Hedl Heroics Can’t Prevent Derby Defeat

A string of incredible saves from Rapid’s young goalkeeper, and a 19th goal of the season from Guido Burgstaller, are not enough to stop the Green & Whites falling to defeat in Favoriten in the fourth Vienna Derby of the season.

With Rapid Vienna and city rivals Austria separated by only two points in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga table, Sunday’s 340th Vienna Derby on Match Day 29 had a lot riding on it. Rapid were yet to taste victory in a derby this season, but just as importantly, extending the lead over Austria in 5th and Klagenfurt in 6th would be key in the race for European qualification come the end of the season, and this game was a great chance to do just that with a morale-boosting win.

Head Coach Zoran Barisic looked again to the league’s top-scorer Guido Burgstaller who led the line alone up front, with an attacking trio of Oliver Strunz, Ferdy Druijf and Nicolas Kühn all tasked with providing offensive power for the Green & Whites, who had failed to score in the last Vienna Derby in Favoriten, and certainly didn’t want to repeat that on Sunday afternoon. Just minutes into the game there were good chances for our team to take the lead; first came a through ball down the left from Patrick Greil, but Kühn’s finish couldn’t beat home keeper Christian Früchtl from an angle (4’). Rapid kept up the tempo though, and after a throw-in was flicked on towards Burgstaller, his close-range half-volley was pushed away, and Kühn was there again on the follow-up, only to see his powerful shot sail straight into the arms of the keeper (15’).

Rapid were made to pay for the goalless start, as Haris Tabakovic headed in a set-piece (23’) for Austria’s opening goal (23’), before an attack down the right ended with the same player tapping in a second in quick succession (27’). Things got worse as Oliver Strunz had to be replaced after taking a knock (32’), on came Marco Grüll in his place. Heads didn’t drop, and Rapid set about creating more chances in the game. Denso Kasius used his pace to get away on the right, before showcasing his excellent vision once more with a delightful angled pass in towards the front post, where Burgstaller nipped in and dinked the ball across goal and in at the far post! Rapid were back in the contest at 2-1 (37’)! The rest of the first half became punctuated by fouls and stoppages, but Niki Hedl put up a couple of strong reflex saves to keep the score the same at the interval.

The game continued in true Vienna Derby style after the break, with both teams going for it and trying to make the match their own, but neither side had the upper hand early in the second half. Grüll then lit up the game with a fantastic run around the left touchline and all the way to the byline, before his cutback found Patrick Greil outside the area. The ball was fired goalwards, but Früchtl was able to tip it away for a corner (55’). There was a quick VAR check after the initial cross had hit a defender’s hand, but nothing was given. A low shot from Kühn tested the keeper from the resulting corner, but again the busy Austria stopper was equal to it.

Berni Zimmermann came on in place of Ferdy Druijf (58’), but in the next phase it was our keeper who was called into action. Close-range shots should have seen the hosts score a third, but some unbelievable reflex parries denied Tabakovic on a few occasions (66’, 72’) and a clearance off the line from Martin Moormann helped out the cause as well. Ante Bajic made his way on in place of Moormann (84’) as Rapid reacted in the hunt for an equaliser, and it took just a couple of minutes for the chance to arrive. Burgstaller was on the end of a bouncing ball, he outfoxed the home defence, sliced the shot past the on-rushing keeper, but agonisingly sent it wide of the post, too (86’). That wasn’t the final moment of the match though, Michael Sollbauer got up highest at the back post but saw his header saved, before the clearance flew down the other end for Tabakovic to add the finishing touch and seal the win for Austria. 3-1 (90’+5).

We fought hard to try to get back into the game at 2-2, but ultimately didn’t offer enough in the 340th Vienna Derby, making it a difficult derby day for Rapid. Now we’ll have to pick ourselves back up and try to finish the season strongly in our remaining three games, starting with next Sunday’s home tie against LASK.

Fotos: GEPA