Burgstaller scores

ÖFB-Cup: DSV Leoben against Rapid from 20.30 LIVE

Guido Burgstaller celebrates after scoring the 1:0 in Leoben.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Rapid have reached the final of the Austrian Football Cup, just like last year. Robert Klauß' superior team deservedly won 3:0 (2:0) at favorites DSV Leoben on Wednesday and will thus meet the winner of Thursday's match between serial champion Salzburg and Cup defending champion Sturm Graz in the final on May 1 in Klagenfurt.

Rapid, who made sure of the preliminary decision before the break thanks to comebacker Guido Burgstaller (26') and Christoph Lang (41') and scored a third in stoppage time through Fally Mayulu (91'), are thus going for their 15th Cup title, their first since 1995. It is an endeavor that the Green-White team last failed to achieve in the final in 2017, 2019 and 2023. Leoben, currently second in the 2nd division, bowed out of the competition with their heads held high after a remarkable cup season with victories over WSG Tirol, WAC and, most recently, Altach, among others.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Bad luck for Leoben
Rapid made two changes from their recent league win in Hartberg at the Monte Schlacko Arena, which was sold out with around 8,500 spectators: Right-back Neraysho Kasanwirjo came in for Moritz Oswald, while Burgstaller returned from his three-match suspension in attack. Marco Grüll moved back into attacking midfield in place of Isak Jansson.

Rapid's attempts to become dangerous through possession and a culture of play were thwarted by Leoben's tenacious defense in the early stages. Instead, it was the home side who had the first top chance after Winfred Amoah dribbled beautifully and passed to Kevin Friesenbichler. However, the former Austria striker missed the goal from five yards out (15').

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Rapid became more dangerous. First Burgstaller stumbled in the penalty area with his shot from a turn (18'), shortly afterwards he set up Matthias Seidl, who shot wide from a promising position (19'). The goal was then scored by a Leoben player, Drini Halili deflected a Burgstaller shot into his own goal - but the Rapid goalkeeper was credited with the 1:0.

Rene Poms

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The green-white superiority against an increasingly inattentive Leoben defense had another effect before the break. Burgstaller lost the ball on the edge of the penalty area, but the onrushing Lang grabbed it and scored from a few meters into the near corner.

Rapid make everything clear
The visitors continued to control the game after the break, with Seidl just failing to beat DSV goalkeeper Florian Wiegele on the hour mark and Burgstaller slightly missing with a low shot a little later (67'). Leoben's efforts to find the back of the net mostly petered out in midfield, with top scorer Deni Alar completely out of the picture on this evening. It was only in the final stages that the Styrians produced a little more. However, a shot by captain Nico Pichler from 17 meters only hit the bar (78'), so the Rapid fans were spared unnecessary trepidation. As Leoben's strength waned in stoppage time, Mayulu scored the final goal with a shot from inside the box.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

DSV Leoben - SK Rapid 0:3 (0:2)
Leoben, Monte Schlacko Arena, 8,450
SR Hameter.

Goals:
0:1 (26.) Burgstaller 
0:2 (41.) Lang 
0:3 (91.) Mayulu

Leoben: Wiegele - Untergrabner, Horvat, Turi - Heinrich, Eskinja (69. Michael), Pichler, Halili - Amoah, Alar, Friesenbichler (59. Dieng)

Rapid: Hedl - Kasanwirjo, Querfeld, Kongolo (85. Hofmann), Auer - Sattlberger, Grgic (85. Kerschbaum) - Lang (75. Oswald), M. Seidl (85. Mayulu), Grüll - Burgstaller (75. Zivkovic)

Yellow cards: Eskinja, Pichler and Seidl respectively