Rapid suffer heavy defeat at hands of Admira
The few positives to take from Bundesliga Match Day 27: Thomas Schrammel was back in the starting line up for the first time since the opening weekend of the Bundesliga having finally overcome a cruciate knee ligament injury. Captain Steffen Hofmann celebrated his 400th league appearance for the club, but he, like the rest of us, could not have possibly imagined what was about to unfold.
The visitors' first meaningful attack of the match yielded immediate rewards, as a move down the right flank sliced the Rapid defence open, allowing an unchallenged Knasmüllner to curl a left footed shot into the far corner from well inside the Rapid penalty area - 0:1 (7.). An early setback, absolutely, but at this point of the game it didn't appear to be terminal, particularly not when Steffen Hofmann nearly brought his side level, as he fired a volley just wide of the target after having been set up by a cushioned Stefan Schwab header (11.). Incredibly that would remain one of the best chances for the Green & Whites of the entire afternoon. Sloppy play in the Admira half then lead to a second for guests, who capitalized on loose Rapid passing to launch a swift counter attack that resulted in Knasmüllner again beating Strebinger with ease to double his and Admira's tally for the afternoon - 0:2 (25.). Rapid couldn't get any momentum or rhythm into their football, and were grateful to be only two adrift at the break as Grozurek and Spiridonovic both missed good chances to add a third against a crumbling Hütteldorfer side.
Any hope of a second half comeback was soon extinguished, as this curious performance from Rapid sank deeper into farce. A long ball over the top caught the Green & White defence at 6's and 7's with Sonnleitner desperately lunging at Grozurek, fouling the ex-Rapid man, and conceding a penalty. Grozurek himself took the penalty, making it 0:3 against his former employers (53.). Not long afterwards Admira again sliced through the Rapid defences with ease and a deflected effort landed at the feet of Spiridonovic, who comfortably slotted home to make it 0:4 (62.). Matej Jelic had the chance to pull one back late on (82.), but the only relief of a very strange afternoon came with the final whistle. The horror show was completed by the sight of Thomas Murg leaving the game early on a stretcher after being fouled by an opponent.
(gw)