Away Win at Altach Before the International Break
An intensive week of away games saw SK Rapid head to Vorarlberg on Sunday for round 9 of the Bundesliga season, and a game against SCR Altach, just days after our Conference League win away in Istanbul!
The players that started the midweek win were trusted once again, as head coach Robert Klauß picked the same XI for the third successive game, despite the stresses and strains of the team’s travels.
In the opening few minutes there were few chances of note, and a harmless attempt from Bolla (5’) was the only highlight from a laboured first 15 minutes. Our team were slowly finding the right gears though, and with Beljo’s shots (20’, 25’) and a Cvetkovic effort (20’) some better chances were starting to come our way. After an unusual drop-ball situation, Matthias Seidl would create the best moment of the match so far, when he looped a pass forwards for Guido Burgstaller, but he agonisingly slotted his finish just wide of the post with only keeper Stojanovic to beat (30’). Six minutes later, our luck would be different, as Seidl passed to the right for Schaub, whose delightful ball into the middle was met by Dion Beljo who powered the ball over the line and in for his fourth Bundesliga goal for the club! 1-0 to Rapid (36’)! Before the break, the intensity levels rose from the hosts, and they created chances through Bähre from the edge of the box (42’) and Santos from close range (45’) but neither would end up in the net, so we led at half time!
As in the first half, the second began slowly with few openings, but in front of around 6,100 fans, Altach became much more active. The home side worked their way into the Rapid half more often, but neither side had huge chances to find the net. A shot from Beljo (79’) was a brief moment of danger from Rapid, and Altach only threatened very late on, when Santos had a good headed chance from six yards out, but he couldn't generate the power to beat Hedl (90’).
We therefore held on to record a crucial away win, and Rapid can go into the international break full of confidence. Now it's time for many of the players to gather some more strength before we go again for the challenges ahead in October. Let's keep this up!
Fotos: GEPA
ADMIRAL Bundesliga | 9. Runde | Cashpoint Arena
Tor: Beljo (36.)
Rapid-11: Hedl; Auer, Raux-Yao, Cvetković, Bolla; Grgić (65. Børkeeiet), Sangaré; Seidl © (78. Kaygin), Schaub (78. Lang); Burgstaller (65. Bischof), Beljo (88. Hofmann)
Ersatz: Gartler, Böckle, Lang, Børkeeiet, Hofmann, Kaygin, Bischof