Rapid resolute to see off Rubin

SK Rapid Wien made sure of their passage into the UEFA Cup second qualifying round with a goalless draw at FC Rubin Kazan.

Two suspended
The Austrian side had won 3-1 at home last week and knew that a solid defensive showing would be enough to finish the job in this UEFA Intertoto Cup third-round tie. Rubin were fresh off the back of a 3-0 league defeat of Russian capital club FC Lokomotiv Moskva in midweek but were never able to overcome the absence of suspended defenders Gabriel and Lasha Salukvadze after first-leg red cards.

Several misses
Rubin began brightly, creating the first opening on 27 minutes when Vladimir Bairamov missed the target following an Aleksandr Gackan cross. The hosts dominated the rest of the second half with Aleksandr Ryazantsev shooting wide, Sergei Budylin going close with a free-kick and Bairamov again spurning a chance from close range. The pressure continued after the break but to no avail with both Budylin and Bairamov again denied by Austria goalkeeper Helge Payer. Rubin’s hopes disappeared with the dismissal of South African midfielder Macbeth Sibaya and if anything Rapid looked the most likely after that to break the deadlock although they were more than happy with the stalemate.