A packed away stand greeted the Rapid side. The Green White fans had already been in the ground singing and rocking for 45 minutes prior to kick off. If the contest between the two sets of support was a boxing match it would have been stopped in the first round.Rapid settled into the game quickly and from the outset looked the equals of their illustrious opponents. It was the home side that threatened first however. James Milner broke into space down the Rapid right and centred the ball for a lurking Emile Heskey who couldn’t apply the final touchSteffen Hofmann nearly gave Rapid the lead on the night with a swirling free kick that narrowly missed the keepers right hand upright. While Guzan in the Villa goal hadn’t been pressed into action, Rapid looked capable of goal threat with neat passing moves and dangerous wing play.Villa excerted consistant pressure for the first time with a string of corners in the 26th minute, the ball eventually scrambled away by the Hutteldorfers.The increasing threat of Ashley Young manifested itself in the 30th minute. The Villa wideman beating Dober (belatedly booked for an attempted body check), driving into the box and being debatably upended by Markus Heikkinen. Referee Carballo pointed to the spot and Young got up to take the kick himself. The ball was struck low and hard, Helge Payer dived to his right and snaffled the attempt, sparking wild scenes amongst the away support.Villa restored parity however when Young was again brought down in the area. James Milner stepped up and this time made no mistake. Rapid managed to keep their composure and put together some slick passing moves in what could have been a dangerous period as the first half played out.The Viennese looked to get on the front foot as the second half got under way, Markus Katzer with a good hanging cross. Steffen Hofmann struck the ball cleanly and was just about ready to wheel away in celebration when Carlos Cueller headed the ball off the line with excellent last ditch defending.Warning signs appeared for Rapid in the 50th minute when a low cross from Emile Heskey found John Carew. The Norwegian put the ball inches wide of the goal with a cheeky back heel. It was Carew again three minutes later with another chance. This time the striker made no mistake, cutting in off the right flank past new recruit Soma before calmly beating the stranded payer at his near post.Pacult responded to the English side taking the lead for the first time in the tie by replacing Christopher Trimmel with Stefan Maierhofer in the 55th minute. The change nearly paid instant dividends as the marksmans first contribution was a shot that went behind for a corner.Rapid again mustered an excellent response to this latest set back pushing Villa back into their own half. However, in the 68th minute the tie was almost put beyond Rapid. Ashley Young again proving a menace, cutting in of the flank and shooting. His shot deflected to the other side of The Rapid box to James Milner. With the goal gaping the Villa winger could only find the side netting.The game started to get a bit stretched with both sides looking to push forwards. Jelavic shot over the bar in the 70th minute with a shot on the turn following good work from Steffen Hofman.As the game opened up Villa began to turn the screw, their wingers finding space with increasing regularity and more and more crosses and corners being played into the Rapid box, although stout defending from the Viennese kept the tie in reach.In the 75th minute Nikica Jelavic was presented with a golden chance for Rapid. Excellent wing play from Drazan saw him get in behind the Villa defence his cut back deflecting up to Maierhofer, his overhead effort scrambled away by the keeper. Jelavic stabbed wide with an open goal gaping.Jelavic wouldn’t have to well on that opportunity for too long though as he gave Rapid a crucial away goals lead minutes later. Katzer made a superb thrusting run in behind the Villa defence and after what seemed like an eternity, stabbed the ball into the net.Following a good save by Payer from Fabian Delph, Jelavic and Hofmann somehow transpired to miss an incredible opportunity that would have sealed the win with jelavic unable to turn the ball home from two yards, Hofmann firing the rebound over from six.Boskovic came on for goal hero jelavic as the Green Whites looked to protect their lead. An injury time penalty appeal was as good as it got for the hosts as Rapid, relentlessly cheered on by fanatic support claimed the result their football over the two legs has so richly deserved. We now await to see Rapids opponents in tomorrows draw which takes place at 13.00.Aston Villa FC - SK Rapid 2:1 (1:0)Villa Park, 23.563, Referee Carball Goals: 1:0 Milner (38./Elfmeter), 2:0 Carew (53.), 2:1Jelavic (76.) Rapid: Payer - Dober, Soma, Patocka, Katzer - Heikkinen, Pehlivan - Trimmel (55. Maierhofer), Hofmann, Drazan - Jelavic (87. Boskovic)Glenn Walters & Christoph Beranek reporting from Villa Park
31.08.2015