Last-gasp Berisha wins it in injury time!

That head coach Didi Kühbauer decided to shuffle his pack for the trip to Tyrol to face Innsbruck came as little surprise: Mario Sonnleitner, Thomas Murg and Andrei Ivan were all fit again and ready for selection, and all three found themselves in the starting line up in Tivoli, as did Stefan Schwab. Unavailable for selection was the hero in Moscow Philipp Schobesberger, who missed out having picked up a knock in the build-up to the game. Kühbauer made it clear ahead of kick-off that regardless of who took to the field in Rapid colours, he expected nothing less than the three points. Not only was a win crucial to build upon Thursday night’s success in the Europa League, but also vital in terms of climbing the Bundesliga table.

Rapid made a positive start to the game with Christoph Knasmüllner having a shot blocked after latching he latched onto Thomas Murg's cut back to the edge of the area (3.). Stefan Schwab lifted the Green & Whites' next opportunity over the bar from a dead-ball situation (20.), but despite not peppering the Wacker goal, Rapid looked clam and assured and dictated the tempo of the game. When Innsbruck did threaten, Richard Strebinger was on hand to claw a well-placed header from Maak away to safety (24.). The next chance fell to the Hütteldorfers, this time Stefan Schwab, who rattled the crossbar with a header from a corner before stabbing the rebound just wide of the far post (29.). Following Schwab's chance, the game lost its way somewhat, with only an off-target shot from Wacker's Durmus threatening at either end (40.). Rapid were forced into a change before half time, when the injured Marvin Potzmann was forced off and replaced by Stephan Auer.

Presentable chances continued to come and go for Rapid, such as the one laid on by Mert Müldür and Andrei Ivan for Murg, whose close-range shot was kept out by home keeper Knett (54.). Playing almost like the away team, under pressure Innsbruck did offer some respite for their defenders when a counter attack resulted in an opening for Henning, who fired wide from a promising position.

As the game headed into the final strait it opened up and the tension began to grow. But it was Rapid who continued to look the most likely side to break the deadlock, particularly when Müldür whipped a teasing ball across the goalmouth that drew last-ditch defending from Maak, and when Schwab hit a ferocious shot just inches wide of the target (79.). As the game crept into injury time it looked as though Rapid would be left to rue their missed chances, but Boli Bolingoli had other ideas as he picked up a ball from Schwab and burst forwards, sliding an expert pass into Veton Berisha who beat Knett to snatch it at the death - 1:0 (92.)! Wild celebrations broke out on the Rapid bench and amongst the travelling Viennese in the stands: Rapid had kept going and bagged another victory to make it two wins on the bounce!

(gw)