Vienna inflict Rapid European exit on Villa

Aston Villa's dreams of European glory were snuffed out at the qualifying stage as they were knocked out of the Europa League at by Rapid Vienna.

Villa were trailing 1-0 from the away leg in Austria and although they won 2-1 on the night, the Viennese outfit went through on away goals.

Martin O'Neill's team started brightly and Ashley Young earned a first half penalty, only to see it saved. But minutes later the winger was brought down in the box for a second time and this time James Milner stepped up to convert the spot kick.

In the second half John Carew made it 2-0 with a low shot at the near post, putting Villa in the driving seat.

However, the Austrians pushed forward and with 15 minutes left Nikica Jelavic converted one of several opportunities to give Vienna the all-important away goal that sent them through.

Everton and Fulham both made it through the qualifying rounds and Glasgow Celtic will also be in the draw after losing their Champions League play-off with Arsenal.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Peter Lansley, Times: "At least this time there will be no mid-winter dilemmas over which line-up Aston Villa should select for continental combat. Martin O’Neill’s team scored one spot-kick and missed another, but paid the penalty for allowing an impressive Rapid Vienna team a soft start last week and a strong finish this."

Jason Burt, Daily Telegraph: "Goodnight Vienna. Or, rather, goodnight Villa. The club, according to their winger James Milner, needs to be playing European football. Well, not this season. Not after last night. Aston Villa crashed out of the Europa League, winning the match but losing the tie on the away goals rule, and severely denting their ambitions and the ambitions of manager Martin O'Neill."

Stuart James, Guardian: "Aston Villa's European adventure this season is over almost before it started. Having scored the two goals needed to put themselves into a position to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League, the all too familiar defensive frailties in Martin O'Neill's side resurfaced as Nikica Jelavic, Rapid Vienna's scorer in the first leg, struck 14 minutes from time to knock Villa out on the away-goals rule." ·