Rapid Wien eliminated in penalty shootout against Hearts, misses out on Conference League

SK Rapid Wien has missed out on participating in the group stage of the UEFA Conference League. In the second leg of the playoff against Heart of Midlothian, which took place in Vienna, the match ended 2-2 after 120 minutes. In front of their home crowd, the Viennese initially took the lead with a goal from Ercan Kara in the 35th minute, making it 1-0.

However, during the course of the match, Rapid ran into difficulties as they conceded two goals towards the end of regular time and in extra time. Despite having a numerical advantage, the Hütteldorfer managed to force extra time with a late goal from Nenad Cvetkovic, having led earlier in the first half.

In the extra time, Rapid scored their second goal as well, leveling the match at 2-2. However, the subsequent penalty shootout turned into a dramatic affair, where Rapid, after leading 1-0 in the first attempt, ultimately lost 5-3.

According to reports, the Viennese thus missed the chance for lucrative starting fees totaling 3.17 million euros, which they would have received had they advanced to the group stage. The defeat represents a setback for the traditional club in European competition.

The outcome came after an intense encounter in which Rapid recorded more shots on goal but failed to show the necessary composure at crucial moments. The Scottish side skillfully executed their pressure and capitalized on the opportunities that arose during the game.

Following this defeat, questions about the future of the squad arise as potential departures of players are expected. The club's management now faces the challenge of processing the painful loss and setting the course for the upcoming season.