A frustrating 1-1 draw in the Vienna derby

The 349th Vienna Derby ended in a 1-1 draw. Kelvin Boateng put the Violets ahead in the 34th minute; Austria were in control of the game and had chances to score further goals. A lapse in concentration shortly before the end allowed the visitors from Hütteldorf to equalise through Ercan Kara in the 83rd minute.

Head coach Stephan Helm, who had his contract extended this week, was without key player Johannes Eggestein; the 27-year-old striker was ruled out at short notice with a minor muscle injury. Kelvin Boateng started up front in his place. Tin Plavotić was suspended, with Johannes Handl taking his place. Furthermore, Kang Hee Lee was unavailable due to illness, with 17-year-old Vasilije Marković replacing the South Korean in midfield. Florian Wustinger was back in the first-team squad for the first time since 8 December 2024.

Johannes Hoff Thorup, manager of the visitors from Hütteldorf, made three changes to his starting line-up following the defeat to Sturm: Ange Ahoussou, Tobias Gulliksen and Janis Antiste remained on the bench. Jakob Schöller, Jannes Horn and Petter Nosa Dahl were new additions to the team.

Boateng scored for the Violets

The 50th derby at the Generali Arena began with high intensity in the challenges but little goal threat. A cross from Taeseok Lee following good build-up play by Vasilije Marković found no takers (9'). Rapid had a header from Dahl, but it posed no threat to Samuel Şahin-Radlinger (14'). Bendeguz Bolla was stopped by Lee following a pass from Matthias Seidl (24'). There was surprisingly little action in the game, but in the 34th minute the Austria fans were given something to cheer about. After a challenge with Manfred Fischer, Romeo Amane played the ball to Kelvin Boateng, who coolly slotted past Niklas Hedl to make it 1-0 for the Violets.

There was a scare following a challenge between Nikolaus Wurmbrand and Joe Handl, who was struck on the head by the Rapid player. However, the centre-back was able to continue (43'). A cross from Abubakr Barry saw Boateng shoot just wide of the goal (45'). The teams went into the break with the score at 1-0.

Rapid managed a late equaliser

Austria started the second half in controlled fashion too, with Rapid posing little threat initially. In the 53rd minute, Abu Barry hit the bar with a shot from the edge of the box, the ball then bouncing onto the line. Şahin-Radlinger had to stretch to save a shot from Bolla (59').  

After an hour, Stephan Helm made a double substitution: Florian Wustinger made his comeback, coming on for Philipp Maybach. Sanel Šaljić replaced goalscorer Kelvin Boateng. A shot from Barry following a cross from Reinhold Ranftl went just centimetres wide of the goal (69'). Raux-Yao prevented another goal for the Violets against Šaljić after a superb pass from Barry (81'), Taeseok Lee shot over the bar (83'). In the counter-attack, substitute Ercan Kara flicked the ball over Şahin-Radlinger with a header following a long ball from Bolla – a completely unexpected equaliser in the 83rd minute.

Matteo Schablas came on for Marković, while Marijan Österreicher replaced Manfred Fischer in stoppage time. A shot from Bolla went wide of the goal, and Antiste shot over (90+2'). Austria and Rapid drew 1-1.

Austria Wien - SK Rapid 1-1 (1-0)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Handl, Dragović, Wiesinger; Ranftl, Maybach (61. Wustinger), Barry, Taeseok Lee; Fischer (90+1. Österreicher), Boateng (61. Šaljić), Marković (84. Schablas)

Rapid: Hedl; Schöller (46. Ahoussou), Cvetković, Raux-Yao; Bolla, Seidl, Amane (63. Antiste), Horn; Wurmbrand (63. Kara), Weimann (89. Grgic), Dahl (63. Y. Demir)

Goals: Boateng (34.); Kara (83.)

Yellow: Marković (19.), Şahin-Radlinger (43.); Wurmbrand (43.), Horn (89.)

Generali Arena, referee Harald Lechner, 14,130 spectators