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The league coup between Sturm Graz and Rapid Vienna did not bring a winner emerged. The two traditional clubs parted ways in an entertaining game with a 1-1 draw. Jon Gorenc-Stankovic had led the superior Grazers to the lead, but Rapid’s youngster Yusuf Demir equalized in the 68th minute. In the final stages, both teams left good chances to win.
Sturm dominated against error-prone Rapidler
The Graz team was the most active and dangerous team at the beginning: in the 10th minute, Jakob Jantscher headed into the Hütteldorfer’s five, where Andreas Kuen (ex-Rapid-Kicker) missed very softly. Just a minute later, the Styrians found their next big opportunity, but Otar Kiteishvili shot just to the right from a good eleven meters (11th). After a quarter of an hour, the Viennese went dangerously ahead: a center from Murg fell dangerously, but Siebenhandl did not have to intervene (15th).
Shortly after, a deflected header from Kara landed right next to Styrian’s goal. However, Rapid had a difficult time getting into the game, especially on offense, the guests repeatedly made unnecessary mistakes. Sturm, on the other hand, played effectively forward and continued to find good opportunities: first, Gorenc-Stankovic headed in just before Rapid Keeper Strebinger showed uncertainty, but was able to work it out. The goalless draw at halftime was quite flattering from Rapid’s point of view.
Rapid equalizes in an entertaining second half
The first chance after the restart was for SK Sturm: Jakob Jantscher brought the ball from the left into the penalty area, where Andreas Kuen was close, but passed the ball beyond the far corner (50th). Immediately afterwards, the Grazers took the well-deserved opening goal: Gorenc-Stankovic spoiled in a Jantscher corner, Strebinger passed the ball and the leather landed 1-0 in goal (52nd). Rapid coach Didi Kühbauer reacted and brought the great talent Yusuf Demir into play for the weak Kelvin Arase.
A deflected long-range shot from Murg caused a bit of danger, but otherwise Rapid still had very little to offer on offense. Substitute Yusuf Demir scored like Tuesday in Gent: With a lot of luck the ball landed in the run of Ercan Kara, who served the 17-year-old with a wonderful Fersler. After a quick hook, Demir confidently finished in the orphans case: 1: 1 (68).
The final phase turned out to be balanced with chances on both sides: the first Jantscher shot quite free before Kitagawa passed a corner kick on the other side. Taxiarchis Fountas missed in injury time due to strong Siebenhandl, before Jantscher missed the target in the last action.
Typical Bundesliga, 2nd round
SK Sturm Graz – SK Rapid Vienna 1: 1 (0: 0)
Merkur Arena, Graz; 3,000 spectators; SR Altmann
At the live ticker Sturm Graz vs. Fast vienna
Tearing: Gorenc-Stankovic (52.) bzw. Demir (68.)
Storm Graz: Siebenhandl – Ingolitsch, Geyrhofer, Stankovic, Dante – Hierländer, Ljubic, Kiteishvili (73./Jäger), Kuen (78./Friesenbichler) – Jantscher, Balaj
Fast vienna: Strebinger – Stojkovic, Greiml, Hofmann, Ullmann – Petrovic, D. Ljubicic – Murg (82./Grahovac), Fountas, Arase (54./Demir) – Kara (71./Kitagawa)
yellow cards: Hierländer (47.), Kiteishvili (67.) bzw. Arase (29), Kitagawa (87)
Written by Daniel Ringsmuth; Photo: Richard Purgstaller
