125 JAHRE SK RAPID
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12.03.2019
Bundesliga

Set back in Mattersburg

Rapid travelled to Burgenland on Sunday to take on SV Mattersburg knowing they needed to make it three wins out of three since the restart of the domestic programme. Following the 2:0 win over Salzburg and equally impressive 4:0 thrashing of St. Pölten, the Hütteldorfers had reignited their challenge to make the top-half cut in the Bundesliga, having closed the gap on 6th place to a single point. Aside from Marvin Potzmann missing out through flu, Didi Kühbauer had virtually a fully available squad to choose from, with Stefan Schwab and Manuel Martic returning from suspension.

Rapid's ambitions took a knock early on though, when Gruber beat the helpless Strebinger from outside the box with an unstoppable dipping shot, aided in its flight by a bobble from the pitch - 0:1 (13.). Aside from the setback of the goal, the Green & Whites were struggling to find their rhythm and create chances. At the other end, Mattersburg were having no such problems as a deflected shot from Kvasina narrowly cleared the crossbar (20.). A blocked header from Max Hofmann represented Rapid's first attempt to threaten the hosts’ goal (24.); otherwise they were restricted to crosses into the box from deep.

As the half wore on, the Hütteldorfers began to hit their stride and were eventually rewarded: poor play from Mattersburg on the edge of their own area saw Murg rob Jano of the ball, which eventually ended up at the feet of Philipp Schobesberger, who swept it into an empty net - 1:1 (38.)! Thomas Murg failed to hit the target from distance in the last effort of the half (44.).

The first half equaliser had given Rapid fresh impetus, and they came out for the start of the second half looking lively and dangerous going forwards. A free kick from Schobesberger threatened SVM keeper Kuster's goal (49.), before a golden chance to take the lead was spurned: A ball across the face of the goal from Murg picked out Andrija Pavlovic, who, with the goal at his mercy, got too much on his first-time side-footed effort and lifted the ball over the crossbar from close range (53.). The miss would prove decisive.

With Rapid in desperate need of a goal, Kühbauer reacted by sending on new striker Aliou Badji and then Andrei Ivan. With ten minutes left to play it was Mattersburg though who grabbed a goal against the run of play: Pusic fed a through ball into path of the advanced Mahrer, who beat the onrushing Strebinger with a composed finish - 2:1 (80.). Veton Berisha came on in a last through of the dice, and had a sight of goal soon after his introduction but lashed the ball into the side netting at the near post (87.). With the chance went Rapid's hopes of rescuing a point. The defeat leaves the Green & Whites in seventh place, two points adrift now of sixth placed Sturm Graz. To stand any chance of clambering into the top half, Rapid must convincingly beat Hartberg next time out and hope other results go in their favour.

(gw)

tipico Bundesliga, 21st round:
SV Mattersburg - SK Rapid 2:1 (1:1)
Pappel-Stadion, 10.200 Attendance, Ref Gishamer

Goals: 1:0 (13.) Gruber, 1:1 (38.) Schobesberger, 2:1 (81.) Mahrer;

SV Mattersburg: Kuster – Mahrer, Ortiz, Rath – Hart, Jano, Salomon, Renner (94./Fran) – Erhardt, Kvasina (66./Pusic), Gruber (75./Halper);

SK Rapid: Strebinger – Auer, Sonnleitner, Hofmann, Bolingoli – Martic (83./V. Berisha), Schwab – Murg, Knasmüllner (74./Ivan), Schobesberger – Pavlovic (67./Badji);

Yellow Cards: Kvasina, Salomon; Martic, Auer, Badji;