The first friendly fixture of the new year took place last Wednesday in front of 200 fans at the Ernst-Happel-Stadium's training pitch. The opponents were SV Gerasdorf and the match proved to be a gentle run out that gave Zoran Barisic the chance to give virtually his whole squad a few minutes on the pitch.Unsurprisingly the opponents offered little resistance as Rapid cruised into a 6:0 half time lead with goals from Prosenik, Schaub (2), Schobesberger (2) and the returning Schimpelsberger. Despite a flurry of changes to the Hütteldorfer line-up the going didn't get any easier for the non-league side in the second half, as Rapid kept up their enterprising play and also kept scoring goals. A further seven were added through Wydra, Starkl (2), Beric (2), Kainz and Stangl to round off a 13:0 victory. Trainer Zoran Barisic: "The match fulfilled its purpose and guys have really gone for it. We put into practice what we had discussed and can be happy with ourselves. I was particularly pleased for Michi Schimpelsberger and that he managed to score on his comeback!" The second friendly of the day saw Rapid reserves claim a 4:1 win over Mannswörth.SK Rapid - SV Gerasdorf (non-league) 13:0 (6:0)Wednesday, 14th January 2015Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Training pitch, 200 AttendanceGoals: 1:0 Prosenik (18.), 2:0 Schaub (23.), 3:0 Schobesberger (26.), 4:0 Schaub (27.), 5:0 Schobesberger (40.), 6:0 Schimpelsberger (44.), 7:0 Wydra (49.), 8:0 Starkl (58.), 9:0 Beric (61.), 10:0 Kainz (70.), 11:0 Starkl (72.), 12:0 Beric (81.), 13:0 Stangl (88.)SK Rapid: Novota (46. Maric) Schimpelsberger (46. Pavelic), Sonnleitner (46. Weinwurm), Behrendt (M. Hofmann), Schrammel (46. Stangl) Schwab (46. Wydra), Grahovac Kuen (46. Starkl), Schaub (46. Alar), Schobesberger (46. Kainz), Prosenik (46. Beric)----6:0 win over Bruck/LeithaBruck/Leitha were next up for Rapid on Saturday, and the Green & Whites picked up where they had left off on Wednesday. Goals from Wydra (3.), Kuen (23.), Schaub (24.), and Kainz (34.) yielded a 4:0 half time lead, while second half strikes from Grahovac (51.) and Beric (88.) rounded off a comfortable 6:0 win. In the crowd were board members Christoph Peschek and Martin Bruckner sitting alongside Christopher Dibon, who underwent a successful operation on Friday. SK Rapid - ASK Bruck/Leitha (non-league) 6:0 (4:0)Saturday, 17th January 2015Training pitch Ernst-Happel-Stadium, 250 AttendanceGoals: 1:0 Wydra (3.), 2:0 Kuen (23.), 3:0 Schaub (24.), 4:0 Kainz (34.), 5:0 Grahovac (51.), 6:0 Beric (88.)SK Rapid: Novota (46. Maric) Pavelic, Sonnleitner (46. Weinwurm), Petsos (46. M. Hofmann), Stangl (46. Schrammel) S. Hofmann (46. Schwab), Wydra (46. Grahovac) Kuen (46. Starkl), Schaub (46. Alar), Kainz (46. Schobesberger) Prosenik (46. Beric)(gw)
20.01.2015