Okan Aydin’s goal (44′), which equalized Marco Grüll’s early Rapid lead (16′), was not enough for the East Styrians to get their second point in a row. The Hartbergers go into the break that lasted until February two points behind the penultimate Ried.
The end of the year was accompanied by fan campaigns. Immediately before kick-off, the Rapid supporters called for a World Cup boycott. Black smoke pots flew onto the field, the action was accompanied by a banner in large letters with the message: “Fuck FIFA – we see black for your World Cup plans”.
Hartberg loses 1:2 against Rapid
Rapid fixed the conciliatory end of the year at TSV Egger Glas Hartberg late. The team from Hütteldorf won 2-1 on Saturday with a late goal from Bernhard Zimmermann and are fourth in the table going into the winter break. Hartberg around the counted trainer Klaus Schmidt experienced the turn of the year as the tail light.
Hartberg dangerous, Rapid takes the lead
As a result, the game started late and then with Hartberg as the initially more dangerous team. Aydin tested goalkeeper Niklas Hedl after a few seconds after a mistake by Ferdy Druijf. The Viennese started the game slowly, Guido Burgstaller hit the side netting after ten minutes. Rapid had already taken control of the game at this point.
It was 1-0 shortly afterwards: Grüll broke away from his opponent at the right moment and headed in from close range after a cross from Jonas Auer (16′). The left winger celebrated his fourth goal of the season.
Fans cause disruption
Rapid’s organized fans once again acknowledged the lead with pyrotechnics, whereupon referee Stefan Ebner interrupted the game in accordance with UEFA’s three-stage plan and sent both teams into the dressing room. During the seven-minute break, head of sport and interim coach Zoran Barisic and Steffen Hofmann also had a calming effect on the fans.
Hartberg compensation just before the break
Hartberg, accompanied by green-white passivity, approached after the restart. A goal by the conspicuous Ruben Providence did not count because of a handball (35th). Aydin initially missed the compelling equalizer, who rounded Hedl after Jürgen Heil’s hole pass, but then only hit the side netting (37′). But the Turk did better before the break. Leopold Querfeld sailed past Dominik Frieser’s cross, Aydin took the ball into the box and scored to make it 1-1 (44′).
Between the two Aydin moments, Rapid had chances to make it 2-0 through Grüll (38′) and Thorsten Schick (40′), but had to accept a relapse after phases of a dominant performance.
Looking for a performance explosion similar to that of the 5-1 three weeks ago, Barisic brought in Roman Kerschbaum instead of Druijf at the break. It didn’t get really dicey for the Styrians, apart from a missed shot by Schick (54th). The opponent, who Barisic called the boxer counted, fought with all his might, but Hedl was on the post with a healing shot (64th).
Zimmermann stands out as a “joker”
Rapid’s Christoph Knasmüllner was lucky not to be sent off prematurely after a frustration foul (66′). With Eylon Almog and Rene Kriwak (Hartberg) and Nicolas Kühn and Zimmermann (Rapid), both coaches made offensive changes in the finish. Both teams didn’t have more than half chances for a long time. However, “Joker” Zimmermann had the last word in the game, which was balanced overall, and steered a deflected Kerschbaum shot over the line (88′).
Voices to the game:
Klaus Schmidt (Hartberg coach): “I think that TSV has shown its very good side. We proved that we can fight, play football and score a goal or two. Unfortunately, our games are only allowed to last 86 minutes, then we’d probably be fourth. So in the end it was a blow to the neck again, but the team really did a great job. I think we made a statement despite the defeat.”
Zoran Barisic (Rapid-Trainer): “Especially in the first half after the opening goal, we neglected to add one or the other. We didn’t get into the duels like that, were a little too slow in our heads and were too passive when playing with the ball. So we invited Hartberg to equalize. We controlled the game in the second half and had one or two chances. In the end, we’re happy that we scored the winning goal just before the end. But I still have to compliment the Hartbergers. You made life very difficult for us. Overall, the development gives me reason to be happy.”
Admiral Bundesliga, 16. Round
Saturday:
Hartberg – Rapid 1:2 (1:1)
Hartberg, Profertil Arena, SR Ebner
Torfolge:
0: 1 grunt (16th)
1:1 Aydin (44.)
1:2 Zimmermann (88.)
Hartberg: Swete – Frieser, Steinwender, Rotter, M. Horvat, Karamarko – Providence (75./Almog), Fadinger, Heil (94./Kainz), Aydin (81./Kröpfl) – Tadic (75./Kriwak)
Rapid: Hedl – Koscelnik, Querfeld, Moormann, Auer – Knasmüllner (70th / Zimmermann), Pejic – Schick (70th / Kühn), Druijf (46th / Kerschbaum), Grüll (83rd / Bajic) – Burgstaller
Yellow cards: Fadinger, Steinwender, Rotter or Knasmüllner, Auer, Kerschbaum
The best: Providence, Heil or Grüll, Auer
