Thanks in part to a hat trick by Kara, the Green-Whites advanced to the third qualifying round of the Conference League with a commanding victory over Andorran side Santa Coloma. Awaiting the Hütteldorf team there is the winner of the match between Paide Linnameeskond (Est) and PFC Zira (Aze).
Rapid advanced to the third qualifying round of the Conference League without any trouble. On Wednesday, the Hütteldorf-based team celebrated a 6-2 home victory in the second-round second leg against FC Santa Coloma from Andorra and advanced with an aggregate score of 9-3. Kara (9th, 33rd, 63rd), Dahl (24th), Cvetkovic (58th), and Wurmbrand (82nd) scored the goals for Rapid, who will now face either Paide Linnameeskond (EST) or PFC Zira (AZB).
In their first home game of the season—and their first on natural grass—the home team set the stage for victory early on in front of 13,208 fans. Kara scored from just outside the five-meter box after a cross from Bendeguz Bolla. Dahl capped off an extremely well-executed attack that started in their own half and involved several passes with a shot from a tight angle into the near corner off a pass from Tilio, making it 2–0.
The technically skilled visitors put up a brave fight despite their virtually hopeless situation and pulled one back with a header by Guti off a cross from Alex Gomez (33′), before Kara restored the two-goal lead following perfect setup play by Seidl and a strong individual effort.
Rapid remained in control after halftime
Rapid continued to have an easy time against Santa Coloma in the second half. Cvetkovic extended the lead to 4–1 from close range after a free-kick cross from Seidl and a touch by Kara from a position that looked offside—there was no VAR in this match. Five minutes later, Kara completed his hat trick following another assist from Bolla. The remainder of the match turned into a training session of sorts for Rapid, with substitute Wurmbrand rounding out the scoring to make it 12 after an assist from fellow substitute Jannes Horn, and Rodriguez (87th minute) sealing the final score.
The Green-Whites have thus won all three of their season openers. The league season kicks off on Sunday at the Allianz Stadium against SCR Altach, before the team continues in the Conference League qualifiers on Wednesday or Thursday, either in Estonia or Azerbaijan.
