125 JAHRE SK RAPID
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16.08.2017
tipico Bundesliga

Below par Rapid punished at Admira

The last time Rapid stepped out at the BSFZ Arena the result was a disappointing 2:3 defeat in a game in which the Hütteldorfers had taken the lead. The mission this time was to get into the lead and stay there, thus avoiding another frustrating dropped points situation as suffered against Mattersburg and Austria Vienna. But protecting a lead was the last issue on Rapid minds after only 60 seconds of play: with the game in its opening moments Stefan Schwab was dispossessed by Sax, who slid the ball into Jakolis, the Croatian striker in turn lifted the ball over the diving Strebinger to give Admira the lead and ensure the match started in the worst possible fashion for Rapid (1.).  

But there was still plenty of time to make amends, and a deflected cross from Mario Pavelic would have crept in at the near post but for a smart reaction save from Admira keeper Leitner (11.). There was little Leitner could do just minutes later as Schwab rose above the home defence to get on the end of a Thomas Murg corner, but luckily for the hosts the Rapid skipper's header crashed into the post and away to safety (19.).

Schwab's header was as close as the Green & Whites would come in the first half, with the compact hosts restricting sights of goal. Louis Schaub tried his luck from range and drew a good save from Leitner, but to their credit the Hütteldorfers did boss the game in terms of possession and territory, even if an off-target header from Wöber was all they really had to show for their efforts (42.). There needed to be more product in the second half if Rapid were to get back into the game.

But the anticipated reaction failed to materialise; indeed, it took until the 64th minute before there was goal mouth action of note, and it was provided by Admira: Sax fed the ball into ex-Rapid striker Dominik Starkl, who drilled his shot into the back of the net from close range - 2:0 (64.). It got worse: just moments later Starkl curled a beautiful effort over and around Strebinger straight into the top corner - 3:0 and to all intents and purposes it was game over (65.). The game was held up as unsavoury scenes greeted the home side’s third, but when things did get back underway Rapid were grateful to Strebinger, who saved from Sax to prevent the score line taking on an embarrassing look (70.).

Rapid did attempt to go forwards looking to reduce the arrears, and they did just that as Andi Kuen slid the ball into Joelinton, who skilfully rounded Leitner to get Rapid on the score board - 1:3 (78.). Substitute Giorgi Kvilitaia pounded a header onto the cross bar as the Hütteldorfers briefly threatened to get back into the match (80.). At the other end of the field Starkl nearly cashed in on growing gaps in a Rapid defence, but Mario Pavelic cleared the striker’s shot off the line to thwart Starkl's search for a hat-trick against his former employers (82.). Thomas Murg lost his cool in the closing stages and was shown a red card for allegedly insulting the referee’s assistant, as a truly disappointing afternoon ended in fittingly depressing fashion. The game finished 1:3, a bitter defeat at the hands of near neighbours, and hardly ideal preparation for the visit of table-topping Sturm Graz next week.

(gw)

tipico Bundesliga, 4th round:
Admira Wacker - SK Rapid 3:1 (1:0)

BSFZ-Arena, 4.700 Attendance, Referee Schörgenhofer

Goals: 1:0 Jakolis (1.), 2:0 Starkl (63.), 3:0 Starkl (65.), 3:1 Joelinton (78.);

Admira Wacker: Leitner - Zwierschitz, Wostry, Maranda (82./Strauss), Ebner - Lackner, Toth (60./Maier) - Sax (87./Grozurek), Knasmüllner, Starkl – Jakolis;

SK Rapid: Strebinger - Pavelic, Sonnleitner, Wöber, Bolingoli (81./Prosenik) - Auer (74./Kvilitaia), Schwab - Murg, Schaub (73./Keles), Kuen – Joelinton;

Yellow Cards: Toth, Grozurek; Auer, Sonnleitner, Joelinton, Kvilitaia, Keles

Red Card: Murg;