Rapid Vienna celebrates 2:1 home victory against Sturm Graz
In front of 24,766 spectators, Maurice Malone put the dominant visitors ahead in the 39th minute. Rapid Vienna turned the game around with goals from Matthias Seidl (66th) and an own goal by Dimitri Lavalee (75th), similar to the first season comparison in Graz (2-1). Sturm has now lost the last three encounters with Rapid Vienna. In nine games under coach Jürgen Säumel against Rapid Vienna and Wiener Austria, only one victory was achieved. The match was predominantly characterized by the tactically changed visitors, who initially had no clear chances. Nenad Cvetkovic prevented opportunities from Axel Kayombo (9th) and Maurice Malone (16th). Rapid launched their first dangerous attack in the 23rd minute when Ercan Kara narrowly missed a cross from Janis Antiste.
Malone Set Up for Sturm Graz Against Rapid Vienna
During this phase, Rapid managed to keep Sturm further away from their own goal and came to additional half-chances. Antiste (31st) and Bolla (32nd) aimed over the goal of the once again fit Oliver Christensen. The Sturm keeper was also the starting point of the 1-0. His long clearance was directed by starting lineup debutant Kayombo with a bit of luck to Malone, who scored his second league goal of the season from a half-left position flat into the far corner.
Sturm sniffed at a double strike. Gartler saved twice against Malone and Horvat (42nd), who put the ball into the net on the second attempt. However, the goal did not count due to an offside position. The visitors' lead at halftime was deserved. Stöger reacted and brought record signing Tobias Gulliksen for Antiste. The intense match then became more open and wilder, but the major chances still belonged to Sturm.
Seidl Scored Free Kick from Long Distance
Rapid defender Jonas Auer deflected a shot from Seedy Jatta standing on the line just out for a corner (60th). Then Otar Kiteishvili sent the ball just past the top corner from close range. After 66 minutes, it was 1-1. Seidl curled a free kick from a good 25 meters into the near top corner. Christensen, who had opted for a one-man wall, did not look good in the process. The momentum now belonged to the hosts, and at the start of Rapid's quarter-hour, Lavalee deflected a sharp Cvetkovic cross between Christensen's legs for the much-celebrated lead (75th). Sturm struggled for an answer, Kara cleared a Jatta header off the line (83rd). After that, the visitors found no way through the massive three-man defense of Rapid.
(APA/Red)
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