2:0 in EL qualifiers

Rapid Vienna v Trabzonspor, LIVE from 6pm

Matthias Seidl and Co. celebrate their 2:0 win against Trabzonspor ...

(Bild: GEPA)

SK Rapid secured promotion to the Europa League play-offs with a 2-0 win in the second leg against Trabzonspor, thus securing a place in a European league phase!

In front of 22,500 spectators in Vienna-Hütteldorf on Thursday, coach Robert Klauß' team deservedly advanced against the Turkish top club with a total score of 3:0. The goals were scored by captain Matthias Seidl (77') and "joker" Christoph Lang (87'). In between, Trabzonspor defender Pedro Malheiro (85) was shown the red card after an emergency brake.

Rapid's opponents in the play-off are now SC Braga. The Portuguese side, who finished fourth in the league last season, beat Swiss Cup winners Servette Geneva 2-1 in the second leg after drawing the first leg. The match dates are August 22 (in Portugal) and 29 (in Vienna). This means that the Green-Whites are guaranteed a million euro prize, with UEFA paying out at least 3.17 million euros for participation in the Conference League phase, which would await them if they were eliminated in the next qualifying round.

(Bild: GEPA)

Cvetkovic made the first approach to the opposing goal
In summer temperatures and a heated atmosphere in the stands, Klauß' team initially controlled proceedings. As announced, there was no sign of an administrative approach and the Turks were disrupted early in the build-up. Nenad Cvetkovic made the first approach to the opposing goal with a header (6'), ten minutes later solo striker Guido Burgstaller was unable to get the ball past Trabzonspor goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir from a promising position.

Rapid were repeatedly dangerous with combination soccer down the wings, and Louis Schaub had the lead on his feet in the 34th minute. The returnee, however, put a Stangl pass from right-back Bendeguz Bolla past the far corner. The Turkish side, who finished third in the Turkish league in the previous season, posed no threat at all and it took until the 37th minute for the first (harmless) shot on goal. Shortly before the break, Bolla, who returned from his two-match ban in the European Cup, shot just over from the edge of the box (44').

Turks attracted attention with firecrackers and Bengalos from supporters
Hütteldorf continued to press for the opening goal after the break, with Cakir alert to a Jansson pass before the Trabzonspor defense blocked two Rapid shots (50'). At the other end, Rapid goalkeeper Niklas Hedl had to intervene for the first time with a long cross (51'). The Turks, who were missing center-back Stefan Savic, who signed from Atletico Madrid in the summer, were only noticeable for a long time due to firecrackers and Bengalos from their supporters.

(Bild: GEPA)

Rapid could only be blamed for their poor conversion of chances, but this flaw was also erased in the closing stages. Seidl sent the green and white supporters into ecstasy with an ice-cold shot into the far corner after a beautiful assist from Bolla, and a little later Lang also kept his cool in front of goal after Seidl's assist. In between, Hedl held on to the lead.

The result:
SK Rapid - Trabzonspor 2:0 (0:0)
Vienna, Allianz Stadium, 22,500 spectators, referee Lukjancukas (Lithuania)

Goals: 1:0 (77.) M. Seidl, 2:0 (87.) Lang

Red card: Malheiro (85.)

Yellow cards: Sangare, Jansson or Mendy, Canak, Cakir, Elmali

Rapid: Hedl - Bolla, Cvetkovic, Raux-Yao, Auer - Sangare (91. Kaygin), Grgic (86. Oswald) - Seidl, Jansson (86. Lang), Schaub (72. Beljo) - Burgstaller (91. Dursun)
Trabzonspor: Cakir - Malheiro, Mendy, Denswil, Elmali (67. Barisic) - Yokuslu, Lundstram (82. Bardhi) - Canak (67. Destan), Tufan (60. Nwakaeme), Trezeguet - Dragus