Football: Rapid Remains Last After Defeat Against Rakow

Rapid suffered their fourth defeat in the fourth league phase match of the football Conference League season. The Hütteldorf team lost 1-4 against Rakow Czestochowa in Sosnowiec on Thursday, leaving them with no realistic chance of reaching the top 24 and advancing to the knockout phase. Jonatan Braut Brunes (27th minute/penalty) and Lamine Diaby-Fadiga (40th, 51st, 53rd) sealed Rapid's third defeat in the last four competitive matches. The consolation goal was scored by Janis Antiste (75th minute).

Haaland's Cousin Converted Penalty

Coach Peter Stöger initially benched Nikolaus Wurmbrand, Petter Nossa Dahl, and Matthias Seidl. Lukas Grgic was absent due to the birth of his child, Bendeguz Bolla due to hip issues, but Martin Ndzie and Tobias Gulliksen started among others. Rapid appeared slightly disoriented from the start but initially managed to prevent Rakow from becoming too dangerous - until the 27th minute.

At that point, Patryk Makuch went down in the penalty area after a duel with Kouadio Ahoussou, and Croatian referee Duje Strukan awarded a penalty after consulting VAR, which Brunes - cousin of Erling Haaland - confidently converted. Before and after that, the Rapid players trotted around the difficult pitch without ideas or concepts, and the logical consequence was Rakow's 2-0. Brunes set up Diaby-Fadiga, who was able to control the ball in the penalty area and easily curl it into the corner.

Signs of Disintegration at Rapid

There was a brief flicker of the visitors before the break. Antiste headed from close range directly into the arms of Rakow goalkeeper Oliwier Zych (44th minute), and a long-range shot from Romeo Amane flew well over the bar (45th minute). However, they could not carry this momentum into the second half; on the contrary, Rapid showed signs of disintegration immediately after the restart.

After a cross from Adriano Amorim, Diaby-Fadiga's header landed in the far corner, and the forward also scored two minutes later after a deflected shot from Makuch to make it 4-0. After a good hour, Wurmbrand, Seidl, and Louis Schaub were substituted in, but this did not significantly change the character of the match.

Rakow Not Spared from Turbulence

Despite Antiste's goal after a setup by Jonas Auer, Rakow had everything under control and did not have to exert much effort to maintain their clear lead until the end - even though the Polish runner-up and current sixth in the table is not free from turbulence themselves. Rakow coach Marek Papszun announced at the final press conference on Wednesday evening that he wanted to leave the club for Legia Warsaw as soon as possible. Meanwhile, a coaching change at Rapid no longer seems out of the question.

(APA/Red)

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