Late goal sinks Villa

Europa League review: Aston Villa's hopes of reaching the group stages of the Europa League were ended by a late goal from Rapid…

Europa League review:Aston Villa's hopes of reaching the group stages of the Europa League were ended by a late goal from Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic in the second leg of the qualifier at Villa Park.

Martin O'Neill's side looked to have turned around a first leg deficit after a James Milner penalty and John Carew's second half goal had put them 2-1 ahead on aggregate.

But Jelavic, who had scored for Vienna in the first encounter, had the final say with 14 minutes remaining to send Villa crashing out on the away-goals rule after the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate.

But there was better news elsewhere for English sides.

READ MORE

Evertonbooked their place in the Europa League group stages after drawing 1-1 with Sigma Olomouc to wrap up the tie 5-1 on aggregate.

The Toffees suffered an early shock when Tony Hibbert was sent off for a professional foul with only seven minutes on the clock, and Sigma pushed forward immediately to try and take advantage.

But having weathered the storm, Everton hit back shortly before half-time through Steven Pienaar, whose emphatic strike effectively ended the tie and rendered Pavel Sultes' late equaliser a mere consolation.

Martin Kushev headed a late winner for Amkar Perm but Fulhamcompleted a 3-2 aggregate victory in Russia despite the 1-0 loss on the day to secure their place in the group stages.

Roy Hodgson's side had given themselves a two-goal lead to take to Perm, and apart from a major scare in the closing minutes they were comfortable.

Kushev powered home Georgi Peev's cross from the right, via the underside of the crossbar, and the home side passed up a late chance to win the tie on the away goals rule when substitute Nikolai Zhilyaev shot over the bar from eight yards.

A 2-0 win for Heartsover Dinamo Zagreb wasn't enough for the Scots to overturn a 4-0 defeat in Croatis last week.