Rapid Vienna vs FC Santa Coloma

Rapid needed no time to assert their authority. Bendegúz Bolla's cross from the right found Ercan Kara unmarked at the far post, and the Austrian striker directed a looping header beyond Alcaráz to open the scoring in the 10th minute — his third goal of the tie after scoring the winner in the first leg.

The lead doubled in the 24th minute. Marco Tilio drove to the byline and pulled back for P. Dahl, who swept a first-time finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Santa Coloma responded sharply. Guti pulled one back in the 30th minute, heading home Álex Gómez's floated cross to make it 2-1 and briefly revive Andorran hopes.

But Rapid extinguished them within three minutes. Kara collected Matthias Seidl's pass on the edge of the box, turned his marker and fired low into the corner for his second of the night in the 33rd minute, restoring Rapid's two-goal cushion at 3-1 by half-time.

The second half was one-way traffic. N. Cvetković powered in a header from Kara's assist in the 58th minute, and Kara completed his hat-trick five minutes later — again from Bolla's delivery — to make it 5-1. Substitute Nikolaus Wurmbrand added a sixth in the 82nd minute with a composed finish from J. Horn's pass, before Santa Coloma's Abreu scored a consolation in the 87th minute.

Santa Coloma's goal in the 30th minute — Guti's header — gave the visitors a glimmer at 2-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate. But Kara's emphatic response just three minutes later, his second of the match, killed the tie stone dead. It ensured Rapid went into the break with a two-goal lead on the night and a three-goal cushion overall, and Santa Coloma never threatened again.

Ercan Kara (Rapid Vienna) — Player of the Match. Three goals (10', 33', 63') and an assist for Cvetković's 58th-minute header. His first European hat-trick for Rapid took his tally to five goals across the two legs. The 30-year-old centre-forward led the line with relentless movement and finishing.

Bendegúz Bolla (Rapid Vienna). Two assists (10', 63') from right-back, both pinpoint crosses finished by Kara. The Hungarian international was a constant outlet down Rapid's right flank.

Matthias Seidl (Rapid Vienna). The captain dictated tempo from central midfield and supplied the assist for Kara's crucial second goal. Completed 89% of his passes in the opposition half.

Guti (FC Santa Coloma). Scored the visitors' first-half lifeline with a well-timed header and was Santa Coloma's most dangerous attacker before being substituted on 72 minutes.

Rapid's 54% possession and 14 shots (10 on target) to Santa Coloma's 6 (2 on target) tell only part of the story. The xG disparity — Rapid 3.55 to Santa Coloma's 0.73 (per 365Scores) — reflects the quality of chances created: Rapid's goals came from close-range headers and well-worked moves inside the box, while Santa Coloma's two efforts were headers from wide crosses worth 0.35 xG combined. Rapid converted 43% of their shots on target into goals, an efficient return that underscores their clinical edge.

Rapid Vienna advance 9-3 on aggregate to the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round, where they will face Paide Linnameeskond of Estonia, who eliminated FK Zira of Azerbaijan 2-1 on aggregate. The first leg of that tie is scheduled for 12 August 2026.

The result maintains Rapid's perfect start to competitive life under Johannes Hoff Thorup (two wins from two, with nine goals scored). For FC Santa Coloma, their European campaign ends in the second qualifying round for the second time in three seasons, after reaching the third round in 2023/24.

Rapid were ruthless when it mattered. After a nervy first leg in Andorra that finished 3-1, any doubts about their ability to finish the job were dispelled within 33 minutes. Kara's hat-trick was the headline, but the balance of Thorup's side — Bolla's width, Seidl's control, and the defensive solidity of Cvetković and Raux-Yao — suggests a team growing into its season with purpose. Paide Linnameeskond will pose a sterner test, but Rapid carry formidable momentum into the next round.