Clearly superior, but:

Rapid against Shamrock Rovers LIVE from 9pm

Rapid miss out on a win against Shamrock Rovers.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Bitter Conference League evening for Rapid! The Hütteldorfer dominated the game against Irish runners-up Shamrock Rovers, but could not manage more than a 1-1 draw. They even took an early lead in front of their home crowd through Nenad Cvetkovic. But after the break, Rapid were initially denied a penalty and then conceded a bitter goal. After that, they lacked the ideas to get three points.  

Rapid suffered their first setback in the Football Conference League. Despite taking an early lead and numerous chances in the first half, the Viennese side only managed a 1:1 (1:0) draw at home to Shamrock Rovers on Thursday, conceding points for the first time in their fourth game. The quick 1:0 by Nenad Cvetkovic (9.) was equalized by Johnny Kenny (55.), three times the Rapid team was unlucky with aluminium goals.

To the delight of the more than 20,000 fans, Rapid got off to a powerful start and immediately became dangerous. At first, however, they missed by centimeters twice. A shot from captain Matthias Seidl hit the bar (4th), Mamadou Sangare hit the crossbar (8th) and goalkeeper Leon Pöhls saved a Burgstaller shot (8th). From the resulting corner kick, the hoped-for early lead was achieved, defender Cvetkovic slammed the ball into the net for his first European Cup goal (9').

Coach Robert Klauß' side then really put the Irish runners-up to the sword. Dion Bello (11) and Seidl (20) missed the next top chances, while a shot from Bendeguz Bolla missed the target (41). Shamrock were barely able to break free and remained completely harmless in the first half.

Play-off almost certain for Rapid
However, the Irish equalized in the 55th minute following a counter-attack. Johnny Kenny pushed a cross from Joshua Honahan over the line from close range. Instead of a perfect response, the Rapid team hit the aluminum for the third time shortly afterwards, a header from Beljo landing on the crossbar (58').

The visitors, who now have two wins and two draws, became more courageous after that and no longer came under as much pressure as before the break. Rapid hardly managed to get into the Irish penalty area again. At the other end, Rapid goalkeeper Niklas Hedl had his problems with a shot from Kenny (80'). Substitute Noah Bischof had the match ball to win the game (92'), but his shot was blocked.

An early goal was not enough to secure victory.

(Bild: GEPA/GEPA pictures)

Rapid, who remained unbeaten in their twelfth home game this season (nine wins, three draws), now have ten points from four games and go into the game in Cyprus against Omonia Nicosia (December 12) in fourth place in the table. After that, a home match against FC Copenhagen awaits (December 19). Despite the unnecessary loss of points, Hütteldorfer are still on course for direct promotion to the round of 16, which is secured by the top eight teams. A place in the play-off for places 9 to 24 is practically out of their reach.