Nightmare for Dundalk's Aaron McCarey in City of Dreams as Vienna edge thriller

The former Wolves netminder was one of six changes made by interim head coach Filippo Giovagnoli

Aaron McCarey of Dundalk FC fails to save a shot on goal by Yusuf Demir of SK Rapid Wien. Picture: Vid Ponikvar/Sportsfile

Europa League: Rapid Wien 4 Dundalk 3

Filippo Giovagnoli defended his decision to rotate his goalkeepers as Dundalk came out on the wrong end of a seven-goal Europa League thriller against Rapid Wien in Vienna last night.

Aaron McCarey was one of six changes to the side which had lost against Arsenal at the Emirates the week before having been handed his European debut in place of veteran Gary Rogers.

However, the former Wolves netminder was poor for a number of the Austrians' goals as Dundalk missed out on a chance to claim their first points in Group B.

Asked about the decision afterwards, the Italian snapped: "I'm not constantly changing the keeper.

"After Arsenal we were talking about Gary making a mistake, after St Pat's the same thing. All the time, we do something, you guys have something to say. Whatever thing I do, it doesn't work for you. If I make some decisions, it's because we need to make some decisions.

"Gary played two games in five or six days. It was the time to put another goalie in goal and Aaron deserved to be there. That's it. Finished.

"I don't rotate because I am crazy. I rotate because there is a reason why and the reason is you cannot play three or four games in 10 or 12 days. Even if you recover a little bit physically then you can still commit mistakes and be exposed."

Giovagnoli admitted disappointment in the result but said it would give his side confidence for their three remaining matches in the group.

"Unfortunately the result is not good for us but I'm looking forward now to the future to the next three games with more positivity.

"I don't know if you guys understand the difference between a club like Dundalk and a club like Dundalk, Rapid Vienna or Arsenal. Are you checking the budget? Are you checking the value? Are you checking everything? It is important to understand this.

Daniel Cleary, right and Greg Sloggett of Dundalk react during the defeat. Picture: Vid Ponikvar/Sportsfile

"I have an amazing group of players and I am so proud of them but still the difference is there in resources and everything. We have to be honest," he said.

The visitors got off to a dream start when Chris Shields' looped ball into the box was headed to the net by Patrick Hoban despite Paul Gartler getting a hand to it.

Dietmar Kühbauer's side would then level on 22 minutes when captain Dejan Ljubičić's shot from range flashed over McCarey to the roof of the net.

Both sides had big chances after that but it would take until the 79th minute for the next goal to arrive with Kelvin Arase heading to a virtually empty net after McCarey failed to push clear Thorsten Schick's shot from an acute angle.

Dundalk were thrown a lifeline, however, when Mario Sonnleitner tripped substitute David McMillan in the box two minutes later with the striker dispatching the penalty to make it 2-2.

They then passed up a great chance to take the lead five minutes later when Greg Sloggett headed agonisingly wide from a corner.

That miss was to prove costly as Maximilian Hofmann headed the Austrians in front two minutes later after McCarey came for Stojković's cross and failed to get there.

They were then caught on the break in the 90th minute with Demir firing across the hapless keeper to the bottom right-hand corner.

McMillan would add a consolation from the penalty spot in the 96th minute but there was no time to search for a leveller.

Rapid Wien: Gartler, Stojković, Hofmann, Barać (Sonnleitner 54); Schick, Ljubičić, Knasmüllner (Demir 72), Petrovič (Grahovac 72), Ullmann; Kara, Arase.

Dundalk: McCarey; Hoare, Cleary, Boyle, Leahy (Dummigan 65); Shields, Flores (Murray 76); Gannon (Mountney 65), Sloggett, Duffy (Oduwa 72); Hoban (McMillan 76).

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann (Malta).