In the final home game before the Bundesliga goes into winter hibernation Zoki Barisic decided to reward young goalie Samuel Radlinger's fine showings in training with his first competitive appearance for the club. Regular number 1 Jan Novota took his place amongst the substitutes as Barisic made six changes to the team that lined up in Kiev on Thursday.The first half proved to be a quiet affair in terms of clear goalscoring opportunities, with the game being played largely in the middle third away from the danger areas. Wr. Neustadt produced a rare moment of danger when Freitag made his way into the area before getting a shot off but it was well fisted to safety by Radlinger (36.). A few minutes later ex-Rapid man Dobras shot wide from a tight angle (39.) and that was about as good as it got for either side before the break in a half littered with misplaced passes breakdowns of possession.Period of pressure after half time comes to nothingRapid came out for the second half in a more aggressive mood and managed to create an early opening: Christopher Trimmel fed the ball into the Wr. Neustadt penalty area to the well positioned Domink Starkl whose sweetly struck near post drive was unluckily deflected away to safety by his marker (48.). It was the Green & Whites who managed to put together the move of the match, working the ball to Burgstaller whose cross was tipped away by visiting keeper Vollnhofer, but only as far as Steffen Hofmann. The Rapid Captain did well to adjust himself and managed to generate good power in a goal bound header that Vollnhofer parried to safety after scrambling back into position (50.). A decent period of pressure was rounded off when Trimmel burst forwards and delivered a good ball into the area that Mimm almost diverted into his own net (52.). Unfortunately the breakthrough failed to materialise and the Hütteldorfers failed to maintain the momentum they had built as the game slipped back into its first half pattern.Things got marginally more exciting again in closing stages of the match: Terrance Boyd's introduction from the bench provided a greater aerial threat for Rapid, and the increased presence nearly paid off but the American internationals 82nd minute header went just the wrong side of the post. Débutante Samuel Radler had the last word of the match, tipping Pollhammer's long range shot over the crossbar in the game's dying embers (88.). It wasn't to be for either side and Rapid will be hoping for an improvement in 2013's final game of the year away to Sturm Graz on Wednesday.tipp3-Bundesliga, Match Day 20: SK Rapid - Wr. Neustadt 0:0Gerhard-Hanappi-Stadion, 9.200 Attendance, Ref DrachtaSK Rapid: Radlinger - Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Behrendt, Pavelic - Wydra (82. Boskovic), Petsos - Burgstaller (73. Boyd), Hofmann, Schaub (73. Grozurek) - StarklWiener Neustadt: Vollnhofer - Pollhammer, Mimm, Mally (66. Sereinig), Stangl - Freitag, Säumel - Dobras, Rauter, Martschinko (73. Terzic) - Pichlmann (86. Witteveen)Yellow Cards: Petsos, Burgstaller Freitag, Mally, Säumel(gw)
17.12.2013