The Viennese win the first leg 3-0 and thus reach for promotion. Zorya Luhansk would wait in the play-off.
In 2008 Rapid lost 3-0 at Famagusta. If things go better in a week in hot Larnaca, the Viennese will qualify for a group stage. In the first leg of the third qualifying round for the Europa League, a strong performance was rewarded with a 3-0 victory.
Like a week ago in Prague, the match day had started miserably. “I've never experienced anything like this before and I hope that it never happens again,” said Didi Kühbauer about the short-term failure of three supports before the end against Sparta. One night after this hope, the Rapid coach was informed that two key players were again missing: after Robert Ljubicic, Filip Stojkovic and Dejan Petrovic were also hit.
RAPID-1️⃣1️⃣:
ℹ️ Filip Stojkovic and Dejan Petrovic are unfortunately absent due to illness. # SCR2021 #UEL pic.twitter.com/OCMu7bLbqd
– SK Rapid (@skrapid) August 5, 2021
Since the two legionaries (unlike the newcomer) feel no symptoms, there is hope that the probably positive corona tests will remain unique. For data protection reasons, there is no official information yet. In any case, the decimated squad had to be rebuilt again with eight homemade players.
Offensive like seldom
Because Thorsten Schick and Christoph Knasmüllner each slid back one position, the set-up was more offensive than it has been for a long time. The plan was clear: The sprinters Taxi Fountas, Marco Grüll and Kelvin Arase should do meters after winning the ball.
Schick put a first Arase-Stangl pass just next to it (8th). Srdjan Grahovac often took care of the duels won. The Bosnian proved to be particularly brave: just twelve days after his open nose fracture, he held out his head without a protective mask.
For the guests, who were obviously not well rehearsed after many transfers, the number 55 came into focus: Goalie Tzur steered a cracker from Fountas to the crossbar (32nd). Three minutes and a perfect corner variant later there was nothing to be held: Knasmüllner extended with his head, Ercan Kara was able to head in from two meters (35th).
The 11,400 fans got louder and louder. In minute 40 the next trick worked, this time Knasmüllner extended flat, but Kara's shot was saved.
Data from SofaScore.
Coach Kezbaia, who caused the surprise in the Champions League qualification in 2008, made two changes during the break and put playmaker Husbauer at the center. Cyprus cup winners immediately got better.
Missed penalty
For the ailing Tzur came replacement goalkeeper Loria. And the man with the No. 1 had his perfect debut. After a foul on Kara there was a penalty, the striker wanted to shoot. But Knasmüllner did not give the standard shooter the ball. A mistake. Knasmüllner's weak attempt held Loria (62nd).
Another top goalie among the guests? No! After a lot of effort by Arase, Fountas withdrew and Loria got lost – 2-0 (64th).
After 69 minutes, Anorthosis also had a chance: Joker Popovic just missed a volley. It went back and forth. Kara and Ullmann shot too imprecisely, as did Popovic. Forward Oliver Strunz made his debut.
The Greens remained active, Grahovac played on Grüll, who followed a hook with a hard shot into the corner – 3-0 (83rd). The jubilation was great, the ascent is near.
