Third Qualifying Round: First Leg Results

By: Dan | July 30th, 2009

I have to say what a joy it is to watch live, competitive football again. I was able to watch Roma v. Gent, in all its blurry, internet glory. The Belgian side’s defeat might charitably be categorized as battling. Roma were clearly the superior side, but before a very questionable penalty and a sending off for Gent, they were having serious problems converting their superiority into goals; the 1-1 scoreline looked like it was going to hold. As it were, Roma have a 3-1 advantage to take to Belgium next week.

FK Sarajevo 1 – Helsingborg 2
Fredrikstad FV 1 – Lech Poznan 6
HNK Rijeka 1 – Metalist Kharkiv 2
KAA Gent 1 – AS Roma 3
SC Vaslui 2 – Omonia 0
Slavija Sarajevo 0 – MFK Kosice 2
IFK Goteborg 1 – Hapoel Tel Aviv 3
PSV Eindhoven 1 – Cherno More 0
Metalurh Donetsk 2 – NK IB Ljubljana 0
Valarenga 1 – PAOK 2
APOP 1 – Rapid Vienna 2
Honka 0 – Qarabag 1
Vaduz 0 – Slovan Liberec 1
St. Patrick’s 1 – Krylya Sovetov 0
Randers 0 – Hamburg SV 4
Tromso 2 - Slaven Belupo 1
Brondby 1 – Legia Warsaw 1
Vojvodina 1 – Austria Vienna 1
CSKA Sofia 1 – Derry City 0
Steaua Bucharest 3 – Motherwell 0
MSK Zilina 1 – Hadjuk Split 1
SC Braga 1 – Elfsborg 2
Aberdeen 1 – Sigma Olomouc 5
Rabotnicki 3 – Odense BK 4
Sevojno 0 – Lille Metropole 2
Petrovac 1 – Sturm Graz 2
Fenerbahce 5 – Budapest Honved 1
Bnei Yehuda 1 – Pacos de Ferreira 0
Club Brugge 3 – Lahti 2
Athletic Club Bilbao 0 – BSC Young Boys 1
KR 2 – Basel 2
Maccabi Netanya 1 – Galatasaray 4
Dinamo Tbilisi 2 – Red Star Belgrade 0
Polonia Warsaw 0 – NAC Breda 1
Vetra 0 – Fulham 3

The biggest shock of the day, by far, has to be St. Patrick’s 1-0 victory over Krylya Sovetov, followed closely by BSC Young Boys winning in Spain against Bilbao. Elfsborg’s victory over UEFA/Europa regulars Braga might be counted as a surprise as well.

KR almost pulled enough yet another surprising result of their own, but squandered a two goal lead against Basel. Though I suppose if a draw against Basel can be considered a disappointment, it’s time to ask, what exactly is going on in Iceland this summer?

Scotland’s clubs fared less well against Eastern opposition. Motherwell again have a first leg deficit to make up, but they probably won’t this time. They will consider themselves fortunate to leave Bucharest only 3-0 down. An inspired goalkeeping performance and a missed penalty kept things from getting worse. After the third round draw, I never did find out much about the Czech Republic’s Sigma Olomouc, but they’re apparently good enough to hammer Aberdeen without any trouble.

Some of the big names involved in this year’s competition got their seasons started today. PSV needed an injury time goal from Dirk Marcellis to beat Bulgarians Cherno More. Hamburg and Fenerbache defeated Randers and Honved, respectively, without any complications.

There were also a couple of tightly contested, high scoring games. Club Brugge got a late winner against Lahti, but I’m sure the Finns will be happy enough with two away goals in a 3-2 defeat. Rabotnicki and Odense produced seven goals between them, with the Danes coming away 4-3 winners.

Despite the handful of decisive victories, everything looks well poised for an exciting conclusion to this qualifying round next week.