Zoran Barisic had to make do without a host of first team regulars for Wednesday's short trip to Lower Austria to face Wiener Neustadt: Louis Schaub, Deni Alar, Max Hofmann and Dominik Wydra were all missing through injury, whilst Thanos Petsos was suspended. Michael Schimpelsberger lined up at right back in the only personnel change to an otherwise familiar back four, with Christopher Dibon restored to his more familiar position of centre back alongside Mario Sonnleitner. A solid looking midfield three of Brian Behrendt, Mario Pavelic and Steffen Hofmann lined up behind a three pronged attack of Trimmel, Grozurek and Sabitzer. The Green & Whites were looking to arrest a six match win-less away run and build upon the weekends victory over Wolfsberg.Sabitzer opens the scoringThe opening phase was a cagey affair with both sides playing at a comfortable tempo, looking to gradually work their way into the game. Brian Behrendt had the first effort on goal, trying his luck with a long range effort that comfortably cleared the bar (4.). Wiener Neustadt goalie Vollnhofer was called into action for the first time when Lukas Grozurek swivelled and hit a powerful near post shot on the turn the home keeper doing well to push the ball round the post for a corner (13). However Vollnhofer was powerless to prevent Rapid taking the lead just minutes later, the Green & Whites unlocking the home defence with a piece of magic down the right hand flank: a cute back-heel from Christopher Trimmel found Michael Schimpelsberger, who drove into the Wiener Neustadt box before cutting a perfectly weighted ball back to Marcel Sabitzer. Sabitzer quickly adjusted his feet and turned passed the ball into the net from close range with the inside of his left foot - 1:0 (17.)! Following the goal the game again settled down into a low key affair, with Rapid content to knock the ball around and patiently probe for openings. It took the hosts ten minutes or so to recover from the blow of conceding first, but slowly they worked their way back into the match and began to exert some pressure on the Rapid defence. A good free kick from Dobras represented Neustadt's first effort on goal and forced Novota into a smart save (27.), while just minutes later a Pichlmann header again drew the best out of the Rapid keeper (29.).But the Green & Whites withstood the pressure and began to create chances of their own once more: Steffen Hofmann intercepted a wayward pass in the attacking third and played the ball into Sabitzer, whose low shot was well saved by Vollnhofer (35.). The resulting corner was only partially cleared by Wiener Neustadt, the ball eventually coming to Schimpelsberger who chipped an inviting ball into Sabitzer, who unleashed a full blooded left footed drive that was brilliantly stopped by the home keeper (36.). The shot proved to be the last of the goal mouth action of a satisfactory half for Rapid, who went into the break deservedly in the lead.Boskovic at the doubleThe second period failed to spark into action for large periods, with both sides struggling to fashion clear openings. When a chance did arrive it fell to the home side: Dobras crossed the ball low across the six yard box where a miscommunication between Sonnleitner and Novota presented substitute Fröschl with a golden opportunity, but with the goal at his mercy the Neustadt man shot weakly wide (60.). With the clock running down a lunge on substitute Domink Starkl by Dennis Mimm earned the defender a second yellow card. With the home side needing a goal to rescue a point they opted to leave just three men at the back and the extra space was ruthlessly exploited by Rapid: a neat one-two between second substitute Branko Boskovic and Steffen Hofmann played the Montenegro international in on Vollnhofer, and a simple side footed finish found the corner and killed off the game - 2:0 (86.). There was still time for Boskovic to grab a second: a ball into Sabitzer from Starkl was laid off on the edge of the area to Boskovic who produced a stylish low finish, passing the ball into the corner from twenty metres - 3:0 (90.).It was a fantastic result for a Rapid side missing key players that sees the Hütteldrofers leapfrog Salzburg outfit SV Grödig and go into second place in the Bundesliga table. Next up for Rapid is a mouthwatering home clash against a resurgent Sturm Graz.tipp3-Bundesliga, 29th roundWr. Neustadt - Rapid 0:3 (0:1)Stadion Wiener Neustadt, 3.450 Attendance, Ref SchörgenhoferGoals: 0:1 Sabitzer (17.), 0:2 Boskovic (86.), 0:3 Boskovic (92.)Wr. Neustadt: Vollnhofer - Pollhammer, Mimm, Mally (46. Sereinig), Stangl - Hlinka, Säumel - Dobras, Rauter (46. Fröschl), Rakowitz (79. Maderner) - PichlmannSK Rapid: Novota - Schimpelsberger (82. Boskovic), Sonnleitner, Dibon, Schrammel - Pavelic, Behrendt - Trimmel (64. Burgstaller), S. Hofmann, Grozurek (75. Starkl) - SabitzerY/R-Card: Mimm (84.)Yellow Cards: Säumel Schimpelsberger, Burgstaller(gw)
27.03.2014