The trip to Graz represented a good chance to end the year on a high and possibly secure second place going into the winter break. The game didn't transpire how we may have hoped though, with Rapid at least in part the architects of their own downfall as the Green & Whites ended the game with ten men.The signs appeared good for Rapid, who travelled to Styria with virtually a fully fit squad with only Guido Burgstaller and Marcel Sabitzer missing, through suspension and injury respectively. The UPC Arena had proved to be something of a happy hunting ground in recent times, with the Hütteldorfers leaving with maximum points on their last two visits. But the early stages belonged to the hosts and the first sign of danger came in the 10th minute: Vujadinovic managed to evade his marker and got a header in on goal from a corner only to be denied by a fantastic save from Jan Novota. Brian Behrendt sent a free kick over the crossbar (19.) as Rapid looked to respond but it was Sturm who were posing more goal threat: another set piece yielded another headed opportunity, this time for Madl, who placed his firm header too centrally to trouble Jan Novota (34.). Chances remained at a premium for Rapid, who also lost Steffen Hofmann before half time to a back injury. Louis Schaub came on to replace the injured skipper.Not long after the restart another serious blow was dealt to Rapid's hopes of ending the year on a high as the hosts broke the deadlock: Offenbacher found Beichler out wide, who whipped in a dangerous low ball into the area. The unfortunate Christopher Dibon managed to get something on the ball, but had the misfortune to turn it into his own net, handing Graz the lead - 0:1 (53.). It nearly got worse for Rapid just minutes later, but Madl's stinging shot went inches wide (57.). The game then went into something of a lull until with little over fifteen minutes to go a scuffle involving various players from both sides broke out. The net result was a red card for Terrence Boyd, who appeared to stoop into an opponent using his head (74.). Rapid now found themselves with ten men, and soon also found themselves two goals down: A shot from Djuricin was repelled by Jan Novota, but the rebound found its way to Schmerböck who lashed the ball home from distance to kill off any Green & White hopes of salvaging a point - 0:2 (82.). The final whistle brought to an end a wholly unsatisfactory evenings work for Rapid, who go into the winter break in third place in the tipp3-Bundesliga.tipp3-Bundesliga, Match Day 21SK Sturm - SK Rapid 2:0 (0:0)Graz, UPC-Arena, 6.274 Attendance, Ref HameterGoals: 1:0 (53.) Dibon (own goal), 2:0 (83.) SchmerböckSK Sturm: Pliquett - Ehrenreich, Madl, Vujadinovic, Klem - M. Weber, Offenbacher - P. Wolf (46. Schmerböck), Beichler, Schloffer (81. C. Kröpfl) - Beric (71. Djuricin)SK Rapid: Novota - Trimmel, Sonnleitner (81. Pavelic), Dibon, Schrammel - Behrendt, Boskovic (59. Wydra) - Starkl, Hofmann (45. Schaub), Grozurek - BoydYellow Cards: M. Weber, Offenbacher, Vujadinovic, Djuricin Behrendt, Dibon, WydraRed Card: Boyd (73./Violent Conduct)(gw)
18.12.2013