VIENNA (Interstat) — Rapid defeated Austria Vienna 2-0 on Sunday in a football match shaped by a tight defensive display and a decisive attacking contribution from Yusuf Demir. Rapid scored twice and kept Austria Vienna off the scoreboard, securing the win on the road despite Austria Vienna’s attempts to find a response. The visitors managed the game well enough to protect their advantage and close out the result. The visitors’ two-goal margin proved enough on a day when Austria Vienna could not convert its chances.

Demir was the standout performer for Rapid. He played 77 minutes, scored one goal and was shown a yellow card in the 62nd minute before leaving the match as a substitute in the 77th. His goal was the most important moment of the contest, giving Rapid the breakthrough it needed and forcing Austria Vienna to chase the game. Demir’s attacking contribution made him the central figure in a match that remained competitive but ultimately finished with a clean sheet for the visitors.

The match grew more physical as it moved past the hour mark. Demir was booked in the 62nd minute for Rapid. Austria Vienna’s Vorsager was booked in the 74th minute, and Markovic followed in the 76th. Rapid’s Horn received a yellow card in the 82nd minute, and M’Buyi was booked in the 90th minute plus four. The sequence of cards reflected the rising tension as Austria Vienna searched for a way back into the game and Rapid worked to preserve its lead.

Both teams used substitutions to adjust. Rapid made its first change in the 64th minute with Adamsen. Austria Vienna made a double change in the 66th minute with Ranftl and Saljic. Rapid then brought on Kara and replaced Demir in the 77th minute, while Austria Vienna introduced Muller in the same minute. Austria Vienna made two more changes in the 87th minute with Handl and Lee Tae-Seok, and Rapid completed its substitutions in the 88th minute with Horn and Dahl. Rapid used those changes to close out the match with its two-goal lead intact.

The result continued a strong run for Rapid. Rapid’s season record in this competition is now 10 wins and one loss. Austria Vienna’s season record in this competition is now 0 wins and four losses. Across all competitions, Rapid’s season record is now 11 wins and one loss, while Austria Vienna’s season record is now one win and five losses. Rapid entered the match after a 3-0 victory at First Vienna. Before that, Rapid had beaten A. Lustenau 5-1, Hartberg 3-1, LASK 2-0 and Tirol 3-0. Austria Vienna had lost to Hartberg, Altach and Ried, with an earlier 6-1 win at Admira.

Austria Vienna’s best efforts could not produce a goal, and Rapid’s defense held firm through the closing stages. The home side pushed numbers forward late, but the final whistle confirmed a shutout for Rapid. Rapid protected its two-goal advantage with disciplined positioning and timely substitutions, while Austria Vienna was unable to turn its late possession into a scoring chance. The loss extended Austria Vienna’s difficult start to the campaign and kept Rapid’s strong form intact. Rapid’s defenders dealt with the late pressure and kept Austria Vienna from pulling a goal back. The visitors’ clean sheet was preserved through the final minutes as Austria Vienna’s final push fell short.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Rapid 3, Austria Vienna 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Rapid with a 65.3 percent probability to win, and Rapid had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.75. The total score of 2 went over the over/under line of 2.5.