Ercan Kara (right) and Marco Grüll cheer / Image: GEPA pictures
It was a game of fate for Rapid, but not one that they had expected or hoped for before the season started. The WSG Tirol made a guest appearance on Sunday for the cellar derby in Vienna-Hütteldorf. How precarious the green-white situation is, was shown by the fact that a 2-0 defeat at West Ham in the Europa League was an upward trend. Even if Rapid coach Dietmar Kühbauer was officially supported, almost exactly three years to the day after taking office, nothing really counted except a win against the bottom of the league.
Kühbauer put five new players in the starting line-up, including Thierno Ballo for the first time. The Chelsea loan did not work out by far, but the 19-year-old was one of the assets. Rapid was the better team even without the support of Block West – they protested against 2G access to the stadium – but in addition to precision in the last third, there is currently also a lack of green and white luck. While the VAR Ercan Karas goal rightly refused recognition because of a foul on WSG goalkeeper Ferdinand Oswald (17th), the TV images on the other side revised an offside whistle against Thomas Sabitzer – his header scored 1-0 for them Tyrolean (37th).
Kara rewards herself and Rapid
The Hütteldorfer showed their morals, did not give up despite the arrears and worked to compensate, in persona Ercan Kara. The Rapid striker was one of the players who have been criticized in the past few weeks in view of only one league goal (five across all competitions) and is now back. After the disallowed goal and a heel attempt (45th), the 25-year-old scored right on time before the break after the preparatory work by Ballo and Marco Grüll to make it 1: 1 (47th). The game was turned 22 seconds after the restart: Kara headed off a nice attack over the wings to make it 2-1 from close range.
The Tyroleans had their chances, but they missed them – and made life difficult for themselves. Mario Andric fouled Taxiarchis Fountas awkwardly in the penalty area, Kara easily converted the penalty (60th). A little later, Raffael Behounek saw red (65th) for referee criticism, which meant the game was over. In the majority Rapid did something for the self-confidence and shot the frustration from the soul. Kara initiated the 4: 1 through Grüll (78th) with a hole pass, the latter in turn did the preparatory work so that Christoph Knasmüller also entered the league's list of goalscorers for the first time (93th). In the meantime, ex-Rapidler Thanos Petsos had used a bad Rapid defense at a corner and scored a volley that was worth seeing for the guests (82nd).
