Rapid takes the lead against Djurgården
Rapid secured a good position for advancing to the Conference League semifinals with a narrow away victory in Sweden on Thursday. In a balanced quarterfinal first leg against Djurgårdens IF in front of 23,531 spectators in Stockholm, the Hütteldorf team fortunately won 1-0 (0-0), giving coach Robert Klauß's team a small advantage going into the second leg next Thursday (9:00 PM) in Vienna.
Burgstaller returns
In the first European Cup quarterfinal with red-white-red participation in seven years, an own goal by Hampus Finndell (62nd minute) decided the match. European Cup expert Louis Schaub forced the goal with a cross. This also gave Grün-Weiß confidence for the derby on Sunday (5:00 PM) against Wiener Austria in the Football Bundesliga. In the Conference League semifinals, the English top club Chelsea would likely await, having secured a 3-0 victory in the first leg at Legia Warsaw a few hours earlier.
Klauß made two changes to his starting eleven compared to the 0-2 away defeat against Sturm: Captain Matthias Seidl initially had to sit on the bench, allowing Louis Schaub to play from the start. Winter newcomer Romeo Amane made his starting debut in central midfield in place of the suspended Mamadou Sangaré. Goal scorer Guido Burgstaller was in the squad for the first time since December 14, 2024, when the 35-year-old Carinthian suffered a skull base fracture in an assault outside a club. In the 85th minute, Burgstaller made his comeback in professional football, equipped with a "special headband" for protection during headers and collisions.
Djurgården changed
Two key players were suspended for the Swedes, and other regular players had to watch due to injuries or lack of European Cup eligibility. Therefore, Djurgården fielded a newly assembled team, which was hardly noticeable. On the contrary, on the fast artificial turf in the Stockholm Arena, where 1,700 traveling Rapid fans made their presence loudly felt, the hosts found their way into the game much better. A Stahl header (6th minute) and a Fallenius shot (8th minute) did not trouble Rapid goalkeeper Niklas Hedl, and the Hütteldorfers were somewhat lucky that there was no indirect free kick for a supposed back pass from Moritz Oswald (14th minute).
In return, Amane missed the possible Rapid lead: The former Swedish legionnaire met his match in Djurgården goalkeeper Jacob Rinne (15th minute). In the following corner series, Ercan Kara failed with a double chance. These were to be the best Rapid actions in the first half, after which Djurgården took command. The twelve-time Swedish champion was more secure with the ball, stronger in duels, and more active than the Green-Whites. Hedl kept his team in the game with a brilliant save against Oskar Fallenius (34th minute).
Finndell helped Rapid
After the break, little changed in the nature of the duel. Djurgården had chances through Fallenius shots (51st, 56th minutes) and a Priske header (59th minute), while Rapid struggled and often acted as if frozen in the icy temperatures. In the 62nd minute, everything was about to change: Schaub turned in the penalty area, sprinted to the goal line, and played a cross that Finndell unfortunately deflected into his own net. With the lead and the substitution of Seidl in the offensive play, the Klauß team felt increasingly comfortable. A Kara attempt was blocked at the last moment (64th minute).
The Swedes regained a playing advantage, but the Rapid players did not allow a major equalizing opportunity. In the 94th minute, Burgstaller was hit on the elbow in his own penalty area, causing green-white heart palpitations. The VAR took a close look at the situation - referee Tobias Stieler correctly did not award a penalty.
(APA/Red)
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