Rapid immediately got after their Serbian opponents from the kick off: it was simply a case of win at all costs. The squad had worked so hard to get back into European competition this year, was all that effort just to fall at the first hurdle? The team had banished memories of the Vienna derby last time out and had only one objective in mind: turnaround the 1:2 first leg deficit. The Huetteldorfers controlled the lion's share of the first half, pressing, harrying and pushing their opponents further and further backwards. Patience the keyThe chances started to come: Steffen Hofmann fired off a twelfth minute shot, while Katzer tested the Serbian keeper with a 17th minute volley. Christopher Drazan also tried his hand, firing just over on the half hour mark. The Green & Whites made all the first half running, but the half time whistle went with the visitors predictably packing out the defence, making life tough for Rapid's creative players. Rapid needed a heroStraight after the restart the Gerhard Hanappi crowd were ready to leap out their seats to celebrate a goal, but Boyd's 53rd minute header from Hofmann's cross was too central and was gathered in by the away keeper. Three minutes later Guido Burgstaller nearly found the far corner, while Drazan was again looking dangerous around the Novi Sad penalty area. However, despite the fanatical support ringing down from the terraces, the crucial breakthrough goal remained illusive. The game was reaching fever pitch, Rapid needing to find a hero to save the situation. Cool head, young shouldersMario Sonnleitner could have been that hero in in the 74th minute, but his header shaved the top of the crossbar. The ultra defensive Serbian opponents made their own lives more difficult in the 83rd minute when they were reduced to ten men: Pavlovic chopped down Christopher Trimmel and quite rightly left the field of play early. With the crowd baying for a goal in the dying embers of the match, a golden opportunity presented itself: Boyd dragged down in the penalty area, 92nd minute penalty to Rapid. The coolest man in Vienna Deni Alar stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way and slid the ball home to send the Hanappi into wild celebrations. The desperate Serbs attempted to push forwards and in the 96th minute Boyd rounded off a counter attacking move, assisted by Hofmann, to rubber stamp Rapid's passage into the next round of the Europa League. Cue emotion, disbelief and wild celebrations. Europa League, third qualifying round, Second Leg: SK Rapid - Vojvodina Novi Sad 2:0 (0:0)Hanappi-Stadion, 15.800 Attendance, Ref Malek (POL) Goals: 1:0 Alar (91./Penalty), 2:0 Boyd (98.) SK Rapid: Königshofer - Trimmel, Sonnleitner, Gerson, Katzer - Heikkinen, Prager (71. Alar) - Hofmann, Burgstaller (93. Kulovits), Drazan - Boyd FK Vojvodina: Supic - Vulicevic, Djuric, Trajkovic, Pavlovic - Serginho Greene (88. Jokic), Ajuru (73. Mitosevic) - Stevanovic, Moreira, Poletanovic (92. Bojovic) - Oumarou Yellow Cards: Alar, Boyd Ajuru, Serginho Greene, PavlovicRed Card: Pavlovic (83./Foul) (gw)
14.08.2012