The clash of the 12th round of Bundesliga matches between heavyweights Rapid and Sturm Graz was actually already bubbling away 90 minutes before kick off: with astonishing and breathtaking choreography the Block West celebrated the Rapid Ultra's 25 birthday in style. However, the fever pitch atmosphere failed to translate onto the pitch where things went a bit flat during the first half.Nasty shocksThe first concrete chance of the match went the way of the guests, and they capitalised on it clinically: Rapid failed to clear their lines following a corner, an opportunity presented itself to Beric who slotted home from close range - 0:1 (12.). Jan Novota was then called into action to keep the deficit down to one, saving shots from Offenbacher (15.) and Madl (23.). Just minutes later though Rapid slipped further behind: a through ball was threaded into the penalty area to Beric who evaded Novota, but his shot was cleared off the line by Trimmel. It proved to be only a temporary reprieve though, as Beric buried the rebound - 0:2 (26.). Not many would have predicted such a scoreline before the game, but the Green & Whites were looking well off the pace and need an injection of quality into their game.Equaliser from the spotTerrence Boyd was introduced at half time for Lukas Grozurek, and five minutes after the restart Rapid got the boost they desperately needed: Thanos Petsos played the ball into a crowded box, referee Schüttengruber saw a foul amongst the melee and blew for a penalty. Steffen Hofmann stepped up and coolly converted the spot kick to re-ignite Rapid - 1:2 (50.)! With the Hütteldorfers firmly back in the game they pushed forwards looking for an equaliser and when it came Hofmann was again involved: the Rapid captain was upended in the box by Klem, again the referee pointed to the spot, but this time it was Boyd who stepped to take it. The result was the same though, as Boyd dispatched the penalty to level the game - 2:2 (64.)!With Graz shaken it was Zoran Barisic's team who pressed on and looked like turning the game around: Christopher Dibon saw his header saved by keeper Pliquett (69.), whilst Steffen Hofmann came close with a free kick that went into the side netting (73.). But right at the death it was Sturm who had a gilt edged chance to win the match when Wolf was sent through one on one against Novota. Luckily for Rapid the big keeper held his nerve and came out on top in the duel ensuring all of the Green & Whites hard work wasn't undone (90.).tipp3-Bundesliga, Match Day 12SK Rapid - Sturm Graz 2:2 (0:2)Hanappi-Stadion, 15.400 Attendance, Ref SchüttengruberGoals: 0:1 Beric (12.), 0:2 Beric (26.), 1:2 Hofmann (53./Penalty), 2:2 Boyd (64./Penalty)SK Rapid: Novota - Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Dibon, Palla - Behrendt (80./Wydra), Petsos - Hofmann (85./Pavelic), Schaub, Grozurek (46./Boyd) - SabitzerSK Sturm: Pliquett - Hölzl, Madl, Vujadinovic, Klem - Hadzic (74./T. Kainz), Offenbacher - Wolf (92./Kröpfl), Beichler, F. Kainz (74./Schloffer) - BericYellow Cards: Dibon, Trimmel, Hofmann, Petsos Offenbacher, Vujadinovic, Beric, Schloffer(gw)
27.10.2013