What looked like a difficult task before the game in Salzburg proved to be just that. However for 85 minutes Rapid went toe to toe with the champions elect, showing passion and determination to force their way back into a match, the second half of which was largely dominated by Green & White. Late goals for Red Bull finally killed off brave Rapid's challenge and gave the scoreline an unrealistic look after a superb showing from the Hütteldorfers.Hope rekindled before half timeThe end of an unremarkable opening phase was signalled by the first chance of the match after ten minutes, a chance which unfortunately displayed Salzburg's quality and movement in the final third: Ilsanker played a perfectly weighted pass in behind the Rapid defence to Soriano, who delicately chipped the ball over the advancing Jan Novota to give Red Bull the lead - 1:0 (10.). Terrence Boyd's header (15.) represented the Green & Whites first sight of goal, but it was the hosts who continued to dictate the game in the wake of Soriano's goal. The home fans thought they had doubled their lead when Kampl squared to Mane who tapped into an empty net, only to see the linesman's flag raised for offside. By way of a repost all that Rapid could muster was a shot from Wydra (37.), and soon enough Salzburg's second of the afternoon arrived: poor marking from a Svento free kick afforded Ilsanker too much space in the penalty area which he gleefully accepted, turning a simple header past Novota - 2:0 and what looked like the killer blow (41.). Jan Novota then brilliantly stopped an effort from Mane as the game threatened to get away in the minutes before the interval. The half ended prematurely for the unfortunate Christopher Dibon, playing against his parent club, and in painful fashion. A coming together with Salzburg keeper Gulasci left Dibon concussed and with a broken jaw bone. It was a horrible incident and we wish Christopher a speedy recover! Then, with the break nearly upon us Wydra let fly with a long range effort, the ball spooned up into the air off Gulasci and with great determination Boyd got his head to the ball ahead of his marker and directed it into the far right hand corner - 2:1 and Rapid right back in the game out of nowhere (47.)!Classic game unfolds in end to end thrillerWith renewed confidence and belief an aggressive, hungry Rapid side came back onto the pitch for the second half. Barisic's men pressed Salzburg with vigour, flew into 50/50 challenges and played with a venom lacking for periods of the first half. It paid off. A headed clearance from the Salzburg defence made it as far as Thanos Petsos on the edge of the box who unleashed a thunderbolt from 25 meters that was still rising as it flew straight into the top corner - 2:2 and cue wild celebrations from the 2,200 strong travelling Viennese (56.)! The euphoria was short lived however: a soft free kick was awarded to Salzburg in a dangerous position, Svento floated the ball into the back post where the merest of glances from Rodnei was enough to guide the ball into the far corner - 3:2 (58.). If Salzburg thought the goal would kill off the game they were very much mistaken. As on many occasions this season Barisic's youngsters responded in true Rapid fashion and pressed forwards, searching for a way back. Steffen Hofmann couldn't believe his luck when his goal bound effort was cleared off the line by Svento, as chaos reigned in a Salzburg defence clearly under strain from the pressure being exerted by a buoyant Rapid. A similar situation unfolded again Schaub squared to Hofmann who once more had his shot cleared off the line, but this time the Green & Whites weren't to be denied: the ball came to the advanced Christopher Trimmel at the right hand corner of the area, who fired off a stinging half volley that beat Gulasci at the near post - 3:3 and another bullet to pull Rapid level (66.)! Breathless stuff.Late goals result in deceiving score-lineWith the scores level it was impossible to pick a winner, but the next crucial goal went the way of the hosts when Soriano pounced in the box, beating Novota from close range - 4:3 and this time it would prove a bridge too far (84.). The goal had a telling impact as all the incredible exertions of the second half suddenly appeared to take their toll on Rapid, who conceded further break away goals to Kampl (89.) and Soriano (90.) that gave the score line a cruel twist, not representative of the intense battle that had unfolded over the previous 88 minutes.  The game ended 6:3 and both sides had played their part in a wonderful match, that can only serve as a brilliant advert for Austrian domestic football. Salzburg away is a tough fixture, as Ajax Amsterdam found out in the Europa League, but Rapid matched their expensively assembled opponents and thoroughly deserved to take at least a point from the game. Next up for the Hütteldorfers is a trip to bottom club Innsbruck and another difficult, if different, proposition against a team scrapping for their lives at the foot of the table.Trainer Zoran Barisic: "That was a fantastic match. We pushed Salzburg all the way. Compliments to my team who kept on coming back but after the 3:3 suffered a 'lucky punch.' We decided at half time to turn the game into a match that suited our football. We had more belief. This performance now sets the bar."tipp3-Bundesliga, Match Day 25Red Bull Salzburg - Rapid 6:3 (2:1)Red Bull Arena, 17.612 Attendance, Ref HarkamGoals: 1:0 (10.) Soriano, 2:0 (41.) Ilsanker, 2:1 (45.+4) Boyd, 2:2 (56.) Petsos, 3:2 (58.) Rodnei, 3:3 (66.) Trimmel, 4:3 (84.) Soriano, 5:3 (89.) Kampl, 6:3 (95.) SorianoRB Salzburg: Gulacsi (46. Walke) - Schwegler, Rodnei, Hinteregger, Svento - Ilsanker - Kampl, Ch. Leitgeb (78. V. Berisha), Mane (78. Lazaro) - R. Zulj, SorianoSK Rapid: Novota - Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Dibon (45.+4 Behrendt), Schrammel - Petsos, Wydra - S. Hofmann (81. Starkl), Schaub (86. Alar), Sabitzer - BoydYellow Cards: Walke Behrendt, Trimmel, Boyd(gw)
03.03.2014