Vienna witnessed a thrilling football derby match between Rapid and Austria on Saturday. The match, which was the 339th major Viennese football derby, ended in a 3-3 draw, leaving both teams with a point each.
The game started with Rapid taking an early lead through striker Guido Burgstaller’s 15th-minute goal. However, Austria soon turned the game around, with Andrew Gruber and Haris Tabakovic scoring two quick goals in the 28th and 31st minute, respectively. Just before half-time, Rapid equalized with a goal from Roman Kerschbaum, making it 2-2 at the break.
After the change of sides, Rapid’s Denso Kasius was sent off with a red card, leaving Rapid with ten men. Despite being down to ten men, Austria’s Tabakovic scored his second goal of the game in the 78th minute, putting Austria on course for victory. However, Rapid fought back, and Marco Grüll scored a free kick in the 83rd minute to equalize for Rapid.
In the end, both teams finished the game with ten men, as Tabakovic was sent off with a yellow-red card in the 86th minute. The draw means that Rapid is one point ahead of Austria in the table, with LASK three points ahead of both teams in third place.
The match showcased the quality of football in Vienna, with both teams playing attacking football and creating plenty of chances. Burgstaller’s goal was his 16th of the season, while Tabakovic’s two goals took his tally to twelve for the season.
Despite the draw, Rapid is still waiting for a derby win after eleven attempts in the Allianz Stadium. The sell-out crowd of 26,000 fans was treated to an exciting match, with passionate support from both sets of fans.
It was an entertaining and thrilling match that highlighted the competitive nature of Viennese football. Both teams put on a fantastic display of attacking football, with plenty of goals and action throughout the game.