Familiar faces shine, seven-goal qualifying thriller
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Article summary
A former UEFA Champions League hero was on target, while a familiar face came back to haunt Dundalk. But the real drama came at Olimpija, where the hosts trailed 4-0 at one point ...
Article top media content
Article body
- Olimpija recover from 4-0 down to restrict Trenčín to 4-3 win
- Ex-Dundalk forward Steven Lennon earns FH draw at his former side
- Hungary's Dániel Böde scores on return to club action after UEFA EURO 2016
- Ten first legs were played yesterday as Lincoln stunned Celtic
- Second legs next Tuesday and Wednesday
- Third qualifying round draw 12:00CEST on Friday: live stream
Rosenborg 3-1 IFK Norrköping
Once UEFA Champions League regulars, Rosenborg's aspirations of a first group stage campaign in nine seasons got off to a sure-footed start. Goals in the opening 20 minutes of the second half from Hólmar Eyjólfsson, Pål André Helland and Yann-Erik de Lanlay gave the home side a 3-0 lead. Norrköping, whose most recent European Cup game came against AC Milan in 1963/64, pulled one back through Sebastian Andersson to keep hopes alive.
Ludogorets Razgrad 2-0 Mladost Podgorica
Ludogorets are in the box seat against the UEFA Champions League debutants and it was the hero of the Bulgarian side's run to the 2014/15 group stage who set them on their way: Cosmin Moţi. Two years ago the defender scored one spot kick and, having taken the gloves after the keeper was sent off, saved two as Ludogorets beat Steaua in the play-offs. Here it was more routine, scoring a 13th-minute penalty. Jody Lukoki soon made it two for the hosts, who could have won by more.
Crusaders 0-3 København
A sixth-minute strike from Paraguayan Federico Santander set the tone as Danish side FCK took a firm grip on the tie in chilly Belfast. Andreas Cornelius and Rasmus Falk added two more either side of half-time to leave the Northern Irish hosts with a mountain to climb in Copenhagen next Tuesday.
Olimpija Ljubljana 3-4 Trenčín
Crusaders can perhaps take some inspiration from events in Slovenia, where home team Olimpija mounted a sterling comeback after finding themselves 4-0 down inside 32 minutes. After pulling two back before half-time, an 89th-minute effort from 20-year-old Blessing Eleke means it is all to play for in Slovakia next Wednesday.
Dundalk 1-1 FH Hafnarfjördur
Former Dundalk forward Steven Lennon came back to haunt his former employers with a 77th-minute equaliser for the Icelandic visitors. The Irish champions had the better throughout and finally went ahead through a fine strike from David McMillan (66). Scottish striker Lennon struck back, though, to give FH the edge in the tie.
Žalgiris 0-0 Astana
Astana reached the group stage last season but those heights felt far removed as the Kazakhstani champions struggled to break down Žalgiris in Lithuania. Stanimir Stoilov's visitors, who are ten points clear in their domestic standings, will be confident of completing the job in the second leg next Wednesday.
Partizani 1-1 Ferencváros
Less than three weeks after Hungary's UEFA EURO 2016 exit, Hungary forward Dániel Böde marked his return to club action with a 71st-minute equaliser for the visitors. Realdo Fili had put the Albanian hosts ahead shortly after half-time. The second leg takes place next Wednesday.
Lincoln 1-0 Celtic
Valletta 1-2 Crvena zvezda
TNS 0-0 APOEL
BATE Borisov 2-0 Seinäjoki
Salzburg 1-0 Liepāja
Hapoel Beer-Sheva 3-2 Sheriff
Vardar 1-2 Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Tbilisi 2-0 Alashkert
Zrinjski 1-1 Legia Warszawa
Qarabağ 2-0 Dudelange