In a virtually sold out Ernst-Happel-Stadium in Vienna, Rapid hosted crack Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League Play-Off first leg. The early stages confirmed that Rapid were going to have to play somewhere approaching their best to remain in contention against the Ukrainians, and it was the guests who registered the shot on goal: Rakitskiy unleashed a powerful shot from distance that skidded across the greasy surface as the rain fell, but Jan Novota was up to the task, parrying the ball away to safety (4.).

But it didn't take long for the Hütteldorfers to find their feet and get a little bit of joy in the attacking third themselves: Louis Schaub went close with a header after meeting a cross from Auer (7.), before Mario Pavelic, returning after injury, was unlucky when his promising looking effort was deflected just wide of the target. Venturing forwards Mario Sonnleitner also managed to rise higher than the opposition defence to get on the end of the cross, but his attempt also lacked the necessary accuracy. After the little flurry of attacking activity a full blooded match unfolded: not for the faint hearted, players regularly hit the deck and cards were brandished by the referee with an alarming regularity. It was as the half entered its closing stages that the real concrete chances were created.

Minutes before half time the crowd was about to burst into celebrations as it looked like Rapid were going to take the lead: an excellent low cross from Auer sat up nicely for Flo Kainz, who took the shot on first time with his left foot, only to see his sweetly struck volley clawed over the crossbar by a fantastic save from Donetsk keeper Pyatov (42.). That football is a game of fine margins has been proven time and time again, and just two minutes later Rapid were cruelly reminded of this fact: swift attacking play from Shakthar pulled the Rapid defence out of position before a cross found its way to Marlos, who deftly outfoxed Auer to manufacture some space for a shot and beat Novota with a low effort across the keeper into the bottom right hand corner of the net - 0:1 (44.).  

Rapid look to force the issue

With the rain pelting down over the Prater Stadium Rapid looked to take the initiative and force the issue and their early fluidity was almost rewarded with an equaliser: looking to pick of where he left of against Ajax in the previous round, Louis Schaub again dribbled at the heart of the defence, before curling a vicious shot towards the far post, but with Pyatov well beaten the ball went agonisingly wide (54.). Ten minutes later the Green & Whites were exerting pressure again, this time as the Ukrainians failed to clear their lines from a corner, a massive goal mouth scramble ensued but none of the Rapid players on hand could force the ball over the line.

Travelling to Lviv with belief and confidence

The Hütteldorfers continued to search for the equaliser and probe their opponents looking for space in the attacking third, but the highly organised and proficient away side proved a tough nut to crack. With Rapid unable to find a killer final ball no further additions were made to the score line and Shakthar recorded a 1:0 win in Vienna. However all is far from lost, and with Rapid’s propensity for coming from behind and the belief and spirit already evidenced this season, it would take a brave person to have already written off the chances of a Green & White upset in Lviv next week.

UEFA Champions League, Play off First Leg:
SK Rapid - Shakhtar Donetsk 0:1 (0:1)
Ernst-Happel-Stadium, Ref Kuipers (NED), 46.000 Attendance;

Goal: 0:1 Marlos (44.);

SK Rapid: Novota - Pavelic, Sonnleitner, Dibon, Auer - Petsos, Grahovac - Schaub, S. Hofmann (84./Alar), F. Kainz (80./Schobesberger) - Beric (89./Prosenik);

Shakhtar: Pjatow - Srna, Kutscher, Rakitiskij, Asewedo - Fred, Stepanenko (46./Malischew) - Marlos (80./Eduardo), Teixeira, Taison (86./Bernard) - Gladkij;

Yellow Cards: Beric, Auer, Dibon; Stepanenko, Srna, Gladkij, Fred;

(gw)