Second Rapid scalp sends Hapoel top

Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC moved to the top of UEFA Europa League Group C and on to the brink of the last 32 thanks to an impressive victory against SK Rapid Wien.

Out in front
Avihay Yadin's deflected 13th-minute strike was added to after the restart by Gil Vermouth, who then turned provider five minutes later when he played in Bebars Natcho. With Celtic FC holding Hamburger SV to a draw in the section's other match, Hapoel leapfrog their German rivals and require just a point from their final two matches to progress.

Deflected effort
Rapid's 5-1 loss to Hapoel on Matchday 3 was their joint heaviest margin of defeat in the competition and it looked as though they were determined to make amends from the outset, creating their first chance on six minutes when Veli Kavlak's angled effort was kept out by Vincent Enyeama. Branko Bošković was next to threaten with a dipping left-foot shot which Enyeama acrobatically beat away before Hapoel scored with their first effort on goal, Yadin's long-range shot taking a big deflection en route to the top corner.

Timely challenge
Only Ragnvald Soma's last-ditch challenge prevented Samuel Yeboah from doubling the lead when the Ghanaian was through on goal, while soon after Etey Shechter rounded goalkeeper Helge Payer but, with the angle narrowing, shot into the side netting. Nikica Jelavić glanced a free-kick on to the crossbar as Rapid finished the half in the ascendency.

Solo goal
The second half continued as the first had ended – with Rapid pressing – yet, like the opening period, it was Hapoel who struck the telling blow after 65 minutes. Gil Vermouth took advantage of a fortuitous ricochet off Markus Katzer, outpaced two defenders, rounded Payer and rolled the ball into the empty net. With Rapid shocked, Vermouth drifted inside two challenges and played in Natcho, who put the outcome beyond doubt with a cool finish.