Wurmbrand Double Leads us to Win over WAC

Following Thursday’s Conference League Play-Off, we were back in ADMIRAL Bundesliga action on Sunday, as we travelled south to face another Conference League hopeful, Wolfsberger AC. Having drawn in the last round at home, the aim for Peter Stöger’s side was to get straight back to winning ways and keep the pace at the top of the table.

Both coaches rotated to some extent given the European exertions still ahead, and for Rapid Furkan Demir, Ange Ahoussou, Matthias Seidl, Nikolaus Wurmbrand and Claudy Mbuyi all came into the starting XI, wearing the founding colours of red and blue.

The fans in a busy Lavanttal Arena saw the game get off to a bright start, as the hosts went at us right from the off. Former Austria international Alessandro Schöpf got into a good position early on, but luckily he stroked his shot wide after a cut-back from the left (5’). In response, Petter Nosa Dahl went hunting at the other end; he couldn’t quite control a decent high ball forward, allowing WAC keeper Polster to get out and save, but just seconds later Wurmbrand broke forward on the run, passed towards the area for Dahl, who this time took possession, dribbled towards the keeper and finished off for what looked like 1-0 (6’). Unfortunately this would be ruled out when the linesman raised his flag for offside!

Just four minutes later though, there would be no flag to deny Rapid! Mbuyi sent a long cross over from the left which bounced dangerously across the face of goal, before Niki Wurmbrand managed to expertly find a finish from beyond the back post, despite a very tight angle. 1-0 to the away team (10’)! After watching a longshot fly wide from the hosts, the next chance would also fall for Wurmbrand, but he sent a low half-volley wide after a delightful chipped through ball from Janis Antiste (23’). Shortly before the interval though, our 19-year-old striker would have more success! Rapid pressed to win the ball back in the centre circle, Mbuyi sent a pass down the left for Dahl, and his square-ball was neatly slipped past the keeper and in off the upright by the side-foot of Wurmbrand, who had a brace before half time. His third Bundesliga goal, and all of them had come at this ground! The score at the break was therefore 2-0 to Rapid (41’).

In the second half, apart from another shot from Wurmbrand (54'), there was significantly less action from both teams in comparison to the first 45 minutes. It was only in the final stages that the action really picked up pace again, when referee Talic awarded a penalty for an unlucky handball from captain Matthias Seidl as he attempted to block a shot. WAC’s Zukic confidently converted from the spot to bring the hosts back within one goal (70'). Wolfsberg then took control and launched an intense final offensive with periods of enormous pressure. Atanga had the best chance in the 90th minute with a looped header from the far post, but Niki Hedl scrambled across his goalmouth and made a strong save to secure the away win at WAC!

In the end, we took three important points from the Lavanttal back to Hütteldorf and can now focus on Thursday's UECL return leg against ETO Györ! Let’s keep this up, Rapid!

Fotos: GEPA