Miccoli and Tommasi make European waves
Thursday, July 9, 2015
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Two former Italy stars were in the goals in unlikely places, Matej Jelić scored a mathematically-elegant hat-trick and FC Differdange 03 earned a plum tie in dramatic circumstances.
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Two former Italy stars rolled back the years, and Matej Jelić scored an unusual treble as the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round concluded.
Results: see the full list of first qualifying round second leg results
Full second qualifying round lineup
Pick of the action
Ulisses FC (ARM) 1-3 Birkirkara FC (MLT) (agg: 1-3)
Former Italy international Fabrizio Miccoli helped propel the Maltese side towards an impressive away success, the 36-year-old finishing from the edge of the box and then delivering the free-kick which invited Mauricio Mazzetti to head Birkirkara's second. A goal and a red card for each side after the break made no odds, as the visitors earned an exciting second qualifying round encounter with West Ham United FC.
FC Vaduz (LIE) 5-1 SP La Fiorita (SNM) (agg: 9-1)
The perennial Liechtenstein Cup winners set up their meeting with Nõmme Kalju FC in the next phase with minimum fuss, but a moment's joy too for Damiano Tommasi – the former AS Roma midfielder and now head of the Italian players' union – who scored for Sammarinese side La Fiorita at the age of 41 tonight. "I am happy to score the club's first ever European goal," he told UEFA.com. "The last European match I played in was in 2006. It feels good to be back, but I am even happier for my club-mates."
FC Lusitanos (AND) 0-1 West Ham United FC (ENG) (agg: 0-4)
Slaven Bilić's first game as West Ham boss started badly, Diafra Sakho – who scored twice in the first leg – dismissed inside 20 minutes in the return leg. The Fair Play entrants prospered regardless, Elliot Lee – son of former England midfielder Robert Lee – slotting away the London side's 21st-minute winner in Andorra.
MŠK Žilina (SVK) 3-0 Glentoran FC (NIR) (agg: 7-1)
With goals in the 44th, 55th and 66th minutes, Matej Jelić scored one of the most mathematically satisfying hat-tricks in UEFA club competition history; his first with a powerful, close-range shot, his second from distance and his third from Lukáš Čmelík's stylish low delivery. Last season's top scorer in Slovakia with 19 league goals, Croatian forward Jelić has scored four in his first two UEFA Europa League games this season.
Bala Town FC (WAL) 2-1 FC Differdange 03 (LUX) (agg: 3-4)
The most dramatic ending of the night proved to be a cruel one for Bala, who were set to go through on away goals, efforts from captain Conall Murtagh and striker Ian Sheridan having cancelled out a 3-1 defeat in the first leg. Omar Er Refik broke Welsh hearts, though, putting away a loose ball in a goalmouth scramble five minutes into added time to earn his side a meeting with Trabzonspor AŞ.
Apollon Limassol FC (CYP) 2-0 FC Saxan (MDA) (agg: 4-0)
An unremarkable result, perhaps, but last season's group stage battlers may have provided the best goal of the round; a superb Charis Kyriakou ball from the right on 61 minutes, and an extraordinary bicycle kick from captain Fotis Papoulis to double his side's lead on the night.
Jagellonia Białystok (POL) 8-0 FK Kruoja Pakruojis (LIT) (agg: 9-0)
Martynas Matuzas saved a Patryk Tuszyński penalty, but that was about the only thing that went right for the Lithuanian side in Poland, Jagellonia picking up the biggest victory of the night. Both Tuszyński and team-mate Przemysław Frankowski have claims on the match ball after scoring three goals each – Frankowski hitting his in the space of 16 minutes. They take on AC Omonia in the next round.