BW Linz: Deserved 0-1 defeat at Rapid despite a good performance

2023-11-26 19:00:00

A deflected shot prevented FC Blau-Weiß Linz from winning a point against Rapid Vienna in yesterday’s 0-1 defeat in the Bundesliga. In the decisive scene in the 60th minute, the Linzers were twice as unlucky: First, an attempted cross from the back of Blue-White kicker Stefan Haudum fell directly at the feet of Marco Grüll. The 25-year-old then shot from the penalty area, the ball was deflected by Blue and White defender Manuel Maranda and ended up in the goal. “The goal conceded was of course unfortunate, but going forward it was a bit too little. I still congratulated my team on their performance. It just takes more to win at Rapid. We have to keep working hard,” summed up BW coach Gerald Scheiblehner.

The Viennese started the game with great ambitions on the debut of new coach Robert Klauß – the Linzers took the wind out of the Green-Whites’ sails from the first minute. BW coach Scheiblehner’s team played with a deep block in Hütteldorf – and didn’t allow Rapid a top chance throughout the entire first half. This despite the fact that Scheiblehner had to change his team in three positions compared to the derby win before the international break against LASK: Simon Pirkl was missing, Alem Pasic was injured and Julian Gölles was out for a short time due to illness – Stefan Haudum, Tobias Koch and Fabian replaced the trio Windhager in the first eleven. The latter even missed the first top chance of the game. Of course, the home team dominated the game – Blau-Weiß Linz only had 14 percent of the ball after the opening quarter of an hour – but there were no more than half chances. Windhager was released on the right after half an hour, finished unchallenged in the penalty area and narrowly missed.

Grüll forced the score 1-0

In the second half, Rapid stepped up a gear – and was able to get more convincing shots compared to the first half: BW goalie Nicolas Schmid was there for a roaring shot (52nd), but a few minutes later he had no chance: Also because teammate Maranda deflected the ball into the goal against his direction – 0:1. “We prepared for the Blue-Whites to be deep. In a game like this you need a goal like that. We stayed patient and with a bit of luck we scored the goal we deserved,” said the winning scorer Grüll happily after the final whistle.

The blue-whites could hardly do anything to counter the goal – they were lucky not to have lost even further: Neraysho Kasanwirjo (67th) and Grüll (73rd) were denied by the Linz goalkeeper, Lukas Grgic hit the bar (70th). BW coach Scheiblehner: “The victory for Rapid was deserved. We had to invest a lot in defense, the path forward was then too long.”