Closed doors and detached network: the Vienna derby starts late and Rapid no longer wins …
the most played derby in Europe is the Old Firm of Glasgow. In second place the match between Rapid and Austria, played just under 400 times continuously since 1911, given that the two clubs have never fallen under the Austrian Serie A.
A bitter Viennese derby, without fans and without choirs, with the doors desolately closed. Rapid Vienna and Austria Vienna played their 334th derby on late Sunday afternoon, amidst cold and drizzle. Austria in financial difficulty, with better performances, thanks also to the coach Manfred Schmid. For its part, Rapid pulled the emergency brake, coach Didi Kühbauer was sacked and replaced by Ferdinand Feldhofer. The 42-year-old Styrian made his debut, obviously excited and in a positive mood: “I enjoyed every minute.”
The kick-off was delayed by a few minutes, the goal net was not attacked properly. Feldhofer set a record after just 49 seconds. As no Rapid coach conceded his first goal so early, the club has existed since 1899. Austrian talent Ziad El Sheiwi sent in a good assist from the left, Matthias Braunöder placed his low shot in the far corner for 0. -1. The reaction of goalkeeper Paul Gartler was not called “brilliant”.
Rapid did not go into shock and reacted immediately. In the 25th minute, defender Eric Martel fouled Robert Ljubicic in the penalty area and Ercan Kara converted the 1-1 penalty, his eighth goal of the season. It was an intense, robust, beautiful match. Referee Walter Altmann pulled out the yellow card five times before half an hour, fortunately this average was not maintained. The final draw brought both teams at least one point, Rapid are fifth, Austria sixth. Bitterness for Rapid: 5 draws and 3 defeats in the last 8 derbies against Austria.
December 6, 2021 (change December 6, 2021 | 09:38)
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