Luka Sucic gave Salzburg, who were clearly superior in the first half, the lead with a long-range shot (17′), but failed to increase before the break. In the second half, the Viennese equalized in front of 15,217 spectators through Ferdy Druijf (52nd) and kept the game open until the end. But Junuzovic came on in the 85th minute and scored in added time (94′).
After the third round of the championship group, coach Matthias Jaissle’s team is twelve points ahead of pursuer Sturm Graz. Rapid is still fourth, but the gap to second place, which entitles them to start in the Champions League qualification, has already increased to five points. For Hütteldorfer it was the first away defeat under coach Ferdinand Feldhofer and the first defeat after five games. As in previous season duels with Salzburg (0:2, 1:2), it was bitter for the Viennese that the decision was made late. Salzburg is nine games undefeated.
Salzburg avalanche of opportunities
The injured Brenden Aaronson was absent from Salzburg, Karim Adeyemi was only on the bench at the beginning. Compared to the Vienna derby, Rapid relied on three defensive midfielders, Srdjan Grahovac moved into the starting line-up in place of the recently ill Yusuf Demir, who was not in the squad. The second change was in defence, with Thorsten Schick replacing the injured Filip Stojkovic. The Viennese went into action aggressively before the break, but faced an avalanche of chances.
Sucic (6th) and Junior Adamu (13th) indicated their danger early on. Four minutes later, after an action started by goalie Philipp Köhn, Sucic was not harassed after several stops and his left-footed shot from around 20 meters landed exactly in the far corner. After that, Niklas Hedl excelled in shots by Noah Okafor (22nd) and Adamu (34th). Okafor with the outside of his foot (33′) and Nicolas Capaldo (45’+2) missed further top chances.
Druijf equalizes out of nowhere
After the restart, the picture continued for the time being, this time Nicolas Seiwald (48th) missed to score a second goal. That quickly paid off. Rapid came back into the game completely out of nowhere.
Oumar Solet was only able to clear a Moormann cross insufficiently, then Bernhard Zimmermann and Christoph Knasmüllner, who had been substituted at the break, were not attacked well enough and Druijf completed the goal confidently in the penalty area. Suddenly the game was more open, even though Salzburg set the tone. Capaldo aimed wide (56′), on the other side a Druijf shot was deflected into the corner after a nice counterattack (63′).
Capaldo, who was always extremely dangerous on the offensive, was also unable to convert two chances within a minute (74th). Rapid relied on a five-man chain in the finish, which also did its job well until injury time. However, a blunder in the finish robbed the guests of the fruits of their labor. Two Rapidlers didn’t get the ball away in a duel with Rasmus Kristensen and Junuzovic slipped the ball over the line from close range. Ironically, that actor who is no longer in demand for the coming season became a hero.
Knasmüllner almost equalized, but shot over it (97th). Salzburg has thus won for the tenth time in the last eleven direct duels. With that, Jaissle extended his league starting record with a 20th win in 25 games. The 20 successes in 25 games is also an overall league best in the three-point era. Rapid continues at home against WAC, Salzburg in Klagenfurt.
Admiral Bundesliga, 25th round
Sunday:
Salzburg – Rapid 2:1 (1:0)
Wals-Siezenheim, Red Bull Arena, 15,217 spectators, SR Harkam
goal sequence:
1: 0 Sucic (17.)
1:1 Grape (52.)
2:1 Junuzovic (94.)
Salzburg: Köhn – Kristensen, Solet, Wöber, Ulmer – Capaldo, Camara (76./Kjaergaard), Sucic (85./Junuzovic), N. Seiwald – Adamu (62./Sesko), Okafor (62./Adeyemi)
Rapid: N. Hedl – Schick, Aiwu, K. Wimmer, Moormann – Grahovac, R. Ljubicic – Petrovic (46th / Knasmüllner), Druijf, Grüll – Zimmermann (69th / Auer)
Yellow cards: Camara, Capaldo, Sesko, Kristensen, Adeyemi and K. Wimmer, Grüll
The best: Camara, Capaldo, Okafor and N. Hedl, Moormann, Druijf
