Benko propels Varteks to victory

Benko backlash
Trailing 2-1 after the first leg in Albania, Varteks claimed a 5-3 aggregate victory despite falling behind to Altin Haxhi's goal in the return. Benko then came to the fore, registering four times to set up a second-round match with the winner of Sunday's game between FC International Turku and ÍA Akranes.

Martin dismay
FK Žalgiris Vilnius were the first team to progress on the night, after a 48th-minute Andrei Shylo penalty gave them a 1-0 success in Northern Ireland against Lisburn Distillery FC - who had John Martin dismissed on 66 minutes - and a 2-0 triumph over. The Lithuanian club will next play the winner between Bangor City FC and FC Dinaburg.

Berg confirmation
IFK Göteborg eliminated FC Victoria Rosport to advance to face either Lombard-Pápa TFC or FC WIT Georgia. The Swedish outfit, who drew the first leg in Luxembourg 1-1, ran out 3-1 winners thanks to two goals from Dennis Jonsson and Marcus Berg's last-minute strike. Fabio Morais had earlier equalised for Rosport in the 19th minute.

Griffiths joy
A Joel Griffiths hat-trick ensured Neuchâtel Xamax FC kept a second-round date with France's AS Saint-Etienne, after sweeping aside FC Lernagorts-Ararat of Armenia 6-0. Patrick Baumann, Pascal Oppliger and Julien Cordonnier were also on target in a 9-1 aggregate victory.

Pogon hit six
MKS Pogon Szczecin were also high-scoring winners - at the expense of Moldova's FC Tiligul Tiraspol. Leading 3-0 from the away leg, the Polish side added a further six to their goal tally, with Sergio Batata scoring twice. Tiligul could only muster efforts from Serghei Cuznetov and a Dumitru Bacal spot-kick in reply.

Moshe decisive
Beitar Jerusalem FC will travel to the Czech Republic's FC Slovan Liberec in the next stage after winning 2-1 in F.Y.R. Macedonia against FK Sileks, to add to their 4-3 first-leg triumph. Stevica Ristic struck for the hosts on the half-hour, but the Israeli team soon replied through Aviram Brochyan before Shlomi Moshe sealed victory in added time.

Vujadinovic scare
Serbo-Montenegrins FK Buducnost Podgorica have earned the right to face RC Deportivo La Coruña, despite a 2-2 second-leg draw with Valletta FC. Buducnost looked to have picked up where they left off - following a 5-0 win in Malta - when Radislav Sekulic struck after just a minute, only to have goalkeeper Miroslav Vujadinovic sent off for a professional foul and Massimo Grima convert the resultant penalty. However, a second Sekulic effort ensured his side's progress before Gilbert Agius's late consolation.

Wolfsburg wait
SK Sturm Graz recovered from a 1-1 first-leg draw in Andorra to claim a meeting with German Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg in round two. Bojan Filipovic, Amadou Rabihou and captain Jürgen Säumel were on target before substitute Dragan Šarac added a late double in a 5-0 defeat of FC Ranger's.

French journey
Poland's Lech Poznan will also take on a leading European team, RC Lens of France, after Marcin Wachowicz and Maciej Scherfchen helped them to a 2-0 home win (4-1 on aggregate) against Azerbaijani outfit FK Karvan Evlakh.

Bistrita bound
A solitary Edin Saranovic goal doubled Croatian challengers NK Slaven Koprivnica's aggregate advantage and condemned home side NK Ptuj from Slovenia to an early exit. Slaven Karacic's team are now likely to play FC Gloria 1922 Bistrita who lead Olympiakos Nicosia FC 5-0 after 90 minutes.

Lokoren relief
Aleksandr Tarassenkov's strike for JK Trans Narva at KSC Lokeren OV was not enough to prolong the Estonian outfit's Intertoto Cup adventure. The Belgian club prevailed 2-1 over two legs, with BSC Young Boys of Switzerland their next opposition on the road to UEFA Cup qualification. The ties will be played on 2/3 and 9/10 July.