Mbuyi's Brace: Rapid Knocks Vienna Out of the ÖFB Cup

SK Rapid is the first team to advance in the UNIQA ÖFB Cup. The Bundesliga league leaders celebrate a 3-0 victory against First Vienna.

Despite individual superiority, Rapid needed some time to get into the game. The first shot of the match actually belonged to Vienna, but Rapid goalkeeper Niklas Hedl had no major problems with Youssouf Soukouna's header (3').

Only after fifteen minutes could Rapid convert their dominance into a scoring opportunity, but Moulaye Haidara shot the ball well over the top corner.

Shortly after, Rapid took the lead: Yusuf Demir cut in from the right side, left two defenders sprawling, and blasted the ball into the net from the edge of the penalty area (18').

Vienna Refuses to Give Up

However, Vienna also had their prime opportunity: Benjamin Rosenberger's cross slipped through the Rapid defense, and of all people, ex-Rapid striker Bernhard Zimmermann had the chance to equalize from barely 12 meters in front of goal. However, Zimmermann got too far under the ball with his shot, and the Green-Whites maintained their lead (28').

Rapid remained superior in the second half, but clear-cut chances were long in coming. It was only when the recently substituted Petter Nosa Dahl effortlessly left Marco Gantschnig standing and set up Claudy Mbuyi with a low cross that the Hütteldorf-based team scored their second goal (70'). Immediately after, Mbuyi was denied only by Vienna goalkeeper Bernhard Unger (71').

Rapid Seals the Victory

Vienna refused to be discouraged by the second goal conceded; substitute David Ungar fired off such a powerful header that Hedl in the Rapid goal could only just deflect the ball onto the crossbar in a moment of extreme urgency (78').

The match was finally decided with the 3-0 goal (87'), as Mbuyi was sent through by Marco Tilio and completed his brace.