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Rapid Vienna suffered a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on matchday five of the Europa League group stage. Despite their third defeat in the current group stage, Hütteldorfer have promotion to the 16th final in their own hands. Rapid will need a home win against Molde next Thursday to advance to the knockout round.
Upper Londoners set the record straight in the first semester
Rapid coach Didi Kühbauer had an amazing starting line-up today that no one had expected beforehand. Richard Strebinger was allowed to guard the door for the first time since October 25. Up front, Koya Kitagawa and Deni Alar reached the train. Lion Schuster made his Europa League debut.
Arsenal took advantage of the uncertainties of the completely reorganized Rapid starting XI and scored two quick shots. In the 10th minute, Lacazette served a good 25 meters after a turnover from Demir. His violent shot drives away from Strebinger and into goal – 1-0 (10th). The Rapid Keeper didn’t look good on this shot. Eight minutes later, London’s superiors rose to 2-0. Pablo Mari was not attacked in a corner and was able to enter unconsciously through the inside bar (18th).
The big favorite moved on and was unlucky in the 27th minute when a Lacazette shot hit the crossbar. Soon after, Maitland-Niles was too easy to refuel in the penalty area, but the 23-year-old’s shot clearly missed on goal. Shortly before halftime, the English met for the third time that night: First Nketiah failed due to Strebinger, who reacted strongly. In the follow-up, the 21-year-old hit the empty goal with his head: 3-0 (44 °).
Rapid starts off ideally in the second half, but Arsenal don’t let anything go
Rapid Kühbauer’s coach put Barac and Schick on the line for Hofmann and Ullmann during the break. And immediately after the break he went berserk: First Strebinger was able to save by running against Nelson before Rapid’s first punch was practically in return. Yusuf Demir failed with a volley to Arsenal goalkeeper Runarsson. After that, Arase missed twice before Koya Kitagawa fired from a good eight meters – 3: 1 (47th).
As a result, it was Richard Strebinger who maneuvered back into view with very loud parades. In the 58th minute, the fast keeper dived from a Lacazette, fired and parried with sensational reflexes. Eight minutes later, the 27-year-old was left powerless after Maitland-Niles left the leather perfectly for substitute Smith-Rowe. The 20-year-old calmly pushed from a suspicious position: 4: 1 (66º).
In the 80th minute Strebinger was able to excel again when he converted a free kick from Ceballos over the crossbar. In the end, Arsenal celebrated a confident 4-1 home win. In the parallel game, Molde celebrated a 3-1 home win against Dundalk. The Norwegians are three points ahead of Rapid in second place. The goal difference is minus two for both teams. Molde won the first game against Rapid 1-0. It means: Rapid needs a home win on Thursday in a week to advance to the 16th final.
UEFA Europa League, group stage, matchday five
Arsenal London – SK Rapid Wien 4: 1 (3: 0)
Emirates Stadium, London; 2,000 spectators; SR Petrescu (ROU)
Live ticker Arsenal London vs. Rapid Vienna
Tear: Lacazette (10.), Mari (18.), Nketiah (44.), Smith-Rowe (66.) bzw. Kitagawa (47 years)
London Arsenal: Runarsson – Cedric Soares, Mustafi (70./Cámaras), Pablo Mari, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles – Nelson (63./Willian), Pepe, Elneny (63./Ceballos) – Nketiah (81./Balogun), Lacazette (63./Smith-Rowe)
Fast vienna: Strebinger – Sonnleitner, Hofmann (46./Barac), Greiml – Arase, Demir, Schuster, Ritzmaier (66./Knasmüllner), Ullmann (46./Schick) – Kitagawa (66./Kara), Alar (77./ Sulzbacher)
yellow cards: Elneny (42 °), Mustafi (61 °) and Hofmann (39 °), Sonnleitner (79 °)
by Daniel Ringsmuth / Ligaportal, Photo: GEPA / Wien Energie
