Nantes pop Cork's bubble

FC Nantes Atlantique stayed on course for a second consecutive UEFA Intertoto Cup semi-final by claiming a 3-1 third-round first-leg victory at home to Cork City FC, while in today's other ties Esbjerg fB drew 1-1 at FK Vetra and Tampere United held OFK Beograd 0-0.

Early goals
Irish side Cork have been the surprise package of the tournament so far, but found themselves 2-0 down inside 22 minutes in France. Nantes took a 12th-minute lead when Frédéric da Rocha and Aurélien Capoue combined to cross to Olivier Quint, who made no mistake. Soon afterwards Jérémy Toulalan sent Hassan Ahamada through and the striker doubled the lead.

Fenn strike
Da Rocha made it three midway through the second half for the for the side beaten last year in the semi-final stage by AC Perugia when he turned in Quint's cross. But Neale Fenn claimed an away goal for Cork after good work from John O'Flynn eleven minutes from time. Cork chairman Brian Lennox said: "We are a team on the go and won’t give up without a fight. We are going to get two goals. I have no doubt about it."

Close encounter
Denmark's EfB travelled to Lithuania fresh from their impressive second-round elimination of OGC Nice. And the visitors became the first away side to score at Vetra in this season's Intertoto Cup when Jess Christian Thorup found the target four minutes before the break.

Karvelis levels
Vytautas Karvelis levelled the scores on 68 minutes to keep Vetra, who knocked out Scotland's Hibernian FC last week, in the running for a UEFA Cup début and more immediately a possible semi-final meeting with Club Atlético de Madrid, who won 4-2 at FC Zlín in one of yesterday's nine ties.

Tampere draw
In the third match to be played on Sunday, Tampere played out a scoreless draw with OFK. The Finnish club, who have yet to concede a goal on home soil in this season's competition, travel to Belgrade for the return on Saturday, when all 12 second legs will be played.