Rapid Vienna head into the international break on the back of another emphatic performance. In front of 20,991 spectators at the Allianz Stadion on Friday evening, the league leaders swept aside bottom club Wolfsberger AC 6-0. Petter Nosa Dahl and Ercan Kara both scored twice, while Tonni Adamsen and Claudy Mbuyi completed the rout. With 33 points from 12 matches, Rapid have made the best start to a Bundesliga season in the club’s history.
Dahl’s early opener puts Rapid in control
Head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup made two changes to the side that had beaten Austria Vienna 2-0 in the derby. Nenad Cvetković was given time off following the birth of his first child, with Ange Ahoussou moving into central defence. Thorup also rewarded Marco Tilio for his impressive displays off the bench with a starting place, leaving Tonni Adamsen among the substitutes.
The decision paid off after just nine minutes. Tilio broke down the right and picked out Dahl, who tapped home from close range to make it 1-0. Shortly afterwards, Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao headed against the post from a free-kick before Kara finished off another attack. The goal was ruled out, however, following a tight offside decision against Raux-Yao.
Wolfsberg then enjoyed their best spell of the match. Sankara Karamoko had a golden opportunity to equalise shortly before the half-hour mark, but Niklas Hedl made an important save. Rapid struck again just before the interval: Matthias Seidl won possession, Dahl cut inside and found the net with a precise finish to double the lead.
Rapid dominate after the break
The hosts took complete control in the second half. Extended spells of possession, assured passing and relentless pressure gave Wolfsberg little opportunity to escape their own half.
Kara made it 3-0 in the 67th minute, reacting quickest after a shot from Demir had been parried. Wolfsberg’s defence subsequently began to unravel. Adamsen finished off a move involving Kara and Demir in the 76th minute, then supplied the cross for Kara’s second goal three minutes later. Substitute Mbuyi rounded off the scoring with Rapid’s sixth.
Adamsen benefited from entering the match in the 62nd minute against opponents who were increasingly overwhelmed. In less than half an hour, the forward registered a goal and two assists, taking his Bundesliga tally this season to five goals and six assists.
Demir impresses at both ends of the pitch
Yusuf Demir was once again among Rapid’s standout performers. The 23-year-old, who also has five goals and six assists this season, impressed not only with his creativity but with his work without the ball. He won 13 of his 14 duels, an exceptional return for an attacking player.
The team’s unity was equally evident. Demir explained afterwards that helping Adamsen get back among the goals had mattered more to him than scoring himself. Rapid’s attacking appetite never faded, with the hosts continuing to push forward in search of another goal even at 4-0.
Ahoussou also performed solidly in central defence, although he was rarely seriously tested. One tactical detail stood out in the build-up: playing on the right side of central defence, the left-footed defender made passes with his left foot that a right-footed player would normally execute with his right. The resulting passing angles could become problematic against opponents who press more aggressively.
Remarkable numbers underline Rapid’s progress
With 11 wins from 12 matches and a goal record of 39 scored and nine conceded, Rapid have surpassed their previous club benchmark from the 1987/88 season. By comparison, the Vienna side scored just 36 goals across all 32 Bundesliga matches last season, finishing with 41 conceded. They have already scored three more goals in just 12 games this term and boast a goal difference of +30.
Thorup nevertheless saw room for improvement. “The first half was a little too open, a little too uncontrolled compared to what we had planned.” After the break, however, he felt his team’s performance had been “close to perfection.”
Rapid enter the international break on a run of nine consecutive competitive victories. Their next assignment is an away trip to Grazer AK on 21 November.
