A good performance and result against Austria in the 310th Vienna derby was the aim on Sunday, and would achieve the double target of providing a tonic for Thursday's defeat in Helsinki whilst simultaneously building up confidence ahead of the crucial return fixture against the Finns. However with only 16 seconds on the clock we found ourselves a goal down: from a Rapid kick off Austria seized on sloppy passing to win possession, with the ball eventually finding its way to Royer via Meilinger just inside the edge of the penalty area, who shot low across Jan Novota. The Rapid keeper kept out the low angled drive, but the rebound fell perfectly to Gorgon who swept into an empty net from a couple of yards to score the fastest goal of the tipico Bundesliga so far this season (1.). Rapid's shaky start in hostile territory was very nearly compounded as Suttner went close with a free kick (6.), before Novota produced a stunning save to keep out a deft header from Gorgon (7.).Expert Robert Beric finish draws Rapid levelWith Austria failing to capitalize on their period of domination, the Green & Whites grew into the match, pushing further up the pitch and getting their feet on the ball and controlling possession. This good passage of play from the Hütteldorfers was duly rewarded with an equalizer: Louis Schaub, still high on confidence following his goal on Thursday, went on a mazy run, slicing through a host of Violet defenders before feeding the ball to Beric, who curled the ball with his instep past home keeper Lindner off the foot of the far post and into the back of the net - 1:1 (35.)! It was a stunning finish to cap off excellent build up play from the mercurial Schaub. Rapid then came within inches of turning the game on its head, but Mario Sonnleitner's header from a corner went narrowly wide (38.).End to end in the second halfBoth sides came out for the start of the second half in determined mood and went looking for goals. Firstly Florian Kainz tested Lindner with a chip but found the Austria keeper up to the challenge (48.). Then there was danger at the other end as Novota pulled off an incredible reflex save to keep out a close range header from Violet's captain Ortlechner (55.). As the game became even more open Kainz was proving difficult for the Austria defence to keep quiet: from a Thomas Schrammel cross he headed narrowly over, before going on a skillful run and drawing a top save from Lindner (60.). It seemed as if the Green & Whites were edging nearer to taking the lead, but it was Austria who found a second goal, aided largely by a very harsh decision from the officials: referee Schörgenhofer awarded a penalty against Thanos Petsos for handball, despite the ball ricocheting off an Austria player and inadvertently striking him on the shoulder from close range. Damari stepped up and tucked the penalty away, beating Novota to the corner after the Rapid custodian had guessed the correct way - 2:1 (63.) and again playing catch up. Deserved equalizerWith Rapid hunting a leveler and Austria looking dangerous on the counter, it seemed that Stefan Schwab had passed up the golden chance to square the game when he was played in on Lindner only to be foiled by the keeper's legs (81.). But soon afterwards he was to make no such mistake for a second time: a perfect cross from the left from Schrammel was met with a header by Schwab, who guided the ball back in the direction it came from giving Lindner no chance this time - 2:2 (85.) and celebrations erupted in the Rapid stand behind the goal.The game ended 2:2 - a result more satisfying for Rapid than Austria, having bravely fought back from a goal down twice to salvage a point late on. The result sets up the boys perfectly for Thursday's crunch UEFA Europa League second leg qualifier against Helsinki, as Rapid look to turn around a one goal deficit to once again make the group stages.tipico-Bundesliga, 6th roundFK Austria - SK Rapid 2:2 (1:1)Generali Arena, 11.900 Attendance, Referee SchörgenhoferGoals: 1:0 Gorgon (1.), 1:1 Beric (35.), 2:1 Damari (63./Penalty), 2:2 Schwab (85.) FK Austria: Lindner - Larsen, Sikov, Ortlechner, Suttner - Holland, M. Leitgeb - Gorgon, Meilinger (75./De Paula), Royer (55./Kamara) - Damari SK Rapid: Novota - Pavelic, Sonnleitner, M. Hofmann, Schrammel - Petsos, Behrendt - Schaub (82./Schobesberger), S. Hofmann (59./Schwab), F. Kainz (73./Starkl) - Beric Yellow Cards: Holland, Larsen Beric, Sonnleitner(gw)
24.08.2014