Villa suffer Rapid recurrence

Aston Villa crashed out of the Europa League 3-2 (at the final qualifying hurdle to Rapid Vienna for the second successive season despite twice being in front.

It was a big financial blow for the midlands club and also weakened caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald's chances of being given the job on a permanent basis.

Gabriel Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey netted for Villa but Rapid refused to buckle and goals from Atdhe Nuhiu, Mario Sonnleitner and Rene Gartler stunned the near 30,000 crowd as Villa's Stiliyan Petrov saw a penalty saved.

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