Rampant Rapid Score Four in Home Opener

Rapid swept Altach aside in the first home game of the season in Hütteldorf. A Nic Kühn brace got the team on the way to a big win, as captain Guido Burgstaller aimed to write a piece of Rapid history.

Following away games in both the Bundesliga and the ÖFB Cup, Saturday finally saw the long-awaited home opener take place in Hütteldorf. In wet and windy conditions, we wanted to please the crowds who had braved the weather to come and support us in our game against SCR Altach at the Allianz Stadium. Last time we faced the same opponents at home, we ran out 3-0 winners, and with that to give us confidence, there was also some history to be made. If captain Guido Burgstaller scored on Saturday, he knew he could become the first Rapid player ever to score in 12 consecutive competitive home games. Did he manage it? You’ll find out soon!

The wet turf kept the ball zipping around at a high tempo from the outset, and Marco Grüll had the first chance to score, his attempt had precision, but it was blocked at the last moment (4’). Immediately after that chance, Jonas Auer got the ball into the middle well for Nic Kühn, but the visiting keeper clawed his header out before it reached the corner of the goal (5’). Rapid’s dominance continued, and Matthias Seidl picked out our captain with a timely pass, but this time the keeper saved with his foot (8’). There were other chances early on, but the goals would have to wait. Seidl tried to open the scoring himself after a neat heel-flick assist from Kühn, but his latest effort was just wide of the goal (14’).

Jonas Auer nearly gave himself the perfect birthday present, but his shot from range was deflected to safety (20’), but our chances were not about to fizzle out. Seidl had another go, before Marco Grüll took aim and let one fly, but once more the keeper palmed it away with a top-drawer save (26’). Eventually, the more than deserved opener came along, and it was Nic Kühn who powered down the side before hammering in his first of the season in emphatic fashion; 1-0 (29’)! He wasn’t about to let up, and soon after, a bizarre one-on-one situation with Kühn bearing down on goal saw the ball cannon back off our number 10 and into the net with some (deserved) good fortune for the Green & Whites, 2-0 (34’)! The Altach keeper prevented a Kühn hat-trick before the break (40’), and Guido Burgstaller struck a shot towards the near post as he chased history, but he missed by just inches (44’), meaning we went in at half-time two goals to the good.

We remained unchanged after the break, both in terms of personnel and in terms of the pattern of play. Grüll had a good chance right from the off after a delightful Roman Kerschbaum cross, but he couldn’t get a clean connection on the ball (46’). Kühn, who was by now on a hat-trick, moved dangerously into the area, but in the end fired straight at the keeper (53’). After 55 minutes, our number 55 Nenad Cvetković almost buried his header, but once again the keeper got his gloves to the ball. Grüll was denied seconds later, but in the end Jonas Auer would get his birthday gift, slotting in for 3-0 after being set up from a long ball by Kühn (59’)!

Barely ten minutes later we made our first change, as Patrick Greil came on for Kerschbaum (67’), and with the very next play, Thorsten Schick got the ball into the centre for a goal to be powered home by - who else? Guido Burgstaller! With that history-making strike the score stood at 4-0 (69’)! Oliver Strunz, Fally Mayulu and Moritz Oswald then replaced Nic Kühn, Guido Burgstaller and Nikolas Sattlberger (74’), before Martin Moormann came on for Cvetković (80’) as Rapid enjoyed their comfortable advantage. Altach did get the ball in the Rapid net late on, but it was ruled out for offside, and after 96 minutes the 4-0 win was sealed!

The team put in an impressive display to leave Altach without a chance, and Rapid really did build on the positives from the strong start against LASK. All in all, a well-deserved victory, NICE ONE, RAPID!

Fotos: GEPA