Rapid Win on a Dramatic Derby Day

With only one win to our name in the ADMIRAL Bundesliga Championship Round, Rapid had the chance on Sunday to at least complete a double over our city rivals in the group, as our Match Day 30 fixture took us to Favoriten for the 346th Vienna Derby. Having performed well last weekend, young defender Dominic Vincze was back in the starting line-up alongside Ange Ahoussou, and Guido Burgstaller wore the captain’s armband as he led the line up-front for interim coach Stefan Kulovits’ team.

Some tough tackling was needed to keep the hosts at bay in the opening minutes after several dangerous crosses came into the area, but on the attack Rapid had the best early chance. Lukas Grgic looped a high pass into the box, and Burgstaller anticipated it perfectly before volleying at the target, only for Sahin-Radlinger in goal to produce an excellent block (6’). The home side remained effective from crosses, and Malone headed over from close range (9’) before Niki Hedl had to react fast to turn away an effort fired low towards his near post (17’).

In the other direction, Romeo Amane carried the ball forward well and laid-off for Jansson, but his shot - and one soon after from Burgstaller - were blocked from decent positions (21’) and the Austria defence had to work hard again to clear a teasing ball-in from Bendi Bolla on the right, which could have led to an opening goal (23’). While the hosts always looked threatening, Rapid were starting to spend more time in attack, and a corner kick from Matti Seidl was cleverly flicked-on from the front post by Isak Jansson. Who was there to meet it? Guido Burgstaller, no less! Our number 9 was first to the ball and prodded it over the line to put the Green & Whites ahead. 1-0 (32’)! The significant strike was marked with an emotional celebration involving the whole team, as it was his first goal since his awful injury at the end of last year. The tackles kept flying in during a very competitive game, but it was simply a hard-fought derby. The hosts came close to levelling a few times before the interval, but Niki Hedl was always on-hand to save, and we held the lead until half-time.

With the teams unchanged, chances were at a premium in the first 15 minutes of the second half, and the biggest moment came when Jansson accidentally clattered into referee Christopher Jäger (56’) but both were OK to carry on! Around the hour mark, the home side began to set up camp close to our penalty area and apply some pressure, but again, big chances to score were not really falling to anyone, with a few headed opportunities as good as it got.

Unfortunately after falling awkwardly in a challenge, Mama Sangare had to come off later in the game (76’) and there would be another blow, when a shot was blocked by the elbow of Ange Ahoussou, and after a VAR check, Austria were awarded a penalty. Fitz scored from the spot to make it 1-1 (80’), but rather than folding, we went back down the other end, and another Seidl corner led to Ercan Kara glancing in a header which nestled in the back of the net! It was his first goal since returning to Rapid, and he restored our lead almost immediately! 2-1 (82’).

Despite being put under pressure throughout the Derby, the Green & Whites were up to the task and they would hold out over seven minutes of added time to claim a morale-boosting win! The three points leave Rapid in a strong position to claim a European qualification spot in the league table, and of course, give Rapid the Vienna bragging rights once again!

Fotos: GEPA