Heskey 76      Sonnleitner 78

                                                                                                                      Gartler 81

For the second time in exactly twelve months, Aston Villa exited the Europa League at the hands of Vienna’s Rapid, after a game they had largely controlled ran away from them in a dizzying climax.

Gabriel Agbonlahor put Villa ahead on the night and in the tie on 22 minutes with a firm left-footed finish past keeper Raimund Hedl from Ashley Young’s pinpoint low cross.

And it was a surprise when Atdhe Nuhiu headed Rapid level from Veli Kavlak’s cross seven minutes after half-time.

Villa should have had a penalty in the 70^th minute when Young was hauled down by Markus Katzer. And two minutes later, Emile Heskey won a spot-kick for a far less obvious foul by Mario Sonnleitner.

Hedl saved Stilian Petrov’s spot-kick. But Heskey fired the rebound into the ground and over the bar.

Heskey made quick amends chesting home Habib Beye’s off-target left-foot shot from the edge of the six-yard box.

But Villa immediately fell apart. Sonnleitner headed home Stefan Hoffmann’s corner to put Rapid Vienna ahead in the tie for the first time, on away goals.

And two minutes later they led on aggregate when substitute Rene Gartler’s first touch converted Christopher Trimmel low right-wing cross.