Late Rapid fire sees Villa exit Europe

ASTON VILLA’S hopes of reaching the group stages of the Europa League were ended by a late goal from Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic in the second leg of the qualifier at Villa Park last night.

Martin O’Neill’s side looked to have turned around a first leg deficit after a James Milner penalty and John Carew’s second-half goal had put them ahead on aggregate.

But Jelavic, who had scored for Vienna in the first encounter, had the final say with 14 minutes remaining.

It will be a massive disappointment to O’Neill and his players and will also hit the club financially via the loss of three guaranteed home fixtures and television revenue.

They were left to rue a first half spot-kick blunder by Ashley Young whose effort was saved by Vienna ‘keeper Helge Payer.

Earlier, Fulham manager Roy Hodgson admitted his side had been “stretched to the limit” after the Cottagers reached the group stages despite a 1-0 defeat to Amkar Perm in Russia.

Martin Kushev’s late header secured victory for the home side on the night but Fulham prevailed 3-2 on aggregate despite being without six first-choice players for the long trip to Russia.

Hodgson said: “I thought it was a very good game and I’m very happy that we went through.

“Amkar played particularly well today and made life difficult for us throughout the 90 minutes.

“And of course with the very late goal it made the last five minutes of the game extra exciting.

“In the second half, or the last part of the match at Craven Cottage and the 90 minutes today, they [Amkar] have shown that they are a very good quality team and they have stretched us to the limit in order to get our qualification.

“The fact that Amkar came forward and played so well was all credit to them.

“I don’t think today we attacked well, I don’t think we passed the ball well, I don’t think we used the ball very well when we got it, so we were guilty of giving the ball away back to the opposition far too often.”

Elsewhere, Everton completed a “job well done” at Sigma Olomouc, despite a sending-off for Tony Hibbert.

Everton drew 1-1 for a 5-1 aggregate victory after a match which saw full-back Hibbert sent off in just the seventh minute for bringing down Jakub Petr.

Steven Pienaar scored shortly before half-time – and despite substitute Pavel Sultes’ equaliser for the Czechs, David Moyes’ men were in control.

“It was a job well done,” the Toffees boss said.

“I am pleased we got through – it was important for us. I thought we got better as the game went on.

“They put us under pressure, but thankfully we defended well enough and got one ourselves.”

In Scotland, Hearts crashed out of the competition but restored their battered pride with a storming performance at Tynecastle which saw them win 2-0 on the night, losing 4-2 on aggregate.

Captain Michael Stewart sparked dreams of overturning the 4-0 first-leg deficit with his 16th-minute opener before defender Marius Zaliukas hooked in the second shortly after the break.