Hope of participating in European club competition next season for the South African duo of Yusuf Maart and Antonio van Wyk at Austrian club SV Ried were crushed on Monday night as they lost the second leg of their playoff tie.
Ried had a tenuous 2-1 advantage from Friday’s first leg of their European Conference League playoff against Rapid Vienna but were beaten 3-0 in the Austrian capital in the return.
Instead Rapid, one of the oldest clubs in Europe, will participate in the Conference League next term.
Ried had exceed expectation by reaching the playoff final but it proved a bridge too far.
Maart was in the starting line-up but Van Wyk out injured. It was the last fixture of the season for the pair, who are headed home to the Cape for their holidays.
Maart’s debut campaign in Ried proved a major success for the former Kaizer Chiefs captain, who started 35 matches to become a fan favourite.
Former Stellenbosch winger Van Wyk completed his second season at the club, scoring three goals in 29 starts. Last campaign he helped them to win promotion.