AFC - IRAN defender Mehdi Pashazadeh
(pictured in red) played a sensational match in the heart of the Rapid
Vienna defence to help his side defeat fierce Austrian rivals Strum Graz
2-0, a result that kept Rapid in pole position after four games played in
the 2003/2004 season.
Taking on a defensive stance away at the Strum Graz Stadium, Josef
Hickersberger's tactics eventually paying off largely due to Pashazadeh's
influence, Rapid pulling off their fourth successive league victory since
the season started on July 16.
After a goalless first-half, Rapid shot themselves into the lead as
Ivanschitz redeemed an earlier miss by scoring in the 57th minute.
Hofmann's goal barely 60 seconds later effectively killed the tie, win that
will surely warm Hickersberges, the Austrian who used to coach in Bahrain
and Qatar.
Rapid Vienna: Payer - Markus Hiden, Martin Hiden, Feldhofer, Adamski (79.
Burgstaller) - Prisc, St. Kulovits, Hofmann (72. Martinez), Pashazadeh (70.
Jazic), Ivanschitz - R. Wagner
Sturm Graz: Knezevic - Silvestre (71. Masudi) - Neukirchner, Strafner -
Korsos (61. Säumel), Hasek, Filipovic, Dmitrovic - Salmutter (77. Brunmayr),
Rabihou, Rojas
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