Grüll Hat-Trick Eases us to an Away Win at Easter

Marco Grüll made the difference in a fantastic team performance in Hartberg, as our number 27 scored his first career hat-trick to bring us a first win in this season’s Championship Round.

 Easter Sunday saw Rapid return to ADMIRAL Bundesliga action after the international break, with an away trip to Hartberg on the cards for Matchday 24. Head Coach Robert Klauß was still without Guido Burgstaller, but was able to welcome back Marco Grüll, who led the team out as captain. It was also a special occasion for Christoph Lang, who was returning to his former loan station for the first time since signing for SK Rapid.

 The game started very brightly indeed for the Green & Whites, as an incisive through-ball found Isak Jansson on the left, and he forced the first good save from the home keeper inside a minute. Only moments later though, Matthias Seidl combined a slick set of passes on the same side with Jansson, who then teed up Grüll in the box to blast the ball home with a low finish for 1-0, marking his 35th Bundesliga goal! (3’). Hartberg then began to show their qualities, and made life tough for Rapid in the next phase, with neither side able to create key chances on goal. Christoph Lang tried his luck with a placed shot following a corner kick routine, but saw that blocked by a defender (28’) before Niki Hedl was called into action for the first time, but managed a routine stop from a tight angle (32’). Seidl then slotted a through-pass into the path of Jansson, who stayed on-side and scurried through the home defence, but could only loft his finish up and over the crossbar after the ball bobbled at the final moment, denying him a first league goal (37’). Before the break though, Rapid profited from a clear handball in the Hartberg box, and Grüll stepped up to slot home the penalty into the bottom left, and past the despairing dive of keeper Raphael Sallinger. 2-0 to Rapid (43’), and the lead remained the same until the break!

With no changes in our XI after the interval, the game settled into a less spectacular pattern, and again chances became few and far between for a while as Rapid remained comfortably in the lead. Ismael Seydi came on to replace the industrious Jansson (72’), and we then showed some much sought-after efficiency in front of goal, as Nikolas Sattlberger found Christoph Lang, and his simple pass on the turn into the area meant that the ball sat up nicely for Grüll, who picked out the top left corner this time as he fired in with Rapid’s first shot of the half! 3-0 to the away side (81’), and a first ever hat-trick for our number 27!

The closing stages then saw two yellow cards for Hartberg’s Donis Avdijaj, and our own play was broken up by a series of substitutions. One of those introductions, Fally Mayulu, almost made it 4-0 with a late header, but ultimately the three goals were more than enough for the win.

Rapid therefore travelled back from East Styria with a brilliant win, and three precious points in the Easter nest! WELL DONE, RAPID!

Fotos: GEPA