Source: Team_Talk
Vienna waltz past Villa once again
Aston Villa crashed out of the Europa League at the final qualifying hurdle against Rapid Vienna, who won 3-2 on Thursday and 4-3 on aggregate.[LNB] It was a big financial blow for the Midlands club and also weakened caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald's chances of being given the job permanently.[LNB]Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey netted for Villa but Rapid refused to buckle and goals from Atdhe Nuhiu, Mario Sonnleitner and Rene Gartler stunned the near 30,000 crowd.[LNB]The hundreds of Rapid fans held up a 'your nightmare returns' banner before kick-off - a reminder to Villa of their victory at the same ground 12 months ago - and it rang true as Stiliyan Petrov also missed a second-half penalty.[LNB]Villa made a promising start in the driving rain and swirling wind and Agbonlahor came close to breaking the deadlock after 60 seconds.[LNB]Ashley Young threaded a pass through to Agbonlahor, whose left-footed shot was well struck. But Rapid keeper Raimund Hedl was equal to the task and held onto the low drive at full stretch.[LNB]The Rapid fans were making their presence felt with a constant barrage of noise but James Collins almost silenced them after 17 minutes.[LNB]Young's perfectly flighted corner picked out the Welsh international but his header flew just wide.[LNB]Hedl then parried away a dipping Young free-kick and Collins had a close range effort blocked.[LNB]After 22 minutes Villa made their supremacy count with Agbonlahor's first goal of the season.[LNB]The impressive Young was the provider with a teasing low ball across the box and Agbonlahor made no mistake from close range.[LNB]It needed a fine tackle from Markus Heikkinen to deny Stephen Ireland as he prepared to shoot.[LNB]Agbonlahor tried to continue after suffering a knock to his leg and he was replaced after 40 minutes by Marc Albrighton.[LNB]Albrighton quickly made his presence felt with a powerful run which took him past three challenges before he drilled his eventual shot just wide.[LNB]But after 52 minutes Villa were stunned when Nuhiu brought Rapid back level on aggregate at 2-2.[LNB]Beye lost possession on the left flank and was then turned past by Veli Kavlak.[LNB]His eventual cross was headed home at the near post in powerful fashion by Nuhiu who had also netted in the first leg a week ago.[LNB]Villa came close to regaining the lead after 61 minutes.[LNB]Heskey's cross was diverted into the path of Young and the ball rebounded off him and inches wide of the far post.[LNB]Collins was just wide with a header from Albrighton's centre but the contest was now more evenly matched.[LNB]Villa had strong claims for a penalty rejected when Young appeared to be brought down by Markus Katzer.[LNB]Referee Eric Braamhaar pointed to the spot when Heskey was fouled by Sonnleitner after 72 minutes.[LNB]But skipper Petrov's spot-kick was saved to his right by Hedl before Heskey wasted the rebound.[LNB]Villa regained the lead after 76 minutes when Heskey chested home a volley from Habib Beye.[LNB]But the home side were stunned as Rapid struck twice in the space of three minutes.[LNB]First Guzan could only parry a header from Sonnleitner which still contained enough power to cross the line.[LNB]Then in the 81st minute substitute Gartler converted a low centre from Christopher Trimmel.
