Salzburg still flawless - 2-0 home win over Rapid

2023-09-03 19:07:51

The champions celebrated a 2-0 home win against Rapid in front of more than 17,000 fans on Sunday, match winner was Roko Simic with a brace (13th, 35th). Hütteldorfer slipped to sixth place and are already ten points behind Salzburg, who have been unbeaten in 36 league games and have not lost against Rapid in 20 competitive games.

The danger that this series of successes of the “bulls” could tear before the eyes of ÖFB team boss Ralf Rangnick was not noticeable from the start. Rapid put up a brave fight and put Marco Grüll up front in the absence of the injured Guido Burgstaller, but the hosts were in control.

Oscar Gloukh moved from a good position in the ninth minute, four minutes later the Israeli crossed to the middle, Simic was spot on and netted to make it 1-0. Initially, the goal was disallowed for an alleged offside by Gloukh, but the VAR stepped in and awarded the goal. The 19-year-old Croatian was able to celebrate his first Bundesliga goal.

At 2-0, the ball came through Mads Bistrup and Karim Konate to Simic, who shot Moritz Oswald and then completed the second attempt. There was little to see from Rapid on the offensive, Matthias Seidl tried it in the 11th and 45th minute, but failed at Salzburg goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

After the change of sides, the Hütteldorfer, who were probably exhausted from the Fiorentina match, practically no longer appeared in the opposing sixteen. Salzburg continued to dominate, but did not put in a brilliant performance, but were more dangerous. Rapid keeper Niklas Hedl was there for a Bidstrup shot (53′), Sekou Koita missed the goal (64′).

Goal chances were scarce in the final, the most notable of which was the game being interrupted in the 82nd minute because of scuffles in the Salzburg fan sector. The last highlight happened on the pitch – Maurits Kjaergaard released Koita and the striker made the supposed final score. The 23-year-old’s joy was in vain, the video assistant noticed a wafer-thin offside position.