Special Sunday for Strunz in Hütteldorf

Rapid came through in the driving rain to outlast Altach and win thanks to three second-half goals. Oliver Strunz scored a brilliant brace before a late Guido Burgstaller goal completed the win to keep the points in Hütteldorf.

After a bitter late defeat at the hands of Sturm Graz on Match Day 17, Rapid were looking to bounce back immediately in our first competitive home game of 2023 in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga. Having won the last three home fixtures against SCR Altach, confidence was high, but coach Miroslav Klose has got his team playing some fine football despite their lowly table position. In the Rapid line-up, Denso Karius started once again at right back having impressed since his arrival in winter, and Oliver Strunz made his starting XI debut on the right of an attacking trio backing-up lone-striker Guido Burgstaller.

With dark clouds overhead and heavy rain pouring down, the fans wanted something to provide some sunshine and warmth in the game, but nothing came in the early stages. A resilient Altach side held off the opening attacks from the Green & Whites, before Abdijanovic had a look at goal when he went round Niki Hedl but could not score from a tight angle (11’). Rapid responded with a looping cross from Patrick Greil which hit the roof of the net, before Kasius made his mark with an outstanding last-ditch block to defuse another Abdijanovic effort from the middle of the area, after a promising attack from the guests down the right (13’).

The drama came thick and fast midway through the first half, as Jonas Auer played a dangerous ball into the box, where top-scorer Burgstaller was fouled on the right of the six-yard box, but alas no penalty would come our way, as he was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up (21’). The best chance of the half fell to the foot of Rapid striker Strunz when Rapid won the ball back on the edge of the final third and Burgstaller squared across the area for the new man in the team, who could only poke the ball over the bar under heavy pressure from visiting keeper Jungdal (32). The heavy ground prevented many more big moments before the break, although Altach’s Mike-Steven Bähre was fortunate to stay on the pitch after a crunching tackle on his former Barnsley team mate Michael Sollbauer (45’+2).

After the interval, the rain-soaked Rapid players had another penalty shout when the ball hit a hand in the area, but nothing was given (49’). The breakthrough would come soon after anyway, as the finest passage of play so far saw some clever passing on the left wing, before Jonas Auer sent a low cross into the area. Strunz reacted quickest and nipped in before the defender to fire home his first Bundesliga goal, putting Rapid ahead in the process. 1-0 (53’)! Altach did not take that lying down, and headed a good chance wide (56’) before skimming the post after a scramble in the sodden penalty area (58’). A long shot had to be saved by Hedl (60’) before the first substitution saw Ferdy Druijf return to action, replacing Christoph Knasmüllner in attack.

Not long later, Berni Zimmermann came on for Ante Bajic, and Roman Kerschbaum took over from Patrick Greil (69’). Kasius then zipped a shot off the wet turf but just wide of the post (71’), but with Altach pushing hard to find a leveller, Rapid would put their foot to the floor in the closing stages. Druijf’s pass found man of the moment Oliver Strunz, who dribbled down the right, cut back onto his left foot and converted a glorious finish into the far corner to double the advantage. 2-0 (81’)! The home team weren’t finished yet, but Strunz had played his final minutes, and he was withdrawn to take the adulation of the crowd after scoring two goals (83’). Denso Kasius then got the reward for his efforts, as he slid another dangerous low cross in from the right, where Burgstaller smashed the ball emphatically into the net, before sliding face first through the wet grass in celebration. 3-0 (85’)!

With that, the race was run, and Rapid would earn three points to move up to fourth and cement a place in the top six of the table. We learned that our next cup game would be a home tie against Ried in the semi-final, so that was more good news for the home fans in Hütteldorf who have waited so long to see a home cup tie, but before that, focus turns towards an away trip to Wolfsberg next weekend. NICE ONE RAPID!

Fotos: GEPA