Shakhtar Donetsk see off Rapid Vienna, qualify for Champions League group stages

Shakhtar Donetsk have survived a scare from Rapid Vienna to progress to the Champions League group stages following a second-leg 2-2 draw with the Austrian side.

Holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg, the hosts looked to be on course for an easy passage to the group stages after taking an early lead.

Taison raced onto a through-ball and although his shot was saved by the advancing Jan Novota, Marlos picked up the loose ball and bent in a left-footed effort from 20 yards.

Rapid Vienna responded admirably though and were level within three minutes. Florian Kainz wriggled free on the left of the box and pulled the ball back to Louis Schaub. His initial shot was blocked but the forward flung himself bravely at the loose ball to head home from close range.

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Then the visitors went ahead with a delicate 20-yard free kick from Steffen Hofmann.

However, Shakhtar hit back almost immediately as Olexandr Gladkiy pounced on a mistake from Christopher Dibon to slide the ball home from six yards.

The second period was a more subdued affair, with both sides looking to keep things tighter than in the entertaining first half.

In the final 10 minutes, Vienna pushed more and more men forward, but their hopes seemed to be extinguished when Mario Sonnleitner was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Nonetheless, there was still time for two more chances.

First, Robert Beric planted a free header wide from six yards and then Philipp Prosenik rattled the upright with a follow-up shot with virtually the last kick of the game.