PICTURED: APA / EXPA / THOMAS HAUMER
Rapid's first win of the season in the Bundesliga is perfect. The Viennese beat WAC 3-0 (1-0) in the 3rd round on Sunday by celebrating their second competitive win within a very short time after the 3-0 home win against Anorthosis Famagusta in the Europa League qualification. Mainly responsible for this was the Greek Taxiarchis Fountas, who shone with a triple pack (22nd, 52nd, 53rd) in front of 13,100 spectators in the Allianz Stadium.
The Viennese have now improved to sixth place in the table with four points and managed a successful dress rehearsal before the third-round second leg in Cyprus in Larnaca on Thursday, where it is about promotion to the play-off. The Carinthians who have slipped to the bottom of the table, on the other hand, do not continue to move under neo-trainer Robin Dutt. The German is still waiting for his first league win, the only gain so far has been a point at the opening 1-1 in Klagenfurt.
Rapid trainer Dietmar Kühbauer relied on the starting line-up that convinced against Famagusta on Thursday. There was only one change for the Carinthians compared to the home 1: 4 in the league against Sturm Graz, Kai Stratznig moved into the midfield center, but striker Dario Vizinger sat on the bench at the beginning. Both teams rely on their proven 4-2-3-1 system. The guests set off as if they had been shot from a pistol, gave the Viennese hardly any air to breathe and pushed vehemently for the tour.
In addition to many set pieces, there were several top chances. Richard Strebinger had to excel in his 200th competitive game in the rapid dress with a Dedic shot (6th) as well as in a finish by Tai Baribo from an acute angle (9th). Three minutes later, not much was missing from a header from the Israeli striker. The Viennese could not free themselves in the first quarter of an hour, but almost turned the course of the game on its head. Kelvin Arase hit the near corner after a hook. Referee Alexander Harkam took the hit back after studying video, because at the beginning of the action Michael Liendl had been fouled by Maximilian Ullmann in an attack. Kühbauer and his assistants were pissed off, everyone was immediately yellow carded.
For the Viennese the action abr seemed like a wake-up call, they seemed incited by the decision and were better at the game. As a reward there was the lead: Ullmann hit the bar and failed in the second attempt to Manuel Kuttin, who could no longer fend off a volley from Fountas decisively. Ercan Kara (27th) and Fountas (33rd) failed to refill. But the WAC also remained extremely dangerous, so the inner bar saved the Viennese from a Baribo header (35th). Shortly before the break whistle, the Viennese were again on the trigger. Leo Greiml first unintentionally saved for the Carinthians with a Knasmüllner header (45th) and then put a header over it from five meters (45th + 2).
The Wolfsbergers slept through the start of the second half and were punished twice for it. First Fountas pulled from 20 meters, the ball was deflected by Luka Lochoshvili untenable into his own goal. A minute later, the Greek completed from close range after Kuttin had fought off an Arase cross right in front of his feet. Then Kühbauer brought in Kevin Wimmer an additional central defender and closed the back. The 1: 3 would almost have fallen anyway, with the best guest opportunity Christopher Wernitznig carelessly left a header chance (70th).
