Explosive round of 16

Rapid: After the duty to the purple home

SK Rapid celebrated a must-win against Donaufeld in the Cup.

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Six minutes were enough for Rapid in their 3-1 win over Donaufeld in the Cup. Explosive round of 16 - against Stripfing in the arch-rival's stadium.

A relaxed evening of soccer in Vienna. That's what everyone at Rapid was expecting yesterday - three days after the derby scandal. Cup opponents Donaufeld had set everything up for the occasion and were even allowed to open the "Wiesen-Kurve" behind the goal on the Hohe Warte. In the end, 4500 fans came, many children who took photos, hunted for autographs ...

... and couldn't believe their eyes before the break. Not because youngster Wurmbrand missed the first four chances, two of which were set pieces. But because Rapid (five positions changed; Burgstaller and Cvetkovic were rested) acted sloppily, carelessly and without the final bite. And then Holzer scored for Donaufeld to make it 1:0 (30'). Disgraceful.

Rapid's dressing room must have been shaking at the break. "It was short, intense and clear, it wasn't about tactics at all," said Klauß, describing his speech. A relaxed evening, my ass. "But the reaction was right," said the coach with a satisfied nod. Beljo scored a brace (Klauß: "Now he has the necessary luck. It can go on like this") and Sangare scored his first goal for Rapid to make it 3:1 within six minutes (54,). Wurmbrand provided the assist twice. But he was not yet rewarded with a goal. After that, only Donaufeld's stadium announcer caused cheers when he announced Sturm's 2:0 lead against Austria. That was more important to the fans than the league table lead. Which Rapid were ultimately to keep after all

Grateful in sporting terms
After fulfilling their Cup duty, Rapid now face an explosive - although thankful in sporting terms - round of 16 clash at the end of October. No, not against Austria, as that would have been a super disaster. But the Klauß squad will have to travel to Favoriten, the home of the Violets. Because it's against SV Stripfing, the second-class cooperation club of the arch-rivals. And they have to play "at home" in the Generali-Arena ...