Rapid Vienna and Sturm Graz Reach Cup Round of 16

The Hütteldorf team struggled to a 2-1 (2-0) victory away against the regional league team SV Oberwart, while the champions won 2-0 (1-0) at the Vorarlberg fourth division team SC Röthis. This concludes the second round, and the draw for the round of the last 16 will take place on Saturday (7:15 PM, live on ORF 1).

Rapid struggled to 2-1 in Oberwart

Rapid played in front of 6,000 spectators practically with their best lineup but had problems with the deep-lying opponent. Tobias Gulliksen scored after an assist from Nikolaus Wurmbrand with the first chance for the Viennese in the game (20th minute). In the stoppage time of the first half, Rapid's four-million-euro record signing scored in his first competitive match for the Green-Whites in the starting eleven, but the game was not yet decided.

The visitors became increasingly inactive in the second half, let the match drift, and were punished for it in the 55th minute. Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao stepped on Jura Stimac's foot in the penalty area, and Lukas Ried converted the resulting penalty, even though goalkeeper Niklas Hedl got a hand to the ball. After that, the Burgenland team did not create any compelling chances to equalize, but the Bundesliga leaders, who remain unbeaten nationally this season, also remained harmless until the end.

Stöger dissatisfied with performance

Rapid coach Peter Stöger did not hold back with criticism in the ORF interview afterward. "Much of what we wanted to see, we did not see. Maybe it's a good story at the right time for the guys to see that the willingness must always be there, otherwise it won't work out," said the Viennese, warning his players not to be too sure of their starting positions. "We have found a core team, but if this core believes we can do a little less, then it won't work."

Stöger said they made life difficult for themselves, "and none of us liked that. If we think it's easy against a third division team, then we will have problems. Nothing is easy for us, we simply don't have that quality and stability," explained the Viennese.

Sturm Graz missed top chances

Sturm had a bit less trouble with Röthis, with goals for the 2-0 victory scored by Filip Rozga (26th minute) and Maurice Malone (90th minute). Despite the relatively narrow result, the Styrians did not have to worry about advancing. The Styrians, who traveled with a day flight, were clearly superior, missed several top chances, and were never really in danger of conceding a goal. Jon Gorenc Stankovic made his comeback in the second half after recovering from a shoulder injury.

(APA/Red)

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