First leg score: Neftçi Bakı 2-1 Rapid Wien
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Match preview
Following last Thursday’s dramatic first leg at Eighth Kilometer District Stadium, this tie is finely poised.
Seven nights ago, Neftçi Bakı raced into a 2-0 lead at home with both Ataa Jaber and then U.S. international Kenny Saief on target.
The Azerbaijani side looked set to take a two-goal cushion to Austria until, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Guido Burgstaller scored a, potentially, crucial goal.
Just 2-1 down, Rapid Wien’s task is now far more manageable than it would otherwise have been.
Who will be celebrating at Allianz Stadion?
Die Grün-Weißen needed an away win to overcome Lechia Gdańsk in the previous round, but will be hoping their fans can roar them onto victory in this one.
Neftçi Bakı meantime featured in their first Europa League group phase a decade ago, but have failed in qualifying eight times subsequently.
In fact, last season, they lost three successive qualifiers, thereby dumped out of all three European competitions.
So, given that they’ve only won eight of their last 18 qualification ties, it would be a surprise if Neftçi got through this one.
The reward for the winners is a Europa Conference League play-off round clash with Vaduz or Konyaspor.
