Derby win with a brace from Dominik Fitz!

Vienna is violet! Austria prevailed 2-1 in a hard-fought Vienna derby in a sold-out Generali-Arena. Rapid took the lead in the 30th minute through Mamadou Sangaré, but Dominik Fitz turned the game around in his 150th Bundesliga appearance. A penalty before the break equalised and a wonderful free-kick secured the violet triumph.

Stephan Helm used his regular team, with only the suspended Matteo Pérez Vinlöf being replaced by Hakim Guenouche, as expected. Rapid coach Robert Klauß left captain Matthias Seidl on the bench, with Nikolaus Wurmbrand starting in his place. The fit-again Nenad Cvetković replaced Jakob Schöller in central defence.

Rapid take the lead, Fitz equalises

The 344th Vienna derby began intensely with lots of tackles, Nik Prelec had the first chance to score after a corner from Dominik Fitz, but his header did not reach its target (6'). Nikolaus Wurmbrand had the visitors' first shot on target, but Samuel Şahin-Radlinger parried the ball away. Rapid tried to get behind the tried-and-tested violet back three consisting of Johannes Handl, Aleksandar Dragović and Tin Plavotić with deep balls. As was the case when Dion Beljo had a chance, but his shot flew past the second bar (13').

Austria became stronger over the course of the first half hour and also had more possession. But it was the visitors from Hütteldorf who scored first. Mamadou Sangaré scored from a turn to make it 0-1 (30'). Şahin-Radlinger prevented worse with a great save from Louis Schaub's shot in the 36th minute.

Reinhold Ranftl could only be stopped by Jonas Auer with a foul, the scene of the crime was in the penalty area, penalty for Austria. Dominik Fitz converted with a powerful shot into the left corner - 1:- in the 41st minute. An evenly-matched game went into the break tied.

Fitzi on fire

There were no player changes at half-time, Dominik Fitz was fouled on the left right at the start. His magic right foot was still a little sore, but the playmaker still curled the resulting free-kick perfectly into the far corner - a dream goal to make it 2-1 for the Violets and turn the game around (47').

Louis Schaub put a header next to the goal, while at the other end a possible foul on Johannes Handl was not penalised (57', 59'). Hakim Guenouche made way for Lucas Galvão after an hour. A shot from Manfred Fischer missed the target, Fitz shot over in the follow-up (66', 68').

Austria had the game well under control in the second half, with Marvin Potzmann replacing Abubakr Barry. Shortly after his substitution, Matthias Seidl had a chance to equalise, but Tin Plavotić had something against it and threw himself into the shot (79'). Stephan Helm took Maurice Malone and Nik Prelec off the pitch in the closing stages, with Andreas Gruber and Marko Raguž taking over at the front. An Austria team put up an outstanding fight against the green final attack. Şahin-Radlinger saved a final header from Beljo, the ball then went into the goal, but a clear offside position prevented the equaliser (90+4').

The Violets won 2-1, closing the gap on league leaders Sturm Graz with their 10th unbeaten Bundesliga game in a row. The win also secured their place in the championship group.

Austria Wien - SK Rapid 2-1 (1-1)

Austria: Şahin-Radlinger; Handl, Dragović, Plavotić; Ranftl, Fischer, Guenouche (62' Galvão); Fitz, Barry (75' Potzmann); Malone (84' Gruber), Prelec (84' Raguž)

Rapid: Hedl; Bolla, Cvetković, Raux-Yao, Auer (81' Schöller); Sangaré, Grgic (76' Oswald); Schaub (76' Seidl), Jansson; Beljo, Wurmbrand (60' Kara)

Goals: Fitz (41', penalty, 47'); Sangaré (30')

Yellow cards: Fitz (78'), Gruber (90+5'); Wurmbrand (22'), Cvetković (38'), Beljo (58'), Grgic (73'), Kara (76'), Sangaré (78')

Generali-Arena, referee Julian Weinberger, 15,300 spectators