Rapid's game on Sunday afternoon in Austria's Innviertel ignited straight from kick-off, with both sides creating concrete chances within the first couple of minutes. Débutante goalkeeper Marko Maric, a product of the prolific Hütteldorf youth academy, quickly found out what first team football is all about when he was called into action after just fifteen seconds to deny Patrick Möschl. The Ried man found himself baring down on the young Rapid custodian who tipped his effort onto the bar, the Green & Whites surviving the ensuing goal-mouth scramble (1.). Before the crowd had time to draw breath the game swung to the other end: Ried keeper Lucic rushed out of his box to try and clear his lines but was beaten to the ball by Guido Burgstaller. Burgstaller crossed the ball for Terrence Boyd, who saw his goal bound header cleared off the line from directly under the crossbar (2.). One hundred and twenty seconds played and the scoreline could have easily been 1:1.Burgstaller weaves his magic to hand Rapid the advantageAn attractive, attacking football match was unfolding and ten minutes later Rapid made use of space in the attacking third to forge ahead: the advanced Thomas Schrammel fed the ball into Guido Burgstaller inside the left hand side of the Ried penalty, who jinked past his marker before guiding a careful left footed shot past Lucic and into the far corner - 1:0 (12.)! The goal was Burgstaller's first in 2014 and his delight at breaking his duck was evident in the celebrations that followed. Terrence Boyd came within inches of capping a passage of Green & White dominance with a second goal, but his clean strike on the turn from the edge of the area cannoned off the foot of the post and away to safety (23.).Pavelic the unlucky manWith Rapid exerting growing pressure on Ried's defence an equaliser for the home side didn't appear to be on the cards, but that was what transpired as the unlucky Mario Pavelic put through his own net: a dangerous ball across the goal mouth from Perstaller sprang up on Pavelic, bounced off his midriff and sneaked across the line to hand Ried an undeserved equaliser (28.). The home side's confidence visibly grew following the goal, but the young Rapid team displayed cool heads to fend off Ried's attacks and see the game through to half time with the scores at one a piece.Raining goals in the second halfThere were promising signs for Rapid at the start of the second half as they hit their stride early and looked to take advantage of the slumbering hosts. Louis Schaub cashed in, playing the ball into Burgstaller who, finding himself in oceans of space inside the Ried box, steady himself before firing a composed finish low into the near corner - 2:1 and Rapid back in front (53). Zoran Barisic then brought Christopher Trimmel on in place of Pavelic for a final appearance in Green & White before he heads north to link up with his new club Union Berlin. A temporary lull in proceedings was abruptly brought to an end by a scintillating Rapid move that culminated in a goal for Terrence Boyd: the in form Burgstaller played a clever one-two with Louis Schaub before feeding the ball low across in the box for Boyd, who finished with aplomb to score for the fourth game in a row and bag his fifteenth of the season - 3:1 and Rapid in cruise control (71).Hat-trick for Burgstaller and a farewell gift from TrimmelWith Burgstaller's troubles in front of goal well behind him, he produced a moment of sheer class to kill off Ried: breaking forwards into the area, he cleverly switched the ball onto his left foot before bending a delicious effort into the top left hand corner, beating Lucic all ends up - 4:1 and the hat-trick complete (82.)! The home side grabbed a consolation through Kragl (86.), but the final word fittingly went to Christopher Trimmel who smashed a right footed rocket into the roof from twenty five yards to end the Green & White chapter of his career in style - 5:2 (89.)! It was a perfect way to finish off what has been tremendous season for this growing Rapid team.The Bundesliga may be over for another season, but the action keeps coming in the next couple of weeks: three friendly matches have been lined up, the big Rapid Fun Run is approaching and the VARTA SK Rapid U15 Tournament is taking place. There is plenty more in the pipeline so keep checking back to make sure you keep up to date with all the latest Green & White goings on. In the meantime lets sit back and enjoy a superb away day demolition job!tipp3-Bundesliga, 36th round:SV Ried - Rapid 2:5 (1:1)Keine Sorgen Arena, Referee Hameter, 5.400 AttendanceGoals: 0:1 Burgstaller (12.), 1:1 Pavelic (28./Own Goal), 1:2 Burgstaller (53.), 1:3 Boyd (71.), 1:4 Burgstaller (83.), 2:4 Kragl (86.), 2:5 Trimmel (90.)SV Ried: Lucic (89./Gebauer) - Baumgartner (72./Oliva), Reifeltshammer, Pichler, O. Kragl - Trauner, Zwischenbrugger - Perstaller (58./Janeczek), Vastic, Möschl - GartlerSK Rapid: Maric - Pavelic (60./Trimmel), Dibon, M. Hofmann, Schrammel - Schaub, S. Hofmann, Behrendt, Burgstaller (84./Grozurek) - Boyd (75./Starkl), AlarYellow Cards: Gartler, Möschl, Kragl, Trauner S. Hofmann(gw)
12.05.2014