Hapoel Tel Aviv all but booked their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League at the expense of Rapid Vienna as they reasserted their dominance over the Austrian club.

Goals from Avichai Yadin, Gil Vermouth and Bebars Natcho earned the Israeli club the win in Vienna, and it amounts to a rout when added to the 5-1 victory Hapoel enjoyed when they played Rapid at home earlier in the group stages.

The win sees Hapoel move on to nine points and top spot in Group C, needing only one further point from their two remaining games to book a place in the last 32.

Rapid actually began the game brightly, with Veli Kavlak having the pick of their early chances but seeing his close-range effort parried clear by Vincent Enyeama.

But Hapoel were ahead after just 13 minutes as Yadin lashed the ball home from long range.

Rapid picked themselves up, though, and continued to attack but Kavlak sent a pair of shots wide from good positions.

Douglas then had to make an important block for the visitors when Branko Boskovic met Nikica Jelavic's cross, before Yadin missed the target from inside the area.

Rapid were inches away from an equaliser just after the half-hour mark, but Stefan Hoffman's header struck the crossbar.

With time running out before half-time, Markus Heikkinen headed over from a good position.

Rapid began the second half brightly as well, but Jelavic saw his early shot saved by Enyeama.

But they could not convert any of their chances, and were made to pay when Hapoel doubled their lead in the 65th minute when Vermouth fired in from close range.

Rapid sent on Christopher Drazan as a substitute and he was almost the instant hero but his shot was saved by Enyeama.

And moments later, Hapoel wrapped up the win as Vermouth turned provider, teeing up Natcho for the finish.

Rapid would not give up, with Andreas Dober missing from close range and Hamdi Salihi volleying against the post, but there was no way back.

Rapid must now turn their attention to closing the three-point gap to second-placed Hamburg if they are to progress.

Teams:

Rapid Vienna Payer, Dober, Soma, Patocka, Katzer,Pehlivan (Gartler 57), Heikkinen, Boskovic, Hoffmann,Kavlak (Drazan 67), Jelavic (Salihi 79).

Subs Not Used: Hedl, Thonhofer, Kulovits, Trimmel.

Hapoel Tel-Aviv Enyeama, Ben Dayan, Badir, Douglas, Bondarv,Vermouth, Yadin (Zandberg 87), Natcho,Vucicevic (Menteshashvili 58), Yeboah (Lala 72), Shechter.

Subs Not Used: Yanko, Zahavi, Kende, Shish.

Booked: Yadin.

Goals: Yadin 13, Vermouth 65, Natcho 70.

Att: 49,000

Ref: Tommy Skjerven (Norway).