Green & Whites Forced to Settle for a Goalless Draw

After a difficult week for the Green & Whites, the second half of the Championship Round kicked-off on Sunday with a home game against the team directly below us in the table, Blau-Weiß Linz. With interim coach Stefan Kulovits and new assistant Luka Pavlović on the touchline, all eyes were on the performance of the team, with points a must for Rapid to find their feet once more. Amin Gröller made his starting debut in defence, Romeo Amane and Mama Sangaré began in midfield with Nenad Cvetković, Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao and Lukas Grgić all out injured, as Isak Jansson and Dion Beljo formed the front-two.

With fresh impetus, we dominated the opening phase and tested the BW Linz goalkeeper twice within a few minutes: First, he clawed away a header from Dion Beljo after Bendi Bolla sent the ball across (3’), and then after a lovely flick of the heel from Jansson, a neat shot on the turn from Louis Schaub was well-saved (5’). The visitors grew into the game, and a near-post shot forced Rapid keeper Niki Hedl into action for the first time with just under 20 minutes played, but the Green & Whites got back on top, and a Matti Seidl free kick was headed on by Jansson towards Ange Ahoussou, whose effort was somehow just scrambled away from the corner of the goalmouth after another strong save (23’). Our chances counted for nothing unfortunately, and it was the guests who had the ball in the net more efficiently, although the header was ruled out for offside, meaning that the teams were level at 0-0 as they went into the changing rooms at half time.

In the second half, more good chances would come our way, but two shots from Mama Sangaré were both blocked at the last moment (56'). Interim coach Stefan Kulovits reacted and brought on Guido Burgstaller and Andrija Radulović in place of Dion Beljo and Louis Schaub to energise the team (60'). Luck was on our side shortly afterwards after a header from the visitors rattled the crossbar above Niki Hedl (66'). Our newly introduced number 9, on the other hand, was unlucky when his shot was turned away by the foot of the Linz goalkeeper (68'). Tactically, we threw everything forward in the final phase, with Ercan Kara coming on for Romeo Amane (78'). After a fine solo run from Isak Jansson, his shot hit only the side-netting (79') and then in typical fashion for the last few weeks, we also finished the game a man-down, with Guido Burgstaller being sent off after he was fouled and tempers very briefly flared up on the field (83’). The last big moment came from Mama Sangaré again, whose volley flew just wide of the target, and that was that.

 With 94 minutes gone, the game was over, and both teams took a point from a goalless draw.

Fotos: GEPA