Free-Scoring Football Earns us a Big Win against WSG

After taking 45 minutes to break the deadlock, a dominant Rapid ran away with things against WSG Tirol. Martin Koscelnik stole the show, as Guido Burgstaller bagged a brace, and Marco Grüll, Ferdy Druijf and Berni Zimmermann all got in on the goal scoring act once the floodgates were opened, making it a Rapid goal-fest! 

The two-week international break came to an end on Saturday, as we faced WSG Tirol in the 10th round of the ADMIRAL Bundesliga at the Tivoli Stadium. After a solid performance in the last round against Salzburg, our team took some positive momentum into the international break, and could thus continue to work hard in the last two weeks with positive energy, and full focus on this fixture. Head coach Ferdinand Feldhofer had almost all of his players available for this fixture, but Martin Moormann (muscular problems) and Moritz Oswald (ankle) had to miss out. Rapid went into this game in their Blue and Red founding colours with the firm target of taking home three points from Tirol, in a stadium that has been a fairly happy hunting ground in recent years.

With rain lashing down on the pitch there was a lively start from both sides, with the first scoring chance coming via Guido Burgstaller, who was unable to get the ball under control after a pass from Ferdy Druijf (3’). Jonas Auer also looked for our number 9 in the penalty area, but the cross was not quite on point (11’). There was a painful clash in the 13th minute, when Martin Koscelnik banged heads with an opponent, but after a bit of treatment he was fortunately able to continue. Both teams tried hard to get the momentum on their side in the early stages, but the attacks were always disrupted at either end of the pitch. After just under thirty minutes the clearest chance so far came along, and it was Rapid who received a let-off, as WSG fired off target (29’). At this point, the game was unfortunately over for captain Maxi Hofmann due to injury, after a blow to the foot it was clear that he would play no further part in the contest, and Marco Grüll came on in his place (32’). There was a chance to open the scoring in the 40th minute when Guido Burgstaller tried an acrobatic overhead kick, but in the end, he was ruled offside. Yet right before the break, the away fans finally had something to celebrate: after a long throw in from Koscelnik, the ball was twice nodded back across the box by defenders, and Guido Burgstaller ran in at full steam to convert from close range at the back post, 1-0 (45’)! Nic Kühn almost went one better before the first half was over, getting the better of the keeper in a one-on-one duel, but at the last moment a defender cleared on the line (45’+1). Despite that chance going begging, the half-time lead would prove crucial, and we at least went in 1-0 ahead.

Immediately after the restart, the hosts missed a good chance, but our team proved to be rather more efficient: Martin Koscelnik played an excellent pass in behind the WSG defence to Marco Grüll, who took the ball in his stride on the right, and flashed a shot high into the net from the corner of the area; a lovely finish, and a second goal (51’)! What a start to the second half that was, but there was still more to come! In the 56th minute the industrious Koscelnik - who was already involved in both goals - was clearly hacked down in the penalty area. Guido Burgstaller converted the spot kick with a calm, low roll to the right, and made it 3-0 (57’)!

The hosts - who were still trying hard to get into the game - pressed for a goal as things progressed, and in the 64th minute the ball did end up in our net, but it was disallowed after an infringement by the WSG forward - another touch of fortune for us. Shortly before the Rapid quarter hour, Thorsten Schick came on in place of Nic Kühn (71’), and our substitute number 13 immediately put himself in the limelight: Schick delivered a cross accurately into the penalty area from the right, Ferdy Druijf was there to gratefully receive it, and he knocked the ball back against the direction of movement to wrongfoot the keeper and defenders, and add another goal, 4-0 (79’)! A high-scoring afternoon indeed, and with the fourth goal there were also two changes - Bernhard Zimmermann and Patrick Greil came on for Druijf and Roman Kerschbaum. Wild card Berni Zimmermann also put his stamp on the game with his first touch: After a cross from Martin Koscelnik, our number 41 climbed high and glanced the ball in with his head, 5-0 (81’)! We weren’t content with that though, and a sixth goal almost came along! First, Marco Grüll hit the woodwork with a sumptuous effort on goal, and then the second ball was blasted over by Guido Burgstaller who might have claimed a hat-trick (89’). Nonetheless, after 94 minutes, our biggest victory of the season was sealed!

With five goals from four different scorers, there was plenty to be happy about, and the long-awaited efficiency in front of goal had truly played out for the first time this season, meaning we head back to Vienna with three more points than we had before! The away win does us no harm at all, and builds a bit more confidence and momentum ahead of the 337th Vienna Derby, which takes place at the Allianz Stadium next week. Let’s keep this form up, Rapid!

Fotos: GEPA