Guido Burgstaller gave the home team the lead in front of 21,300 spectators (27th), Robert Zulj equalized (46th). Rapid gave up points for the first time in their fifth league home game this season.Vienna. The Linzers are still in ninth place after the eighth round and have been waiting for a three-pointer for nine away games in the west of Vienna. The guests had their first chance: After a cross from George Bello, a shot from Marin Ljubicic landed in the arms of goalie Niklas Hedl (10th). Rapid responded with a long-range shot from Mamadou Sangare clearly wide of the goal (13th) and a Burgstaller attempt into the side netting (20th).
Seven minutes later, the Carinthian was able to celebrate his first league goal of the current season. After a cross from Bendeguz Bolla, Burgstaller was completely free to head the ball in the penalty area and didn’t miss the opportunity. Before and after, Rapid was in command, Dion Beljo stumbled from close range after Burgstaller’s Stanglpass (39′).
Zulj made up for the deficit
Before the break, LASK only attracted attention once on offense. After a remarkable attack via Zulj, Ljubicic played to Valon Berisha, but the midfielder had a poor ball reception in a promising position.
The score was 1-1 just 24 seconds after the restart. After a serious misunderstanding between Sangare and Louis Schaub, Zulj equalized with a shot under the crossbar. Rapid needed about a quarter of an hour to recover from the low blow and get the game back under control. There were no compelling opportunities at first, but the spectators saw the first rapid foul of the entire game in the 64th minute when Beljo went against Sascha Horvath illegally.
Rapid youngster missed match point
14 minutes later Rapid came very close to making it 2-1. Burgstaller shot outside the penalty area, but only hit the bar. In the 83rd minute, “Joker” Nikolaus Wurmbrand ran alone towards the LASK goal, but clearly missed the target. It should have been the last real chance until the final whistle, with the exception of a header from substitute ex-Rapidler Maximilian Entrup next to the Kreuzeck (71′), LASK was no longer in front of the Viennese goal.
Losing the league lead wasn’t the only bad news for Rapid that evening. Isak Jansson, who had just recovered from a knee injury, had to leave the field injured about 20 minutes after being substituted on.
At least things remained quiet in the first game at the Allianz Stadium after the derby riots, with the exception of a cannon being thrown in the LASK sector before kick-off. During the break, Rapid’s management officials handed over 35,000 euros for flood relief to the “Austria helps Austria” initiative.
