With Stefan Schwab missing through suspension Srdjan Grahovic lined up alongside Dominik Wydra in the middle of the park, a clear sign that a combative Rapid side had come to do battle against champions Red Bull Salzburg. And so it proved as straight from kick off the Green & Whites refused to yield an inch to their hosts, launching into tackles and never shirking the physical battles. Bit it also soon became clear that Rapid hadn't come to make up the numbers and had designs of their own of winning the game and getting on the front foot: early Hütteldorfer pressure resulted in Pavelic whipping in a good cross that almost picked out the lurking Robert Beric (3.). At the other end of the field Novota had to be alert to deny Kampl at the near post following a quick Salzburg counter (7.). The extra desire and commitment from the Viennese was proving fruitful, as Barisic's side enjoyed a number of turnovers and second ball wins - and their good play also manifested itself in chances: a quick forwards move left Rapid with a 3 on 2 situation Steffen Hofmann picked out Kainz with a precise pass, who shook off Kampl and attempted to flick the ball past Gulacsi, only to be denied by the keeper who managed to get a finger to the ball and claw it away for a corner (17.). Kainz twice goes closeThe great opening to the game from a Green & White perspective was compounded when Salzburg defender Ramalho picked up a second booking for a silly lunge on Beric (22.). The ten men nearly stole ahead minutes later, but Jan Novota got down well to the foot of the left post to keep out a free kick from Soriano (27.). A quick spell of pressure home followed but it was well marshaled by the Rapid defence, and slowly the Hütteldorfers began to re-assert themselves. On the stroke of half time the Green & Whites should have taken the lead: a quick one two between Steffen Hofmann and Mario Pavelic played the right back into the penalty area behind the Red Bull defence, where he cut the ball back from the by-line towards the penalty spot and Flo Kainz, who guided a right footed effort agonisingly wide of the right upright (44.). The half time whistle went and Rapid went into the dressing room knowing they had been in the ascendancy for the majority of the first period. Beric the heroZoran Barisic unsurprisingly sent out an unchanged line up for the start of the second half and his trust in the team was nearly instantly rewarded. Following a foul on Wydra, Captain Steffen Hofmann lined up a free kick, roughly 25 yards from goal and to the right hand side of the penalty. The Rapid skipper bent a beautiful curling free kick over the wall and onto crossbar with Gulasci beaten (54.). Rapid were again denied by a matter of inches. The game then developed into a full blooded midfield battle during the middle part of the second half, but just as the game was entering its closing stages Rapid took the lead: messy defensive work from Salzburg saw the ball bounce off Christoph Leitgeb to Robert Beric with his back to goal on the edge of the area. The Slovene striker swiveled and unleashed a cracking first time drive past Gulasci at the near post and into the back of net - 1:0 (80.)!Wild celebrations followed, but they appeared to have been in vain: ex-Rapid man Marcel Sabitzer capitalised on a slip from Mario Sonnleitner to slot the ball through Novota's legs for the equalizer - 1:1 (84.). The home fans thought they had gotten out of jail with a late equaliser, but it was they who were about to have their celebrations cut short: with just seconds left on the clock Kainz got away from his marker with a cute step-over, before racing down the left flank and putting a dangerous ball across the six yard box between keeper and defence towards Robert Beric, who was in the right place at the right time like all good strikers are to tap home a simple finish from a few feet - 2:1 (94.)!Beric's goal rounded off the year in perfect fashion, sealing a brilliant win - the first victory in Salzburg for over 30 months. The three points see Rapid climb into 4th place, but only one point off second. And with a cup quarter final against WAC to come, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about what 2015 might have in store. Trainer Zoran Barisic: "It was an emotional, hard fought match. I'm happy that after conceding the equaliser we went on to find a winning goal. It was a strong team performance. The team is gelling, has potential and we'll continued to unlock it. We put our game plan in practice. A win in Salzburg had been missing for me. Its great to round off an Autumn that was up and down with this victory. This win sets as up nicely for the new year, and we're going into it with plenty of optimism."tipico Bundesliga, 19th round:RB Salzburg - SK Rapid 1:2 (0:0)Red Bull Arena, 17.200 Attendance, Referee HameterGoals: 0:1 Beric (80.), 1:1 Sabitzer (84.), 1:2 Beric (94.)RB Salzburg: Gulacsi - Schwegler (83./Ankersen), Ramalho, Hinteregger, Ulmer - Ilsanker - Kampl, Ch. Leitgeb, Bruno (46./Keita) - Soriano (46./Sabitzer), AlanSK Rapid: Novota - Pavelic, Sonnleitner, M. Hofmann, Schrammel - Grahovac, Petsos, Wydra (73./Schaub) - S. Hofmann (79./Alar), F. Kainz - BericYellow Cards: Leitgeb, Schwegler, Hinteregger, Sabitzer Wydra, F. KainzY/R: Ramalho (23.) (gw)
14.12.2014