Nicolas Kühn (16th) and Marco Grüll with a penalty kick (18th) ensured clear conditions early on and intact chances for the group phase. Lukasz Zwolinski only managed to get the goal back (82′). While the European Cup chapter is over for the Poles this year, coach Ferdinand Feldhofer’s team will meet Neftci Baku away in the third qualifying round next Thursday. The Azerbaijani side eliminated Cyprus’ Aris Limassol 3-0 in the second leg, turning the tide after a 2-0 first-leg defeat. At the same time, this means that the Rapidler Bundesliga game on Sunday at Austria Klagenfurt (5:00 p.m.) can take place as planned.
In the second duel with the Polish league fourth-placed last season, Feldhofer switched the full-backs in his starting line-up compared to the first leg: Thorsten Schick was allowed to play on the right instead of Martin Koscelnik, and on the left, as against Ried, Jonas Auer started for Martin Moormann. Coach Tomasz Kaczmarek also made two changes to the starting line-up for the Poles: Zwolinski attacked instead of Flavio Paixao, and Jakub Kaluzinski replaced Latvian Kristers Tobers in midfield.
An intensive and fast game developed between the green-whites from Gdansk and Vienna – the latter appeared in their red-blue away jerseys – with initially slight advantages for the hosts. Ilkay Durmus tested Niklas Hedl (13th) for the first time after a drive down the left, who showed no weaknesses. Only three minutes later, however, the ball wriggled in the Poles’ net. After a push through Marco Grüll, Nicolas Kühn was served. The new German signing didn’t hesitate and scored the lead for the Viennese with his remarkable left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area – the ball was slightly deflected.
And Rapid struck out for a double strike. After a brisk combination via Kühn and Moritz Oswald, the game device reached Guido Burgstaller, who vehemently moved towards the penalty area and skillfully sought the foul. Kaluzinski did him exactly this favor, but probably just outside the sixteen. The Swiss referee Alessandro Dudic pointed to the point, there is no VAR in this phase of the competition. Grüll didn’t miss the chance and made it 2-0 (18′), although Lechia goalie Dusan Kuciak got the ball with his right hand.
The Poles were visibly shocked by the two effective hits, the Feldhofer troop now largely controlled what was happening. In the 35th minute, Bernhard Zimmermann, after a fine ball relay, started an artistic side kick, which didn’t cause any problems for Kuciak. Shortly before the break Kaluzinski tried it from a distance, but instead of a goal there was only a corner (44th).
Lechia coach Kaczmarek brought fresh energy for the intended comeback for the second half with Flavio Paixao and Jaroslaw Kubicki (for Christian Clemens and Kaluzinski). Things got really dicey for Rapid for the first time in the 53rd minute: after a Stangl pass, Kevin Wimmer dangerously deflected the ball towards his own goal, but Grüll saved just before the goal line. Maciej Gajos missed the goal a little later with a header (56th). Kühn, on the other hand, missed the chance to make it 3-0 after a dribble (64′).
The fact that things got exciting again at the end is also thanks to Filip Koperski, who came on for David Stec. The right-back passed Jonas Auer and served Zwolinski in an exemplary manner, who made it 1-2 from close range (82nd). Hope was burgeoning again for Gdańsk: Kacper Sezonienko missed the equalizer (84′). With luck, the Viennese finally brought the narrow victory over time.
Source: Nachrichten
