The opening stages of the first half saw both sides sparring with little goal mouth action, Rapid enjoying the Lion´s share of possesion but Sturm showing  menace on fleeting counter attacks. Rapid´s best chance of the half came after 20 seconds. Stefan Maierhofer broke into the Graz box and showed quick feet to manufacture a shooting opportuntiy, drawing a smart save from Sturm Keeper Gratzei. In the 37th minute an incisive move from Graz saw them take the lead. A Rapid move broke down on the right, with Dominic Hassler picking up the loose ball and playing in Mario Haas. Haas calmly beat the on rushing Helge Payer to make it 1-0 to the visitors. Minutes earlier Stefan Maierhofer, re-united today with "Jimmy" Hoffer in attack, flashed a vicious drive just wide in Rapid´s only other real attempt of note. Shortly before half time Referee Gangl dismissed Sturm´s Hassler. Rapid now had 45 minutes against ten men to salvage a proud unbeaten home record, stretching back to December 2007.The second half slipped into much the same pattern as the first, with Rapid searching for  their fluent football as 10 man Graz camped in. Captain Steffen Hofmann attempted to force the issue, taking the game by the scruff of the neck but unfortunately clear cut chances remained at a premium. Pacult made a double substitution as Rapid sought to raise the tempo, with Jelavic replacing a tired Hoffer and Kavlak making way for Drazan. Half chances came and went for the newly introduced pair, and when Graz Keeper Gratzei denied Maierhofer in the dying minutes it became evident that the sought after break through wasn´t going to materialise.29th round:SK Rapid vs. SK Sturm Graz 0:1 (0:1)Goal: Haas (34.)Game StatsVideo(gw)
31.08.2015