After dispatching Salzburg is their last league outing, Rapid went into Tuesday's Europa League clash brimming with confidence. A conitinuation of the weekends form would surely be good enough to account for the Bulgarian Cup holders. It was the Green Whites who flew out of the traps and gained the early momentum. The Hanappi didn't have to wait long for a goal as Rapid claimed early reward for their adventure, Jelavic rising to meet Katzer's cross and hand the Hütteldorfers the lead after just five minutes. The in form marksman got just enough on his downward header to beat the flailing keeper. Rapid continued to turn the screw, Saurer passed up an opportunity on 8 minutes before chancing his hand with a free kick eight minutes later. The visitors from Stara Zagora mustered their first goal threat on the half hour mark, but Dimirov found Raimund Hedl his equal as he rushed towards goal. A 35th minute free kick allueded everyone in the penalty area, passing dangerously past the post. As Stara's confiedence grew, so did the ferocity of their tackles. The Bulgarians managed to collect a couple of yellow cards in the opening half an hour, and were perhaps fortunate not to see more. The first half ended with little fluidity from either side, highlighted by Salihi and Saurer clashing on 38 minutes challenging for the same ball. Rapid needed to get back to the football they displayed at the start of the half, and would be looking to extend their slender advantage to banish any thoughts of potential upsets.The teams emerged from half time with no line up changes. The 11,700 onlookers were served up very similiar offerings as to those of the first half at the start of the second. Zlatinov tested Hedl early in the proceedings, the Rapid gloveman coming through the examination with flying colours. The Viennese were managing to push back the visitors without really excerting the required pressure to force the vital breakthrough. On the hour mark though, man of the moment Nikica Jelavic calmed nerves around the Hanappi with an absolute thunder bolt. On receiving possesion from Hofmann, the star man swung his boot and connected perfectly, thumping an absolute rocket past keeper Ilchev from well outside the area. It was left to Markus Katzer to settle the arguement 10 minutes later with a cracking low drive across Ilchev from a very difficult angle. That made it 3:0 on the night and buried the tie as a contest. It was a blow the Bulgarians never looked like recovering from and on the final whistle it was Rapid celebrating safe passage through to the play off. Attention now turns to the draw for the next round, as only one more two legged tie stands between the Green Whites and a place in the Europa League group stages. The draw takes place on this coming Friday (Aug 6), while our next league match sees us travel to the Steiermark to take on Sturm Graz.(gw)UEFA Europa-League-Qualification, third round:SK Rapid - Beroe Stara Sagora 3:0 (1:0)Hanappi-Stadion, 11.700, Referee Masiah (ISR)Goals: 1:0 Jelavic (5.), 2:0 Jelavic (60.), 3:0 Katzer (71.)SK Rapid: Hedl - Kayhan, Sonnleitner, Patocka, Katzer - Hofmann, Heikkinen, Kulovits, Saurer (62./Kavlak) - Jelavic (86./Nuhiu), Salihi (79./Gartler)Stara Sagora: Iltschew - Iliew, Kowatschew (32./Tomash), Batschew, Penew - Hristow, Kostadinow (58./Gentschew), Welew, Dimitrow - Schekow (63./Jordanow) - SlatinowYellow Cards: Iliew, Dimitrow, Tomash
31.08.2015