J Smith
Weselik
J Smith pen
B McPhail
Match Information
Attendance: 56000
Referee:
Matchday: Saturday
Match Trivia
The great crowd over 50,000 who attended at Ibrox to see the famous Austrian team were well recompensed for the discomfort of standing or sting for nearly two hours on a raw afternoon, as they witnessed a splendid game. I expect there were many who, like myself have had intimate connection with football for many years, who would form the opinion that the visitors played a game we used to look upon as of the real Scottish type. As the match had a sort of international flavour about it, so one was apt to make comparison between the respective styles, and I have given you, my impression. For instance, seldom did we see an Austrian player left the ball off the ground; on the contrary, the passing was reminiscent of the famous Preston North End style: ground passes all the time. In that direction, Rangers were unlike the Scots of old. Aeroplane passes were too much the order of the day with them, and there was an absence of variety in their method of attack. A draw, however, was a fair result, as Rangers did the bulk of the attacking. That they failed to profit by it must be put to the debit side of their account. At one period of the game, it looked awfully like as if they were in for a drubbing. They wee down 1-3 at the interval, but a revival after the inter-change of positions by Smith and English saved the day. The hero of the game was Raftl, the Austrian goalkeeper, and I have no hesitation in saying that I have never seen a better. His clutching was perfect, his anticipation uncanny, and his agility running short of marvellous. And, above all his excessive enthusiasm was in evidence all through the game. He was not merely between the posts to keep out dangerous balls. Oh no! He was one of the teams, as his fine placing of goal kicks, even off his hands, was most noticeable. I was proud of my countrymen disguised in every sort of costume for the great work of charity when they gathered round Raftl at the finish of the game and carried him shoulder high into the pavilion. He deserved and appreciated the gesture. No doubt it would help to wipe out the memory of an incident, which occurred just before the final whistle, when there was a slight demonstration against Smith, who was apparently responsible for an injury to Ostermann who was carried off. Yastrab was the better of two sounds backs. He could take and give a knock. He had to when Smith went on to the wing. Wagner, I thought the pick of the halfs, although Smistik displayed fine judgment. The left wing was the least effective, yet they did well and could not be said to have let their side down; indeed, it was patent to ma all though that the correct playing of the game was their one thought. Although our visitors did not indulge in charging, yet they proved their ability to stand a hard biff, and at times appeared at a loss to know why they should be penalised for using their arms or elbows, which they did with effect. When Rangers threw style to the wind and went all out to get level there were some hefty passages, but Smistik, the Rapid captain, was always on the spot to pour oil of the troubled waters. The speed of the visitors was not very much in evidence, but no doubt the greasy and treacherous nature of the turf was all against them; indeed, I can not refrain from saying considering everything, that they had a moral victory. Rangers were at times disappointing. The forwards have not yet realised how easy it is for the opposing defence to stop these individual efforts and persistent dribbling inside the penalty area. Many fine shots were delivered, but there were also many other occasions on which the goalkeeper ought to have been tested. This applies particularly to the first twenty minutes when Smith missed three rare chances. Dawson had not chance with the balls, which defeated him, but both Hamilton and McDonald were far from comfortable during the first half. They were not blameless when the first two goals were scored. Brown played a peach of a game and if Meiklejohn was handicapped by the ground he did some fine work. As an attacking force Rangers did not quite, please. They had lots of the ball, but ought to have done much better. Although the line improved greatly when English and Smith swapped placed. Archibald was forced to come in a lot in order to get balls, Marshall failing to afford him adequate support. But it was rattling good game, and there need not be any fear as to the public support should other equally talented foreigners be brought to Glasgow. The Rapids opened the scoring in eight minutes when Weselik profited by a miskick by McDonald to go through and score. Fifteen minutes later McPhail got his head to a corner well taken by English and put RangersÂ’ level, but at the half hour Ostermann cleverly finished off a fine bit of work after Bican had flicked over the ball to him. The outside right made the opening for Rapids third goal by sending back from the line, Weselik foozling his shot, but Bican go this foot to the ball and smashed it past Dawson. The changing over of Smith and English a few minutes after the interval brought its reward almost at once, as the former reduced the leeway with a spot kick awarded for Brown being pushed from behind. Rangers became desperate for the equaliser and were not long in getting it when English put Smith through to beat Raftl. The visitors appeared to tire somewhat but fought gamely until the end
