Dundee United's hopes of Uefa Conference League progression remain alive after a "really gutsy" performance where they twice came from behind to earn an excellent draw with a slick Rapid Vienna in the Austrian capital.

Summer signings Max Watters and Zac Sapsford both scored as Jim Goodwin's side held their own against a one of last season's quarter-finalists.

Already riven with injuries, United lost Isaac Pappoe early on and had to withstand home pressure in a raucous Allianz Stadion. But they handled the occasion and take the tie back to Tannadice with a play-off place within reach.

"It was very nervy at the end. The team was running on empty," said Goodwin.

"We don't have the options available to us to freshen things up, but I thought it was a really gutsy performance from the team.

"We showed real courage and togetherness within the group to just put bodies on the line and try and take a positive result back to Dundee with us."

After a resolute start, United conceded when Petter Nosakhare Dahl ghosted past Vicko Sevelj to meet a whipped Bendeguz Bolla cross, and sidefoot Rapid in front.

United did not let their heads drop and remained resolute, with Sapsford showing great determination to burst down the left and cut back for Watters to equalise, sending the raucous travelling support wild.

Yevhen Kucherenko in goal dealt well with a glut of late first-half chances from Rapid, until another Bolla cross was fizzed in and deflected fortuitously for the waiting Matthias Seidl to rifle low into the bottom corner.

Goodwin had spoken about the need for his players to be brave and stay in the tie for the return leg at Tannadice next Thursday, and the second-half showing exemplified the manager's instruction.

Goalkeeper Kucherenko thwarted Andrija Radulovic's shot before flicking away a close-range header and meeting Dahl one-on-one to quell the danger.

United continued to hold firm before Sapsford latched onto Ivan Dolcek's looping pass to fire the equaliser back across the scampering Niklas Hedl.

Heroic late blocks from Will Ferry and Craig Sibbald denied Rapid a third, with the offside flag ruling out an injury-time header for the hosts.

United's fourth-placed finish in the Premiership last season flew under the radar at times, but they consistently punch above their weight.

This was a continuation of that trend.

For much of the game, they were pinned back, but their defending was rarely scrappy or last-ditch. It was well-drilled, organised, and planned meticulously.

Much had been made, too, of United's lack of Scottish players, but Craig Sibbald was outstanding in midfield and Goodwin trusted 18-year-old Owen Stirton for the final 30 minutes, and the young forward played his part in the second leveller.

When Yevhen Kucherenko signed for United in the summer, Goodwin said the goalkeeper could be a "long-term asset" for the club.

The 25-year-old's performance in Vienna had an immediate impact.

A handful of key saves kept United in the game and in the tie as a whole. His quality in dealing with close-range chances was particularly impressive.

Midfielder Sibbald deserves a mention too. A composed performance saw him routinely closing down passing lanes and breaking up Rapid's attacking moves.

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "It was a really enjoyable performance, and I really enjoyed the occasion.

"The United supporters were excellent and I'm pleased we were able to put on a performance they can be proud of.

When asked if his team showed enough to suggest they can through, Goodwin added: "I think they did. We had a number of dangerous attacks ourselves."

Dundee United defender Will Ferry: "We can hang with these big teams, big clubs.

"Don't get me wrong, there were points where they were popping it and the movement of the front four sometime was really hard to deal with.

"But this is what we dream of as a kid, playing against these good teams, good players, good atmospheres."

United must rouse themselves to host Hearts on Sunday in the Scottish Premiership (15:00 BST), while Rapid welcome Sturm Graz on the same day in the Austrian top flight.

The sides will then reconvene at Tannadice next Thursday (19:45) to determine who will play either AIK Stockholm or FC Gyor in the play-off round.