SK Rapid is in the quarter-finals of a European football competition for the first time in 29 years. The Viennese team defeated the Bosnian champion Borac Banja Luka in the second leg of the Conference League round of 16 on Thursday after a 100-minute onslaught with 2:1 after extra time (1:1, 0:0). In the quarter-finals on April 10 (away) and April 17, they will face the Swedish club Djurgarden.

Rapid clearly dominated the 1:1 draw in the first leg, and in front of 23,000 fans in Hütteldorf, Robert Klauß's team was even more superior. The Green-Whites squandered numerous high-quality chances, hit the woodwork three times, and fell behind with the visitors' first shot on goal by Sandri Ogrinec (66th minute). Dion Beljo, who had already scored in Banja Luka, quickly equalized (70th minute). In extra time, Louis Schaub (96th minute) relieved his team and the fans with his 19th European competition goal.

Rapid Was Close to a Dream Start

In less than 30 seconds, Rapid had a huge chance for a dream start. After a cross from Nikolaus Wurmbrand, Beljo had a shot from the five-yard box but hit the goalkeeper. Schaub's follow-up shot hit the crossbar.

Rapid, as in the first leg with captain Matthias Seidl only on the bench and surprisingly with Moritz Oswald as left-back, pressed on. With quick and precise combination play, they mostly put pressure on the deep-lying opponent from the right side. Eight shots in the penalty area in the first 20 minutes brought no success.

Woodwork Prevents Lead

The strong rain that started after a quarter of an hour did not slow down the Green-Whites' flow of play. After a corner, the Hütteldorf team was unlucky again. Isak Jansson hit the ball against the crossbar for the second time (37th minute), and the chaotic scenes that followed did not lead to success, nor did the storming phase at the end of the first half. The statistics recorded 24 attacks by Rapid at halftime.

Rapid continued with their dominant play in the second half - and hit the post for the third time with a shot from Wurmbrand (49th minute). In the 61st minute, Wurmbrand ran a counterattack and finished himself, instead of passing to one of two very well-positioned teammates.

Brief Borac Lead

The lack of efficiency in front of the goal was to be punished. The until then completely harmless guests took the lead in the 66th minute, with Ogrinec, who was signed from WSG Tirol in the summer, scoring with a bouncer. However, the response came quickly, as Beljo scored with a shot from just outside the penalty area (70th minute). Shots from Mamadou Sangare, Jansson, Oswald, and Ercan Kara missed the target in the final moments of regular time.

The next restart brought the next top chances for Rapid. Goalkeeper Filip Manojlovic prevented the deficit with strong saves against Jansson and Beljo (both in the 92nd minute), but he was beaten in the 96th minute. A beautiful combination was perfectly finished by Schaub into the far corner. With his 19th European Cup goal, he surpassed club legend Hans Krankl (18) and is now second for Rapid behind Steffen Hofmann (25). It got tense again in the 108th minute during a duel between Bendeguz Bolla and Stefan Savic in the penalty area, but the whistle remained silent.

GAK Awaits

The success brought Rapid an additional 1.3 million euros in UEFA bonuses and momentum for the next decisive match. On Sunday, the Hütteldorfers will fight again at home against GAK for a place in the Bundesliga championship group.

(APA/Red)

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