Rapid in the Cup final

Lang: “The team can’t wait”

Christoph Lang (left) and Guido Burgstaller celebrate Rapid's success.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Rapid have taken a major goal of the season off their list by beating DSV Leoben 3-0 in the Football Cup semi-final. Now the Hütteldorfer want to take the final step in Klagenfurt. 

 "That's what we set out to do in the winter, that we absolutely want to go to Klagenfurt," said coach Robert Klauß on Wednesday. "Now we have a nice April ahead of us, which we just want to enjoy." Goalscorer Christoph Lang emphasized: "The team can't wait to play the final in Klagenfurt." Soccer rolls on there on May 1.

In addition to Lang (41st minute), captain Guido Burgstaller (26th), although the goal was later officially attributed to Leoben's Drini Halili as an own goal, and substitute Fally Mayulu (91st) also scored in the sold-out Monte Schlacko Arena. Klauß was satisfied afterwards. "We had to survive the first scene, we were lucky there. Then the game might be different," the German first referred to the great chance missed by Kevin Friesenbichler in the 15th minute. "But after that it was very okay what we played until half-time." Lang said they had even "clearly dominated" their opponents.

Leoben leave "with their heads held high"
According to Klauß, the team was "no longer active enough against the ball" in the second half. But that was understandable three days after the 3-0 win in Hartberg and with the lead behind them. "Nevertheless, I never had the feeling that we were giving anything away, that something was burning, but we actually finished the game quite well." Had DSV captain Nico Pichler's shot in the 78th minute not hit the bar but into the goal, the final phase could have been less relaxed from the Green-Whites' point of view. But the second-division side never got beyond the status of the subjunctive.

"This is a game where you can see what's still missing, what screws you still have to turn. That has to be the goal for the future, that we develop to where Rapid are now. In terms of how they play and also in terms of speed," said Leoben coach Rene Poms. "But my team certainly left the pitch with their heads held high." Rapids' sporting director Markus Katzer said it was not about a beauty prize, "but simply about getting to the final - and we did that".

"It's about time"
As the ex-professional rightly pointed out, Rapid are in the Cup final for the second time in his tenure, which began at the start of 2023. "It's about time (for the title; note)," said Katzer. "At the end of the day, it's a game, anything is possible - even if it's a cliché. You have to go into the game like that." The opponent will be determined on Thursday evening (8.45pm) in the match between Red Bull Salzburg and defending champions Sturm Graz. Rapid will face Salzburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday. "So I hope they play 120 minutes if possible and are then tired," Klauß explained and laughed.

The crowning glory will finally come in the final.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Rapid lost 2-0 to Sturm in last year's final, with defender Leo Querfeld missing out due to a ligament injury in his knee. "That's why I'm all the more pleased to finally be able to play a final with Rapid and hopefully finally win the title," emphasized the 20-year-old. The Hütteldorfer are united in their belief that they can win their first title in 16 years - the last championship was in 2008. "We're certainly not going to Klagenfurt to lose there," said goalkeeper Niklas Hedl.