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Rapid got the short straw in Ried
© APA (EXPA)
Rapid has carelessly given up a chance to top the Bundesliga table for the second time after the first round. Due to a 3: 4 loss at Ried on Sunday, the Viennese were unable to benefit from Salzburg’s slip on Saturday against Sturm Graz (1: 3). The first loss of the season after five wins and two draws was therefore particularly painful, also because Dundalk had to accept a shock absorber ahead of the Europa League “return” in Ireland on Thursday.
Coach Dietmar Kühbauer only saw him at home in front of the television. The Burgenlander had been absent from training all week due to illness. He was still involved in the lineup and game preparation, and there was contact during the game just before halftime. “We agreed that we would like to wait a little longer and only then change something,” explained Rapids assistant coach Manfred Nastl.
His words should have been correct, as Christoph Knasmüllner’s second goal (51st) and an own goal by Constantin Reiner (65th) caused the alleged change of course after a 1: 2 break. In the end, Hütteldorfer , who had also led 1-0, gave up the lead for the second time in the match. The reasons for this were obvious, the guests were susceptible to set pieces and were in big trouble when the Innviertel team changed quickly. “We let ourselves be invaded and we didn’t hold out long enough in the duels,” Nastl said.
Susceptibility to dormant balls extends throughout the season. This time, Grahovac’s own goal (25th) fell from a corner and Reiner (71st) headed in after a useful free kick. “We train him often enough, but unfortunately it happens to us over and over again that we are not active enough and just looking to defend our space,” Nastl said. Central defender Maximilian Hofmann also seemed lost: “We have to think of something because they are unnecessary goals that cost us points or hinder our work. It is very unnecessary.”
Looking back, the defeat was not that surprising. For the fourth time in a row, Rapid was the league underdog at the Innviertel. “I didn’t have the feeling that we were arrogant. We knew it was always difficult at Ried and that hasn’t changed,” said Nastl, who also struggled with some referee decisions and regretted missed opportunities.
After eight laps, the Rapidlers are now in third place instead of first, two points behind Salzburg. “Everyone is madly mad that we missed a great opportunity. We turn the game around and quit again, that’s just stupid, we throw the loss on ourselves,” Hofmann said. The European Cup will already have a chance to do better on Thursday. In the promotion race, only one victory counts in the second game with Dundalk. “Everyone is disappointed now, but there are games like this. It will continue on Thursday, it will be a completely different game,” Nastl looked forward.
Ried can focus on the league, where the WAC awaits Sunday away. After two wins at home, previously 2-0 against Hartberg, he wants to take something for the first time when he is abroad. “We played pretty bad games and now we are well received in the league,” said coveted winning scorer Marco Grüll (87th), who almost landed at Rapid in the summer. And the involuntary “double scorer” Reiner added: “The win against Hartberg gave us confidence, it was perhaps a turning point.”
As with Rapid, Ried’s assistant coach, Gerhard Schweitzer, was in the front row instead of Gerald Baumgartner, who was ill. “We did well in the game, but with a 4: 3, of course, there is a bit of luck. It was clear that we can only survive against Rapid by staying higher and pushing aggressively. Not only us, Rapid also distributed gifts,” he analyzed Schweitzer.
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