Rapid after a lackluster 3-1 win against St. Pölten in the cup semi-finals

The Viennese beat second division team SKN St. Pölten 3-1 (1-1) in the Allianz Stadium on Sunday evening. After two hand penalties in the first half, an own goal from St. Pölten’s Christian Ramsebner brought the decision after the break. The cup semifinalists will find out their opponents and venue in a week.

Former Rapid player Stefan Nutz shocked the home team in the 11th minute by giving the visitors the lead from a penalty. This was preceded by a questionable hand decision by the officials, who recognized Maximilian Hofmann as the culprit. In the 35th minute, Marco Grüll also equalized with a Hands penalty. In the 77th minute, Ramsebner’s unfortunate defensive attempt put Rapid on the road to victory, Matthias Seidl (93′) scored to put the ball over.

Defending champions Sturm Graz, Red Bull Salzburg and second division team DSV Leoben had already advanced to the semi-finals. The draw will take place live on ORF 1 on February 11th. The semi-finals will be played after Easter at the beginning of April.

Strong start from the guests

In front of 15,200 spectators, St. Pölten initially presented themselves as a unit perfectly set up by coach Philipp Semlitsch, who literally attacked Rapid with aggressive pressing and good positional play. The green and white team, who wore the blue and red anniversary jersey, had no answer to that.

The lead also played into the hands of the Lower Austrians, as it came about somewhat fortunately. Kévin Monzialo’s decisive attack on the right side initially followed a hard entry by the Frenchman against Jonas Auer. When Monzialo crossed, the ball hit Hofmann, who jumped away with his arms folded, on the right elbow. Referee Alexander Harkam listened to the VAR’s comments for several minutes and then pointed to the spot. Nutz hit the left corner in his comeback after a torn cruciate ligament.

Rapid needed some time to get going. Grüll (14th/volley) and Seidl (26th/low shot) had the first chances. After half an hour there was also a penalty alarm for St. Pölten in the penalty area. This time Harkam went to check the screen himself and, after a handball from Dirk Carlson, decided on a penalty again, which Grüll converted. From then on, the home team had control of the game and approached the lead through Lukas Grgic (38′) and Leopold Querfeld (40’/header).

After the break, Rapid remained dominant, although the famous last pass was unsuccessful. Guido Burgstaller (54th) didn’t hit the ball correctly after a combination over several stations. A Seidl shot (55′) was blocked, Hofmann’s header (57′) was too harmless. After that, the intensity level decreased slightly. 17-year-old Jovan Zivkovic also didn’t come up with any brilliant ideas on his competitive debut with the professionals.

But where Rapid lacked a playful solution, Ramsebner’s own goal, who hit the ball into the net with his shin after a Grüll cross, made it 2-1. St. Pölten then lacked the strength to turn things around. Seidl ensured the final score in stoppage time.

Football ÖFB Cup, quarter-finals:

SK Rapid – SKN St. Pölten final score 3:1 (1:1).

Vienna, Allianz Stadium, 15,200, SR Harkam

Goals: 0:1 (11th) Nutz (hand penalty) 1:1 (35th) Grüll (hand penalty) 2:1 (77th) Ramsebner (own goal) 3:1 (93rd) M. Seidl

Rapid: Hedl – Kasanwirjo, Querfeld, Hofmann, Auer – Kerschbaum (67. Sattlberger), Grgic (87. M. Oswald) – Lang (67. Zivkovic), M. Seidl, Grüll – Burgstaller

St. Pölten: Turner – Riegler, Ramsebner, Bauer – Keiblinger, Stendera, Messerer, Carlson (88th Barlov) – Nutz (70th Tartarotti) – Monzialo (57th Nitta), Tadic

Yellow cards: Carlson, Riegler, Bauer