher Trimmel led the home response: his powerful driving run and inviting low cross across the visitor's goalmouth causing panic in the Red Bull backline (2.). A speculative long range effort from Leitgeb followed (7.), but the visitors first concrete chance not long afterwards yielded the first goal of the evening: a swift break forwards from midfield saw the ball played out wide to Schwegler, who played a teasing low ball into the penalty area that was met with an impeccably timed run by Alan, whose low assured left footed finish from close range left Jan Novota with no chance – 0:1 (18.). The goal was a setback for Rapid, but did little to dent their confidence as they continued to play their own game in a positive mind set.Ten minutes later it looked as if the Hütteldorfers had found their equaliser when Thanos Petsos unleashed a ferocious free kick that dipped on its way to Salzburg keeper Gulacsi, who could only parry the shot back into the danger zone. Mario Sonnleitner almost took advantage, turning the rebound goal wards but from point blank range Gulacsi managed to somehow get something on the ball to send it over the crossbar for a corner (27.). Just three minutes later and with the crowd still cursing their luck Rapid got the breakthrough: Christopher Trimmel stooped down to flick a flat Steffen Hofmann free kick from the left hand side of the touchline into the goal at the near post. It was an intelligent header from the ever influential Trimmel and was no less then a lively and spirited performance from Rapid had merited – 1:1 (31.)! There were no further concrete chances in the remainder of the half and the teams went into the break with scores level.With the pouring rain beginning to ease off, both teams came out for the second half with the same line ups that had started the game. It was the visitors though who were the first to find their rhythm and sharp interplay set Dusan Svento through. The Salzburg forward managed to turn inside Schrammel who just at the wrong moment lost his footing, and from a tight angle attempted to find the far corner with the outside of his boot. Thankfully for Rapid he got his angles wrong and a very presentable chance for Salzburg went begging. Following that opportunity it seemed that the heavy conditions began to take their toll both sets of players, some of which represented their countries during the week. The next chance of the game fell to Guido Burgstaller, who managed to find space in the in the Red Bull penalty area only for Gulasci to beat his firm drive away straight to Terrence Boyd who, with a good portion of the goal to aim at, could only find the side netting. It wasn't an easy chance for Boyd, but the American international may well feel he could have done better with the effort (59.). Both sides continued to look capable of adding a second, with Mane providing a constant threat for the visitors and the intelligent movement of both Schaub and Burgstaller looking like potential avenues of success for Rapid.With the game heading into the final quarter of an hour the deciding moment arrived: a ball played inside the Salzburg left back beautifully picked out Marcel Sabitzer, who fired a stinging low cross into the area which Gulacsi failed to deal with as the ball cannoned off his inside thigh and into the goal - 2:1 (74.)! There was a huge slice of fortune about that goal but that didn't matter to the thousands packed into the Hanappi as the ground erupted into a sea of wild celebrations. Now full of belief and with a raucous crowd at the their backs, Rapid poured forwards in search of a killer third. However the knock out punch failed to materialise and in the dying embers of the game Salzburg almost snatched a point: firstly Novota kept out a good effort from Teigl (89.), before a real heart in the mouth moment for the Rapid fans as Ramalho's last gasp header hit the crossbar and slid to safety (90.). But it wasn't to be for the guests and Rapid saw out the remaining injury time to claim a fantastic, and well deserved, three points that re-ignite their interest in the top spot in the Bundesliga. It was a perfect end to momentous week for Rapid and a thrilling start to a brave new era in Hütteldorf!  tipp3-Bundesliga, Match Day 16SK Rapid - RB Salzburg 2:1 (1:1)Hanappi--Stadium, 15.800 Attendance, Ref HameterGoals: 0:1 Alan (18.), 1:1 Trimmel (30.), 2:1 Sabitzer (74.)SK Rapid: Novota - Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Dibon, Schrammel - Petsos, Behrend - S. Hofmann (68./Sabitzer), Schaub (78./Wydra), Burgstaller - Boyd (87./Starkl)RB Salzburg: Gulacsi - Schwegler, Ramalho, Hinteregger, Ulmer - Svento (83./Nielsen), Ilsanker, C. Leitgeb, Mane (83./Teigl) - Berisha (67./Meilinger), AlanYellow Cards: Trimmel, Schrammel, Behrendt, Wydra, Burgstaller Schwegler, Alan(gw)
24.11.2013