After four attempts without a win, Altach prevailed once again against the team of coach Dietmar Kühbauer. In Altach it was even the first success against Rapid after six games without a win.
That succeeded very much to the delight of coach Damir Canadi, Manuel Thurnwald and Nuhiu, all of whom have Rapid pasts. The Vorarlberg team returned to winning ways after beating Sturm Graz 3-1 and, with six points, made it to fourth place.
Goal doldrums in the first half
Kühbauer made four changes to the 2-1 defeat in the EL qualification at Anorthosis Famagusta on Thursday. He was forced to do one by Robert Ljubicic’s ban. Lion Schuster moved into the starting line-up for him. Kevin Wimmer, Jonas Auer and Christoph Knasmüllner also started. Maximilian Ullmann, Kelvin Arase and also Grüll had to watch the kick-off. Rapid relied on a back three in defense.
It was very safe in front of almost 5,000 spectators in the first 40 minutes, on the other hand there was only one situation worth mentioning. After Greiml’s flank, Tino Casali was able to fend off a finish from Taxiarchis Fountas on the crossbar, but Altach’s goalkeeper was powerless against the Greek’s defeat (27th). Altach could, however, rely on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), who rightly denied the hit because of an offside position.
Otherwise there was nothing to be seen from Rapid offensively. The Vorarlbergers only picked up speed at the end of the first round and pushed the lead there. Nuhiu put a header after a rider’s corner next to the goal (40th) and another touchdown over it (45th + 5). In between, strike partner Sandi Krizman was even closer to 1-0, but failed with an acrobatic overhead kick on the crossbar (45th).
Altach turns the game into the final phase
Even after the restart you could count the top chances on one hand. Rapid put forward in the 58th minute thanks to the active help of Altach. Nuhiu and Jan Zwischenbrugger opened the wall with a Grüll free kick, which is why the ball landed right in the corner. For the ex-Rieder it was the first league goal in the dress of the Viennese. Casali was not to blame.
Altach did the same as he did before the break and only got really dangerous in the finish. Leo Greiml was just able to block an Edokpolor shot (80 ‘). Two minutes later the ball floundered in the net. After Netzer’s cross, Nussbaumer took the ball well and hit Richard Strebinger’s corner with the second touch. A combination of two “jokers” led to success. After that, Altach wanted the victory more and was rewarded. Knasmüllner unnecessarily cleared a free kick in the penalty area with his hand, and Nuhiu safely used the penalty.
The game should have ended 2-2, but Koya Kitagawa failed to get the ball into the goal with a double chance (93.). So there was a setback before the important duel with Luhansk.
Admiral Bundesliga, fourth round
Sunday:
Altach – Rapid 2:1 (0:0)
Altach, Cashpoint Arena, 5,000 spectators, SR Kijas
Goal sequence:
0: 1 Grüll (58th / free kick)
1:1 Nussbaumer (82.)
2: 1 Nuhiu (91./Elfmeter)
Altach: Casali – Thurnwald, Dabanli, Zwischenbrugger, Schreiner – Reiter (63./D. Nussbaumer), Haudum (73./Aigner), Strauss (73./Netzer), Bukta (63./Meilinger) – Krizman (63./Edokpolor ), Nuhiu
Rapid: Strebinger – Greiml, Hofmann, Wimmer – Schick (81./Arase), Schuster, Grahovac, Auer – Knasmüllner – Kara (46./Grüll), Fountas (81./Kitagawa)
Yellow cards: Nuhiu or Schuster, Kühbauer (trainer)
The best: Reiter, Strauss, Nuhiu or Greiml, Fountas, Grahovac
