3-1 against Rapid: Sturm Graz keeps pace with Salzburg

Sturm Graz won against Rapid 3:1 (2:1) and already distanced the competitor from Vienna by eleven points. With the victory at the start of the championship group in the Bundesliga, second-placed Grazers stayed close to champions Salzburg, who were three points ahead, and increased their lead over third-placed LASK to seven points. Rapid slipped to fifth place.

In the storm, Sarkaria started alongside Emanuel Emegha in attack. Alexandar Borkovic defended instead of the injured defender Gregory Wüthrich alongside David Affengruber. Rapid coach Zoran Barisic surprised with his formation: Ex-Grazer Thorsten Schick played the defensive part instead of Denso Kasius in front of Oliver Strunz on the right flank, Christoph Knasmüllner missed another chance in the tenth position.

The game started half an hour late due to a medical emergency. A beer and pretzel seller had to be resuscitated, the man was in a stable condition when he was transported away in the completely silent stadium. After that, the almost full ranks only hesitantly got louder, but finally in the sixth minute, when Emegha extended his scoring streak to the eighth goal of the season. After a hair-raising bad pass from Leopold Querfeld, things happened quickly: David Schnegg served Tomi Horvat, who put through to Emegha and the Dutchman shot dry as a bone.

Artistic compensation by Burgstaller

Sturm were in the lead and in control of the game, but Rapid also used their first chance to equalize – which is well worth seeing. Schick crept behind the defense and put Grüll’s lateral shift across to Burgstaller, who volleyed the ball artistically into the cross corner.

Graz responded with an increase in chances until the half-time break. Stefan Hierländer missed the top opportunity, who after a Sarkaria header extended to Hedl, but was blocked by Jonas Auer when he scored the goal (40′).

Rapid put up a fight and was able to claim maximum efficiency at this point. In the aftermath of the first half, there was still cheering in the Grazer Oval – with a delay, because the referee team around Stefan Ebner initially refused to recognize the 2:1. Schnegg – on whose side almost everything went – was not offside in front of his cross. Hedl excelled in completing Horvat but was powerless to save Sarkarias. The goal was awarded after VAR intervention.

Rapid tried more offensively after the break, but again remained largely harmless, driven by the offensive solo entertainer Burgstaller. Sturm set the tone and substitute Kiteishvili made the preliminary decision on the counterattack after preliminary work by Emegha. The Georgian didn’t give Hedl a chance with a low shot from eight yards out. Rapid didn’t give up yet, Sturm missed good chances for more goals on the counterattack.

Sturm against Rapid unbeaten for nine games

It remained 3-1, continuing a series: Sturm have been unbeaten against Rapid for nine games. Rapid experienced their tenth defeat of the season, the Hütteldorfer lost two games in a row for the first time since Zoran Barisic returned to the coaching bench. Three home games will now follow for the Viennese, starting with the cup semi-final against Ried on Wednesday (8.30 p.m.). Sturm will receive LASK in the second semi-final on Thursday (8.30 p.m.).