Markus Heikkinen donned the captains armband for Rapid on his return to the fold. The finnish enforcer oversaw a decent opening phase for the Green Whites, who got on the front foot and dominated posession. The bright opening peetered out though, and the half became largely 45 minutes to forget. Rapid's misery was compounded on 30 minutes as the hosts took the lead, Bürger converting a Seidl free kick. The half time whistle and sanctuary of the dressing room provided the first half highlight for the Viennese.Rapid emerged for the second half with renewed focus and produced their best move of the match to level the scoreline just minutes after the restart. Soma played in Yasin Pehlivan who went someway to repairing the first half damage by beating keeper Borentisch from close range. Green White prospects appeared to be further improved just three minutes later, Mattersburg's Pöllhuber was sent for an early bath after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Kavlak. Would it be Rapid's day after all?Unfortunately, no appeared to be the answer. Mattersburg dropped deeper and deeper, denying the Hütteldorfers space. Pacult's side couldn't conjure the correct answers to penetrate the stubborn backline, a Gartler shot in the 57th minute was as good as it got for the men from the capital. It got worse still as Bürger picked up his second of the afternoon, again with his head, to give the home side the lead with little over 10 minutes to play. His joy soon turned to dispair as he was given a second yellow card for over-celebrating, leaving Mattersburg with only nine men on the pitch. The Green Whites still struggled to manufacture opportunites. Just as the game looked to be up, Christopher Trimmel finally produced a moment of quality to set up Nuhiu, the big striker did the rest and salvaged a late, late draw for Rapid to spare their blushes. On the balance of play and against nine men the game must be viewed as two points lost, however the fighting spirit on show in Salzburg was evident again, and that must provide at least a small comfort for Coach Pacult. 15th round:SV Mattersburg - SK Rapid 2:2 (1:0)Mattersburg, 10.700, Referee EisnerGoals: 1:0 Bürger (30.), 1:1 Pehlivan (47.), 2:1 Bürger (79.), 2:2 Nuhiu (92.)Mattersburg: Borenitsch - Höller, Malic, Chrappan, Pöllhuber - Doleschal, Seidl, Ilsanker, Farkas - Bürger, Naumoski (94. Pauschenwein)SK Rapid: Hedl - Kayhan, Sonnleitner, Soma, Katzer - Kavlak (81. Trimmel), Heikkinen, Pehlivan, Saurer (68. Drazan) - Gartler, Salihi (77. Nuhiu)Yellow-Red Cards: Pöllhuber (49.), Bürger (79.)Yellow Cards: Seidl, Chrappan, Doleschal, Borenitsch Heikkinen, Kayhan(gw)
31.08.2015