Trainer Zoran Barisic had stated before the match that he felt the tie in Mattersburg could prove to be a difficult encounter. The Burgenland side are currently locked in a relegation scrap and require every point they can gather in their battle to beat drop. Barisic's prediction appeared to be spot on, as immediately from kick off Mattersburg got at the Viennese and took early control of the game. Rapid were breathing a sigh of relief as early as the 3rd minute as Steiner went close with a header that hit the crossbar. In the 18th minute another header, this time from Mravac, rattled the goal frame once more. Shortly after Rapid responded with some good build up play and created a presentable opening, the only noteworthy one of the entire first half. A precise defence splitting ball from Boyd played Sabitzer into the penalty area and his resulting cross found Boskovic, but his first time effort went over (20.). The effort was all Rapid were able to muster in terms of chances and measured build up play: a string of misplaced passes and turgid play in the middle third saw the half time break arrive with the game still goalless, and sorely lacking in quality. Struggling to find required qualityUnfortunately things were to get worse for the Hütteldorfers in the second half. A Mattersburg free kick into the penalty area wasn't dealt with effectively, Prietl gathered the ball and kept the attack going, fed a pass into Bürger who, despite a hint of offside, slotted the ball into the net to give the Burgenland team the lead - 1:0 (53.). Just three mintes later a good flick on into the danger zone from Boskovic created a good chance for Rapid but no-one was on hand to capitalise in the 6 yard box. A Boyd shot from a Katzer pass was as good as it got in the second perid for Rapid, but Mattersburg goalie Borentisch dealt with the effort, tipping it over the bar for a corner (62.).Game wrapped up on the counterAt the other end of the pitch there was a steady, constant pressure on the Rapid backline as Mattersburg sought a two goal cushion, with Jan Novota called upon to keep out efforts from firstly Höller (60.) and then Lovin (68.). Rapid struggled to offer any goal threat in the latter stages of the game and the prospect of manufacturing an opportunity for an equaliser looked fairly remote. In fact, a Mattersburg goal on the counter seemed the most likely addition to the score line and this eventually proved to be the case as Ingo Klemen cut through Rapid and scored to wrap up a vital three points for the hosts (92.).It was a disappointing end to a disappointing outing for the Green & Whites, and a game that will not live long in the memory. tipp3-Bundesliga, 34th round:SV Mattersburg - SK Rapid 2:0 (0:0)Pappelstadion, 9.400 Attendance, Referee SchüttengruberGoals: 1:0 Bürger (53.), 2:0 Klemen (93.)Mattersburg: Borenitsch - Farkas, Majstorovic, Steiner, Mravac - Höller (82./Klemen), Lovin, Prietl, Röcher (90./Potzmann) - Mörz - Bürger (85./Rodler)SK Rapid: Novota - Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Pichler (89./Grozurek), Katzer - Heikkinen, Kulovits (63./Schaub) - Burgstaller, Boskovic, Sabitzer - Boyd (77./Starkl)Yellow Cards: Mravac, Mörz Trimmel, Heikkinen, Pichler, Boskovic(gw)
24.05.2013