The Rapid team, who showed a weak performance, were unable to convert their majority into chances, let alone goals. In the table, the division of points didn’t really bring the two arch-rivals any further – the Rapidler, who have not won for five rounds and twelve derbies, are eighth, the Austrians, who have been waiting for a complete success for seven rounds, are tenth.
The game had its first excitement after just 62 seconds. Dominik Fitz delivered a free-kick cross to the middle and Muharem Huskovic put the ball into the net from close range. However, referee Alexander Harkam overturned the goal after minutes of VAR consultation because Andreas Gruber had lightly touched the ball with his head and Huskovic was therefore offside. The goal would have had a flaw anyway, as the free kick after an alleged foul by Jonas Auer on Gruber would not have been given.
Fight and cramp on the distribution circuit
Afterwards, a match characterized by many duels developed, coherent actions were rare due to many bad passes and other technical deficiencies. Marco Grüll tested Austria goalie Christian Früchtl from a distance (8th), after which there wasn’t much going on in the penalty area – until stoppage time in the first half. Reinhold Ranftl released Gruber, but Austria’s best goalscorer was denied by Rapid goalkeeper Niklas Hedl (45th+3).
The start of the second half went exactly to Rapid’s liking. First, the guests had their first real chance to score – a header from Leopold Querfeld hit the top of the crossbar (48′) – and a little later the Green and White were in the majority. Holland took yellow-red after an unnecessarily dangerous attack against the crossfield (52′), two minutes later Braunöder followed him into the shower because of a tackle from behind against Grüll.
Red card for Braunöder
After a foul on Marco Grüll, Austrian Matthias Braunöder received a deserved red card (54th). Shortly before, teammate James Holland was excluded.
However, Rapid couldn’t do anything with the numerical superiority. A lot of possession and few ideas characterized Hütteldorfer’s game in this phase, while Austria defended passionately and only allowed one compelling opportunity until the final whistle. Früchtl was there to defend a volley from substitute Thierry Gale (86′).
Admiral Bundesliga, ninth round
Sunday:
Austria – Rapid 0:0
Wien, Generali Arena, 15,200 Zuschauer, SR Harkam
Austria: Früchtl – Handl, Martins, Meisl – Potzmann, Holland, Braunöder, Ranftl – Fitz (74th/Polster) – Gruber (87th/Guenouche), Huskovic (58th/Jukic)
Rapid: Hedl – Kasanwirjo (69th/Schick), Querfeld, Hofmann, Auer – Sattlberger, Oswald (82nd/Kerschbaum) – Kühn (83rd/Gale), Seidl, Grüll – Mayulu
Red card: Braunöder (54th)
Yellow-red card: Holland (52.)
Yellow cards: Martins, Fitz and Hofmann, Mayulu
