Rapid Start Championship Round with a Draw

The floodlights were on, and the stage was set for SK Rapid’s opening game in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga Championship Round, as LASK were the visitors to Hütteldorf on Matchday 23. In terms of personnel, the only change from the last game in Klagenfurt was the return of Terence Kongolo to the starting XI after his suspension, and coach Robert Klauß was clear ahead of the contest that this would be a match between two even teams.

 This could be seen from the early stages, as the Green & Whites tried hard to put on the pressure, but were always disrupted at the crucial moments of the build-up play. However, we had a let-off after 12 minutes, when LASK forward Moses Usor couldn’t hit an empty net from very long range following a defensive error at the halfway line. Niki Hedl was then able to defuse a good chance for the guests (18’), before our own attackers found their foothold in the match, especially on the counter, and Isak Jansson caught the eye with more good dribbling down the left, but failed to finish off the best moment of the match so far as his shot went across the face of goal (23’). Our defence were then alert to snuff out a chance for the Upper-Austrians (36’), and when Fally Mayulu headed the last chance too weakly towards the LASK goal, the signs were clear that the teams would be going in goalless at the break.

We returned to the pitch unchanged, but the tempo was ramped up again on our side, with Fally Mayulu ultimately turning a perfectly-weighted pass from Isak Jansson wide of the target (49'). And our number 22 was once again the centre of attention when he was brought down in the penalty area, but the referee unfortunately ruled it a dive by the young Swede (55'). In the next moment, Niki Hedl kept the scores level as our number 45 made a strong save to steer a Marin Ljubicic header over the crossbar (60'). A double substitution finally brought some fresh impetus, with Ismail Seydi making his Bundesliga debut in place of Jansson and Furkan Dursun replacing Mayulu (67’).

Ismail Seydi showed his speed right at the start of the Rapid quarter-hour with a bursting run into LASK territory, but unfortunately his finish was too central (76'), and he then had the opening goal at his feet following a fine through ball from Matthias Seidl, but he lost out in a clash against the LASK keeper at the near post. Nana Kasanwirjo came on for the final phase in Moritz Oswald’s stead (80') and Roman Kerschbaum also replaced Christoph Lang in stoppage time (90'+1). However, even the fresh additions were not able to change the 0-0 scoreline, with the home team at least keeping a point in Hütteldorf for the start of the Championship Round.

Now it's time for the international break, and we’ll look forward to an away game in Hartberg once league football returns!

Fotos: GEPA