Der englische "Telegraph" berichtet über Rapids 1:0-Erfolg gegen Aston Villa wie folgt: "This was not a night to be a Villa supporter, crowbared into the corner of a packed-out Gerhard Hanappi stadium. Armed with loudhailers, microphones and never-ending enthusiasm, bare-chested supporters who had taken it upon themselves to MC for the night whipped their fellow fans into a ferment. The travelling supporters - less than 300 of them - didn't stand a chance.In fact, they spent most of the opening 15 minutes with their hands held in front of their eyes, ostensibly shading themselves from the sun which was sinking behind the stadium, although it could just as easily have been because they didn't want to see what was happening before them.They wouldn't have believed their eyes anyway, not when Rapid scored in under a minute. Christopher Drazan crossed from the left, Curtis Davies slipped - so cruel - and Nikica Jelavic was left in the middle of the penalty area with a free header to guide past a gawping Brad Guzan. Villa hadn't touched the ball. Only 16 seconds had elapsed. They don't call them Rapid for nothing."Ein kurzer Auszug aus der renomierten "Times": " Rapid Vienna got off to the quickest start imaginable, scoring inside 16 seconds, to leave Aston Villa’s season still stuck in reverse. Martin O’Neill’s team should be grateful to return to Villa Park for next Thursday’s play-off second leg only one goal behind, but at least a place in the Europa League is theirs for the taking."Die "BBC" schreibt auf ihrer Online-Plattform: "Aston Villa were stunned by an early Nikica Jelavic goal as they lost the first leg of their Europa League qualifier away at Rapid Vienna. The Bosnian headed home after just 40 seconds to give the Austrian side a narrow advantage ahead of the return leg at Villa Park on 27 August."Auch die Yellow-Press meldet sich via "The Sun" zu Wort: " Rapid Vienna struck in less time than it takes Usain Bolt to run to the end of his garden. They then displayed barnacle qualities to hold on to their lead - leaving the Midlanders looking to win by two goals in a week's time to make it to the Europa League group stage."Der "Guardian": "Martin O'Neill's hopes of an easy night for Aston Villa are gone in 16 seconds"Auch der Nachrichtensender "CNN" berichtet auf seiner Website über das gestrige Spiel: " Rapid claim shock Europa Cup win over Villa"Im Aston Villa Forum meint ein Villa-Fan über die grün-weißen Anhänger: "Jesus their fans are something else. I can already hear the silence at Villa park."In den österreichischen Medien schafft es Rapid bei "Kurier", "Kronen Zeitung" und "Österreich" gar aufs Cover."Österreich":  "1:0 Rapid schlägt Villa! Mit dem Blitztor in Sekunde 16 lässt Jelavic die Rapidler träumen""Krone": "1:0 gegen Aston Villa! Rapid darf hoffen - Blitzstart mit einem Jelavic-Tor nach 16 Sekunden - Rapid schlug in der Europa League-Qualifikation den hohen Favoriten Aston Villa 1:0 und darf nun sogar auf den Aufstieg hoffen."Der "Kurier" titelt in Anspielung an Usain Bolt, der gestern bei der Leichtathletik-WM in Berlin in 19,19 Sekunden einen Weltrekord über 200 Meter aufstellte: "Nur Rapid war schneller als Bolt" - Nikica Jelavic traf nach 16 Sekunden zur Führung. Das schnellste Tor in der Rapid-Europacupgeschichte.(chb)
28.07.2015