Europa League qualifier

Wisla Krakow against SK Rapid from 6pm LIVE

Collective jubilation among the Green-Whites

(Bild: GEPA)

Rapid have put themselves in a good position in the battle for a place in the 3rd qualifying round of the Europa League!

The Hütteldorfer won the second round first leg against Wisla Krakow 2:1 on Thursday and thus have all the trump cards in their hand for the return match in Vienna in a week's time. Isak Jansson (37) and Matthias Seidl (53) scored an own goal from Maximilian Hofmann (79) against Poland's cup winners, new signing Bendeguz Bolla saw red shortly before the break.

Rapid started in a 4-4-2 system
Rapid started the game in a 4-4-2 system with Guido Burgstaller and new signing Dion Beljo in attack, while Nenad Cvetkovic, who was not fully fit, was rested. Hofmann defended in his place. The visitors initially had more of the play in front of around 30,000 spectators, but shots from Jonas Auer (4), Bolla (11), Jansson (15) and Burgstaller (19) were not really dangerous.

(Bild: GEPA)

Rapid's first real threat came in the 31st minute - Beljo set up Burgstaller, whose shot was saved by Wisla goalkeeper Anton Chichkan (31'). The Polish second division side also had their chances: Lukasz Zwolinski shot too centrally at Niklas Hedl from a good position (24') and failed to put the ball in the net from close range (35'). In this situation, Rapid were lucky that Finnish referee Mohammed El-Emara and his VAR colleagues overlooked a handball by Auer.

The Green-Whites weakened themselves shortly before the break
Rapid took the lead practically on the counter-attack. For the first time, the ball moved quickly through several stations, Seidl set up Jansson and the Swede scored with the help of Chichkan. The Whites weakened themselves shortly before the break. Bolla hit Olivier Sukiennicki at knee height with the sole of his foot, El-Emara initially showed the Hungarian European Championship starter a yellow card, which was changed to red after VAR intervention.

Bendeguz Bolla

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Due to the numerical disadvantage, Jansson remained in the dressing room and Moritz Oswald played at right-back. Soon after the restart, Rapid had Fortuna on their side twice. A Zwolinski header landed on the bar (49'), but a shot by neo-captain Seidl from the edge of the sixteen^ flew into the goal via the right and left inside posts.

Rapid then tried to maintain their lead. Wisla increased the pressure and were rewarded in the 79th minute. Marc Carbo's shot would have been no problem for Hedl, but Hofmann tried to clear in front of his keeper and deflected the ball into his own net. Rapid fought hard in the final stages and were ultimately successful in preventing the equalizer. A third-round tie against the winner of the clash between Trabzonspor and Ruzomberok from Slovakia now awaits.

The result:
Wisla Krakow - SK Rapid 1:2 (0:1)
Krakow, Henryk Reyman Stadium, refereed by El-Emara (FIN)

Goals: 0:1 (36.) Jansson, 0:2 (53.) Seidl, 1:2 (79.) Carbó

Red card: Bolla (45.+6/Foul)

Yellow card: Grgic

Wisla: Chichkan - Jaroch, Uryga, Colley, Mikulec - Carbo, Gogol (67. Krzyzanowski) - Sukiennicki, Rodado, Kiakos (46. Baena) - Zwolinski (67. Kutwa)
Rapid: Hedl - Bolla, Raux-Yao, Hofmann, Auer - Seidl, Grgic (94. Cvetkovic), Sangare, Jansson (46. Oswald) - Beljo (69. Bischof), Burgstaller (82. Dursun)

Second leg on August 1 in Vienna

Quotes:

Robert Klauß (Rapid coach): "In the first half we did very well after the goal, before that we lost the ball too much and were too hectic. After the goal we had a lot of composure and control and one or two opportunities. The red card turned the whole thing around. Fortunately, we made it 2-0 and that gave us some composure. Unfortunately, we weren't able to defend everything in the end and conceded the goal that made our starting position a little worse. Nevertheless, we won 2:1 away from home, which I think we can be satisfied with. Everyone worked hard for each other, fought hard and threw themselves into balls. That's not easy, especially at the start of the season, when you're not yet at 100% fitness level. But the boys did a brilliant job."

Niklas Hedl (Rapid goalkeeper): "It was a really cool atmosphere, even if it was against us. Witches' cauldron describes it best, luckily it was the better outcome for us. We dominated the first half and rightly took the lead. After the goal was scored, our aim was to hold on to the lead. The goal we conceded was unfortunate, but we can't complain, our opponents had a few chances. It's only half-time, I'm already looking forward to the second leg."