HJK complete comprehensive triumph at KR
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
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KR Reykjavík 1-2 HJK Helsinki (agg: 1-9)
Berat Sadik and Mathias Lindström were on target for the visitors as they completed a comprehensive aggregate win against the Icelandic champions.
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After a comprehensive home victory in Finland last week, HJK Helsinki secured a narrow win at KR Reykjavík to complete a sizeable aggregate victory and book their place in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
Having taken a giant step towards qualification with a 7-0 triumph in the first leg, HJK kept it tight in the first half to ensure there was no way back into the tie for their opponents. Juho Mäkelä, who scored a hat-trick in last week's opener, set up Berat Sadik to open the scoring with a deflected shot from the edge of penalty area on 66 minutes. Mathias Lindström rose highest to powerfully head in Nikolai Alho's corner six minutes later to double the advantage and the visitors led 9-0 overall.
Emil Atlason pulled one back for KR on 74 minutes after good build-up play involving Dofri Snorrason, but Antti Muurinen's men nevertheless claimed a comfortable victory on the night and set up a tie with Scottish champions Celtic FC in the next round.
