The travelling Rapid masses didn´t have to wait long to break out the celebrations. A deep cross from Veli Kavlak was nodded down at the back post by Salihi to Nikica Jelavic. The Croatia international made no mistake from close range with only 17 seconds on the clock. The Rapid appeared to be suffering a Europa Cup hangover as Rasswalder squared for Mayrieb to slot home the equaliser following a sweeping Linz move on 23 minutes. Rapid searched for a reply, Salihi going close after good work by Steffen Hofmann. The hosts then took the lead somewhat against the run of play as thirty seven year old Mayrleb doubled his haul for the afternoon. Played in by Prager, his low drive came off the inside of the far post to beat Payer. Pacult´s half time team talk was made even more difficult just two minutes later as Prager´s scuffed shot wrong footed Helge Payer to hand the men from Upper Austria a 3 - 1 half time lead.The opening stages of the second half saw Linz defending with steely determination and the Green - Whites with a mountain to climb. It was in the 64th minute that Rapid pressure told. Veli Kavlak drew a rash tackle from Piermayer inside the box, leaving the referee with no option but to point at the spot. The Linz man also received his marching orders after picking up a second yellow. Steffen Hofmann outfoxed Macho from the penalty spot, sending the keeper the wrong way and putting Rapid right back in the game. Pacult tried to force the issue, sending on Mario Konrad for Thonhofer. The Viennese were now enjoying the lion´s share of possesion, 65% of all second play by the 70th minute to be exact. The inevitable break through arrived on 75 minutes. A Steffen Hofmann free kick from the right wing was met by Hamdi Salihi. The striker capped an excellent afternoon´s work by sending a header back across goal and into the back of the net. Hofmann then had a chance to win it in the dying embers but his difficult snatched volley just cleared the crossbar. An excellent second half performance means this must be viewed as a point gained rather than two lost. A point from 3 - 1 down represents a good return and keeps things tight at the top of the Bundesliga table. LASK - Rapid 3:3 (3:1)Stadion der Stadt Linz, 13.200, Referee Meßner Goals: 0:1 ( 1.) Jelavic, 1:1 (23.) Mayrleb, 2:1 (39.) Mayrleb, 3:1 (41.) Prager, 3:2 (65.) Hofmann (Foulelfer), 3:3 (75.) Salihi LASK: Macho - Bubenik, Piermayr, Margreitter, Chinchilla-Vega - Saurer (77. Hart), Majabvi, Panis, Rasswalder - Prager - Mayrleb (66. Alunderis) Rapid: Payer - Dober (31. Kulovits), Soma, Patocka, Thonhofer (68. Konrad) - Hofmann, Heikkinen, Boskovic (72. Trimmel), Kavlak - Jelavic, Salihi Yellow/Red Card: Piermayr (64./wiederholtes Foulspiel) Yellow Card: Panis, Chinchilla-Vega, Prager bzw. Dober, Kulovits(gw)
31.08.2015