[ad_1]
Rapid took the lead of the table in the official spring start of the Bundesliga. The Viennese celebrated a 4-1 home victory in the 13th round against Sturm Graz on Friday night and edged reigning champions Salzburg and Styria by two points. The third-place Grazers remain winless after a 0-0 overtime victory at the WAC last week in 2021. The “Bulls” won’t start the new year of competitive play until Sunday in Altach.
Ercan Kara (7th) made sure from the start that goalkeeper Jörg Siebenhandl, undefeated for 544 minutes before the game, could not break the club record held by Christian Gratzei since 2009. Then Thorsten Schick (45th), Christoph Knasmüllner (50th ) and Yusuf Demir (88th) signed the list of shooters. The Styrians conceded almost as many goals in one game as in the entire season so far (5). Sturm’s only hit came from Jakob Jantscher (31st). Like last time, the Graz team finished a game after the exclusion of “Joker” Bekim Balaj (70./Tätlichkeit) outnumbered.
Sturm manager Christian Ilzer made two changes compared to Sunday. Sandro Ingolitsch replaced the suspended Amadou Dante in defense, Otar Kiteishvili was preferred to Ivan Ljubic in midfield. On the Rapid team, Richard Strebinger surprised a bit on goal. The former regular goalie, who was sent off by Paul Gartler in the fall, is now number one again.
The 27-year-old had to prove himself early on, avoiding the deficit early with a shot by Hierländer from 14 meters after a corner kick. On the other hand, Siebenhandl was on the post when Schick fired from an acute angle. Following Marcel Ritzmaier’s resulting corner kick, Kara fired straight from twenty feet. Jon Gorenc-Stankovic did not get close enough to the Rapid forward, making his seventh goal of the season possible.
Quick wins thanks to efficiency
Guests had more of the game, who also resolved an overweight possibility in a spirited first half. Kiteishvili hit the ball after a good one-two with Kevin Friesenbichler (15th). With a Friesenbichler title, Strebinger was able to distinguish himself (21st). In the 31st minute, the well-deserved equalization was perfect, thanks to the quick assistance. Maximilian Hofmann missed the ball when he tried to hit the first shot, which is why Friesenbichler used his colleague Jantscher and who hit on the second attempt after a shot blocked by the Rapids goalkeeper. The Styrians almost followed suit, but Strebinger also showed his skills on an opportunity from Hierländer (38th).
On the contrary, Rapid was a master of efficiency. Schick completed an attack started at Strebinger with a direct decline to Ljubicic’s flank. As with the first goal conceded, the defense against the storm, which had been so secure before, was anything but firm. Even after switching sides, that didn’t change. And Rapid closed the bag early. Knasmüllner completed from the heel and behind at point blank range after a cross from Mateo Barac, who had previously missed with his head.
In the 70th minute, the guests were decimated, Balaj engaged in a duel with Ritzmaier in American football fashion and hit the Rapidler square in the face. Referee Dieter Muckenhammer had no choice but to send the striker off the pitch. Rapid’s second straight league win was no longer in jeopardy. And just before the end, Siebenhandl also failed. Schick received the ball and served Demir, who smashed the leather into the cross corner. Sturm suffered his first away loss of the season. (apa)
More on wienerzeitung.at comments on this article
