Derby Days
The Vienna Derby produced a vibrant spectacle both on and off the pitch.
In constant rain, the two big teams in the Austrian capital battled it out in the Championship Round of the Bundesliga before the Violets finally triumphed much to the delight of the home fans in the Generali Arena.
We had choreography, pyrotechnics, and copious smoke plus a treble from top scorer Haris Tabakovic.
It is one of the most-played derbies in the world.
This time Austria Wien hosted their rivals in the battle for European places with both teams lower down the Championship section of the Austrian Bundesliga.
In the end, it was a triumph for the Violets and their prolific Swiss striker Haris Tabakovic who notched a hat-trick.
We had a neat piece of choreo from the home ultras before the pyrotechnics were set off, ultimately a violet smoke screen at one end and red flares from the visitors from across the city.
Once the smoke had cleared it was the home side who came out on top.
Curiously they had two good shouts for penalties at either end of the contest, one for handball in the first minute and another for a push close to the end.
Both were denied, which certainly aggravated the home fans.
However, within the half-hour, Austria were two up.
Firstly when the tall Tabakovic headed in a corner and secondly when he tapped in from a fine move down the right, set up by the excellent Fitz.
Rapid did then have some play and another promising youngster, Denso Kasius, delivered a fine ball for Guido Burgstaller to get one back.
The first half had been intense and a great watch for any neutrals in the crowd.
Continuing the theme of prospective talent, home goalie Christian Fruchtl (on loan from Bayern Munich) would soon make a couple of fine saves as Rapid pushed at the start of the second period.
While at the other end his counterpart, Niklas Hedl, did something similar together with his defenders to somehow keep out Tabakovic and Holland.
The final minutes saw more drama with Burgstaller through on goal only to screw his effort wide before the Violets had the final word when Haris T slipped in his third.
And so in the battle between the strikers, it was definitely the Swiss star who prevailed.
As did his team, much to the delight of the home fans.
Report - John Bethell
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