Rapid Wien celebrates their first win against Dinamo Zagreb

Rapid celebrated the first win in the Europa League group H in the third match. The Hütteldorfer prevailed on Thursday evening in the match against the Croatian record champions  Dinamo Zagreb with 2: 1 (2: 1). Marco Grüll (9th) with his 10th competitive goal this season and captain Maximilian Hofmann (34th) scored before the break. A goal from Mislav Orsic (24th) was not enough for the Croatians.

Photo: Vlad Indrei

Dinamo got off to a strong start, driven by extremely loud fans. After winning the first ball, Taxi Fountas played perfectly for Ercan Kara. The striker shot far too imprecisely in front of Dominik Livakovic alone - and thus missed the first of his three top chances in the first half. 

The fact that Rapid was 2-1 ahead at the break was due to an unusually strong offensive performance. Whenever the technically superior guests got sloppy and offered room, things went purposefully and much more precisely than before. Just like at the first goal when Arase had covered perfectly, Marco Grüll finished directly and precisely (9th).

The 1: 1 fell after a free kick that was already cleared. Leo Greiml and Filip Stojkovic took a nap, Mislav Orsic sprinted down the offside line and scored (24th). 

The Hütteldorfer were not deterred. Grüll's free kick landed at Max Hofmann, who headed in - 2: 1 (34th). 

The second half wasn't quite as spectacular. It was more noticeable how insecure referee Kateryna Monzul acted. Rapid remained active, Livakovic stopped a strong shot from Kara (69th). Zagreb didn't have a single chance.

The full commitment claimed a victim at the last minute: Hofmann had to go out with a head injury. Because Dinamo whistled for fair play with an out throw, the situation almost escalated.

Rapid: Gartler - Stojkovic, Greiml, Hofmann (92. K. Wimmer), Ullmann - Aiwu, R. Ljubicic - Arase (89. Schick), Fountas (70. Ballo), Grüll - Kara (89. Kitagawa)

Zagreb: Livakovic - Ristovski (78. Moharrami), Lauritsen (46. Sutalo), Theophile-Catherine, Franjic - Gojak (46. Baturina), Misic, Ivanusec (78. Tolic)- Menalo, Petkovic (39. Andric), Orsic

Yellow Cards: Greiml, Hofmann, Wimmer, Kitagawa bzw. Andric, Baturina, Tolic, Misic