With the games coming thick and fast, the Rapid trainer team elected to shuffle the pack for the visit of Altach: Philipp Schobesberger, Stefan Stangl, Srdjan Grahovac and Dominik Starkl all came into the starting line up us Zoran Barisic turned to his squad to see him through this busy period. In the cold Vienna night, a bright start warmed the atmosphere, with attractive, attacking football putting the Hütteldorfers on the front foot. The first chance arrived when Schobesberger picked out a run from Louis Schaub, whose effort on goal was kept out by ex-Rapid goalie Lukse (2.). Shortly afterwards Schaub again looked threatening, taking a cross down on his chest in the penalty area before being crowded out (6.). The early pressure culminated in a further sight of goal, but Stefan Schwab got his angles wrong and fired wide from a decent position (7.). Failure to capitaliseThe Green & Whites continued to look the side most likely to open the scoring, and the first goal almost arrived in the 23rd minute when Louis Schaub nearly got the better of Lukse from a tight angle. By the midway point of the first half Rapid had created enough chances to have merited a goal, and the much discussed efficiency in front of goal was again proving the Hütteldorfers' achilles heel. Further chances were passed up by Deni Alar and Mario Sonnleitner as Rapid's lively brand of football continued to cause the Altach defence problems, but despite dominating the first period, parity remained in tact as the half time whistle went.With the game drifting somewhat after the break, Zoran Barisic reacted by introducing Flo Kainz in place of Dominik Starkl, the substitution coinciding with a further guilt edged chance: Stefan Schwab it was who this time popped up in the area, but the elegant midfielder was again denied by the in form Lukse (59.). With an organised Altach sitting in deep it became more and more difficult to manufacture genuine chances, until an opportunity from the penalty spot presented itself: Zech whipped Schobesberger off his feet in the box, Alar stepped up, Lukse saved and the deadlock still remained in tact (68.). A vicious strike from Schwab again drew the best out of Lukse, who repelled the effort with a diving save, as the feeling started to permeate the almost 9,000 strong crowd that it was simply going to be one of those days.Resilient Hütteldorfers snatch it lateWith the clock ticking down Steffen Hofmann came on to try and craft a winner, but for a heart stopping second it looked like Altach might complete the ultimate smash and grab, but Netzer fired wide after a swift counter attacking move (87.). But as the game moved into injury time the goal that Rapid had threatened, and deserved, throughout the whole game finally materialised: a whipped cross from Stangl was met with a header by Prosenik, which finally beat Lukse to break the deadlock and secure a vital three points against a direct opponent in the table (94.)! Next up – the 312th Vienna derby - and Rapid are ready.tipico Bundesliga, Match Day 23SK Rapid - Altach 1:0 (0:0)Wien, Ernst Happel Stadium, 8.700 Attendance, Ref Harkam.Goal: 1:0 Prosenik (94.)SK Rapid: Novota - Pavelic, Sonnleitner, M. Hofmann, Stangl - Grahovac, Schwab - Starkl (60./F. Kainz), Schaub (76./Prosenik), Schobesberger - Alar (80./S. Hofmann)Altach: Lukse - Lienhart, Zwischenbrugger, Zech, Schreiner - Salomon, Riverola (27./Roth), Netzer, Ngwat-Mahop - Aigner (58./Bodul), Seeger (85./Kovacec)Yellow Cards: Starkl, Alar, Grahovac Zwischenbrugger, Salomon, LukseRed Card (second yellow): Zech (94.)(gw)
05.03.2015