The old theory of not taking your chances came back to haunt Rapid on wednesday evening. Nothing was hanging on the Europa League Group L fixture, and with the shackles off, Rapid began to look fluent and inventive, matching the Turkish team in terms of footballing technique. Veli Kavlak donned the captains armband, while Katzer and Payer returned to the line up, keeper Helge Payer playing his first game since september. Seven hundred Rapid fans had made the pilgramige to Istanbul, and they needed to be entertained. With the noise from the travelling support from the stands filling their ears, Rapid made an enterprising start: they looked calm, relaxed and comfortable in possesion. On the balance of play it came as no suprise when it was the Viennese who fashioned the games first openings: a Gartler shot on 12 minutes and a chance for Katzer on 25 - his header just lacking the direction required. Rapid fell behind just after the half hour mark though: Ricardo Quaresma collected the ball as Rapid failed to clear their lines from a corner, and the wing maestro dispatched the ball into the net with ease from 20 yards. The setback didn't appear to effect Rapid though as they continued to push forwards playing a very attractive brand of football. A long range Drazan effort fully extended the home keeper on 41 minutes and just a minute before half time Trimmel's left foot volley was also denied. Seconds before half time, Rapid were again undone from a corner. Fabian Ernst got the better of Pehlivan to guide home a powerful header to double his sides half time lead. How does the saying go again?Christoph Saurer came on in place of Trimmel for the second half and nearly halved Rapid's defiecit: his instinctive finish from a low Drazan centre was brilliantly repelled by the home goalie as the Hütteldorfers challenge began to melt away. It was a good performance from Pacult's side though, and should set them in good stead for the resumption of the domestic campaign in february.Europa-League, Group L:Besiktas - SK Rapid 2:0 (2:0)Inönü-Stadium, 20.000, Referee Rasmussen (DEN)Goals: 1:0 Quaresma (32.), 2:0 Ernst (45.)Besiktas: Cenk - Hilbert (82./Güven), Zapotocny (23./Gülüm), Ferrari, Köybasi - Guti, Aurelio, Ernst - Tabata, Ali Kücik, Quaresma (68./Nobre)SK Rapid: Payer - Kayhan (67./Patocka), Sonnleitner, Soma, Katzer - Kulovits (46./Saurer), Pehlivan - Trimmel (46./Dober), Kavlak, Drazan - Gartler:Yellow Cards: Gülüm Kavlak, Pehlivan, Katzer (gw)
31.08.2015