0:1 vs. WAC: Home defeat for Green & Whites

After making his dramatic debut against Sassuolo on Thursday, young academy product Manuel Thurnwald continued to deputise for the injured Mario Pavelic against Wolfsberger AC. A fellow 18 year-old lined up on the opposite flank, as Max Wöber won a start at left back. The was good news at centre back as Christoph Schösswendter registered himself as available for selection. The captain's armband passed onto another homegrown player, young forward Louis Schaub.

The aim was clear - to get the victory and three points to ensure that the distance to the top wasn't extended going into the international break. With this task in mind Rapid started off on the front foot and in an attacking mood: an early attempt from Matej Jelic was deflected wide (5.), before the striker - who turned 26 on Saturday - tried to turn provider for Giorgi Kvilitaia, but his precise pass was just centimeters away from setting up a golden opportunity for his fellow striker (5.). The young Thurnwald was making a steady impact down his flank, and having advanced along the wing attempted to pick out Kvilitaia with a cross, but the striker was bundled to the ground by his marker. Referee Muckenhammer looked ready to point to the spot, but allowed play to continue as the ball rolled to Jelic who failed to capitalize (18.).

The Green & Whites continued to apply pressure in the increasingly wet and slippy conditions and began trying their luck from distance on the skiddy surface: Schaub drew a fine save out of Dobnik with one such attempt (29.); whilst Murg sent an effort just wide (29.); and Szanto's powerful flat drive again went agonizingly close (37.). By contrast Wolfsberg had been looking to soak up pressure and hit Rapid on the counter, and this tactic nearly bore fruit shortly before half time. Firstly, a swift foray forwards resulted in a dangerous low cross across the Rapid goalmouth that found no takers, whilst minutes later Tschernegg hammered a full blooded shot narrowly over the cross bar. But both sides went into the half time break with the deadlock still in-tact. Had WAC managed to steal ahead it would have been very harsh on a Rapid side that had produced a worthy first half performance.

The second half failed to spark into life until around the sixty minute mark when, following a corner, Kvilitaia was presented with a headed chance that he never got to grips with (60.). A Murg shot was then dangerously deflected towards his own goal by a WAC defender, and the resulting corner produced a headed chance for Mario Sonnleitner, whose powerful effort was cleared off the line (63.). Subsititute Joelinton then had a golden chance to put his side ahead, but from point blank range fired against keeper Dobnik rather that into the gaping net (65.). Further chances came and went for Jelic and Joelinton, and there appeared to be some warning signs on the horizon for a concerningly profligate Hütteldorfer side.

As the Rapid Viertel-Stunde was set to get under way the smash and grab the crowd had begun to fear came to fruition: A free kick for WAC on the edge of the box was taken by Offenbacher and proved too much for Strebinger to gather, and as the Rapid keeper spilled the shot, Hütteldorfer loanee Philipp Prosenik was on hand to stab home to break the hearts of his parent club (74.). Rapid regained their composure and launched a desperate late attempt to salvage at least a point from a game that should by all accounts have yielded three. But as chances came and went for Joelinton and Schaub the prospect of defeat loomed large and was finally confirmed as Muckenhammer blew the final whistle. The defeat leaves Rapid marooned in mid-table, with WAC now closing the gap to Mike Büskens' side to a solitary point.

(gw)