125 JAHRE SK RAPID
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03.04.2017
tipico Bundesliga

1:1 in St. Pölten: Hütteldorfers pegged back after Joelinton’s opener

With Richard Strebinger not having travelled with the Rapid squad due to illness, young keeper Zsolt Ratkai made the step up from the reserves to travel with the first team for the Bundesliga clash in St. Pölten on Saturday. On a more positive note Thomas Murg was again available for selection following his long injury lay-off. The conditions were perfect for football ahead of kick-off, with the sun beating down on the NV-Arena’s newly laid pitch. The game represented a dress rehearsal ahead of Wednesday's cup game against the same opposition, and another opportunity for Rapid to claim their first victory of 2017.

The first effort on goal arrived courtesy of the hosts, with familiar face Ümit Kormaz bursting down the wing and cutting back for Thürauer, whose first time shot cleared the Hütteldorfer crossbar (8.). Referee Harkam then got in the way of Rapid’s first goal bound effort (10.), as the action swung from end to end in an open, attractive start to the match. A shot from Dieng had Tobias Knoflach scrambling, but the St. Pölten man's shot went just the wrong side of the upright (14.). Rapid answered through Mario Pavelic, who did fantastically well to steal the ball in the opposition penalty area, before testing keeper Riegler low at his near post (19.).

It looked as though it would be only a matter of time before a goal arrived, and it duly did via the boot of Joelinton, who hammered a crisp shot beyond Riegler and into the far corner - 1:0, and celebrations broke out all around the stadium, with Rapid fans outnumbering the home support in their own stadium (22.)! But following the goal the tempo of the match didn't drop and the hosts continued to look dangerous, underlined by Perchtold just failing to apply the finishing touch on a flicked header from a corner (29.). At the other end of the field Damir Canadi's side continued to look capable of adding a second: Joelinton again tested Riegler (30.), before the steadily worked goalkeeper flung himself full length to tip Steffen Hofmann's free kick over the bar (32.). Hofmann then turned provider for Schwab, whose well-placed shot was again foiled by Riegler (35.).

In the minutes before the break Max Wöber came on to replace the injured Max Hofmann, as Rapid were looking to turn the screw and double their advantage. However, on the stroke of half time disaster struck: a St. Pölten free kick was deflected high into the air, dropping kindly for Huber who nodded home from close range, unchallenged to hand his side an equaliser largely against the run of play (45.).

The intensity didn't drop in the second period, but some of the quality on display during the first forty-five was lacking, as was the fluidity that had led to the host of chances as goal scoring opportunities remained at a premium after the re-start. In the dying minutes the hosts had a golden opportunity to snatch the win, but Hartl could only find the outside of the post when he could have done better (87.). A weak long range effort from Szanto (90.) was the best Rapid could muster in the closing stages, and the Green & Whites had to be satisfied with a point in front of the 7,600-strong crowd.

(gw)

tipico Bundesliga, 27th round:
St. Pölten - SK Rapid 1:1 (1:1)
NV Arena, 7.627 Attendance, Ref Harkam

Goals: 0:1 Joelinton (22.), 1:1 Huber (45.);

St. Pölten: Riegler - Stec, Huber, Diallo, Mehremic - Ambichl, Perchtold (86./Martic)- Korkmaz (61./Schütz), Thürauer (79./Hartl), Dieng - Doumbouya;

SK Rapid: Knoflach - Dibon, Sonnleitner, M. Hofmann (37./Wöber) - Pavelic (73./Auer), Szanto, S. Hofmann (68./Murg), Schwab, Schrammel - Kvilitaia, Joelinton;

Yellow Cards: Doumbouya, Korkmaz, Riegler; M. Hofmann, Pavelic