EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFYING ROUND KICKS OFF

The opening leg of the first round of Europa League qualifiers kicked-off with a series of exciting results, led by Randers and Anorthosis Famagusta dominating performances and former CSKA Moscow man Juris Laizāns notching a late levelling goal for Skonto. In the third qualifying round, Russia’s Sibir Novosibirsk enters the tournament, with Lokomotiv and CSKA coming in during the playoffs.


Denmark's Randers started their Europa League efforts with a flourishing 6-1 victory over F91 Dudelange, with Yura Movsisyan leading the way with two goals. Continuing where they left off last year under veteran manager Ove Christensen, Randers took the lead at the sixteenth minute with Tidiane Sane hitting the mark. Only a minute later, Yura Movsisyan hit for the first of his two goals, with the hosts were in clear control. Twelve minutes shy of the break Ricki Olsen gave Randers the commanding 3-0 lead at the break. Two minutes after the restart, Søren Pedersen added to the lead from the spot before Sofian Benzouien pulled one back at the forty-ninth minute. As regulation time ticked-down, Yura Movsisyan added to his memorable evening with his second goal to give Randers the affirming 6-1 victory

Armenian Premier League side Banants problematic play on the European stage continued, as they were overwhelmed 3-0 by Cypriot powerhouse Anorthosis Famagusta. New manager Stevica Kuzmanovski saw his visiting side fall behind quickly as Nikos Katsavakis and Yiannis Okkas hit before the thirty-first minute to give for Anorthosis a two-goal lead and from general play, the match was ostensibly over. At the sixty-fourth minute, veteran Cafú added an insurance marker to bring the match to a 3-0 finale.

Latvia's Skonto added a last gasp leveller by former CSKA Moscow man Juris Laizāns to play host Portadown to a 1-1 draw. The Northern Irish side went in front seven minutes before the break with Richard Lecky's marker. With two minutes remaining in regulation time, Christopher Ramsey received his second yellow-card, forcing the hosts to play a man down for the remaining time. In the third minute of added-time, Juris Laizāns, who last played in Russia for Shinnik Yaroslavl, posted the leveller to bring the match to 1-1 draw, honours even.

In front of their home supporters, Dinamo Tbilisi defeated Estonia's Flora 2-1. After Alo Dupikov gave the visitors the lead at the ninth minute, Georgi Kakhelishvili levelled the contest midway of the half. Three minutes past the hour, Georgian international Levan Khmaladze scored from the spot to give the home side the 2-1 lead they would not relinquish.

Belorussian side Dnepr Mogilev added a last gasp goal to play KF Laçi to a 1-1 draw in Durres, Albania. After Bledar Marashi gave the hosts the 1-0 lead at the twenty-third minute, Laçi looked to be headed for the victory before Dmitry Turlin squared the match deep into added-time.

In front of their home supporters, Georgia's Zestafoni hammered Faetano 5-0. The San Marino side was overwhelmed as Nikoloz Gelashvili hit for two goals midway of the half, sandwiched between Jaba Dvali's marker. The latter added a second after the break with substitute Tornike Gorgiashvili scoring in added-time to round out the scoring.

Belarusian side Torpedo Zhodino gave their home fans something to cheer about with an affirming 3-0 victory over Reykjavík's Fylkir. After a scoreless opening half, Aliaksandr Lisouski's men erupted with Ihor Kryvobok, Ogar and Syarhey Kantsavy scoring within a fifteen-minute span starting at the fifty-second minute.

Moldovan side Dacia held host FK Zeta to a 1-1 draw. After Ghenadie Orbu gave the visitors the lead six minutes before the break, the Montenegrin's levelled at the seventy-ninth minute as Zarija Peličić connected from the spot.

Myllykosken Pallo (MYPA) of Finland's Veikkausliiga defeated host Narva Trans 2-0 at Lilleküla Stadium in Tallinn. After a scoreless opening half, Janne Lindberg's visiting side took the lead with Russian native Maxim Votinov’s goal at the forty-seventh minute with Aleksei Gorškov victimized for an own goal six minutes later.

Llanelli, of the Welsh Premier League, came from behind to play visitors Tauras Tauragė to a 2-2 draw. The Lithuanian's jumped in front at the ninth minute via Marius Kižys' effort, before David Thomas squared the match eight minutes later. Marius Kižys restored the lead three minutes later, with Stuart Jones levelling at the forty-seventh minute. With a minute remaining in regulation time, Andy Legg's side were forced to play a man down after veteran Christopher Holloway received his second yellow-card but they managed to hold off any advances with the match ending as a draw.

Icelandic force, KR Reykjavík defeated Glentoran at the KR-völlur. In front of their home supporters, Logi Ólafsson's side took the lead three minutes shy of the quarter-hour via Guðmundur Gunnarsson's marker. At the thirty-second minute, Kjartan Finnbogason, who spent time with Falkirk of the Scottish Premier League last year, doubled the margin. Veteran Icelandic international Björgólfur Takefusa rounded out the scoring just past the hour as Reykjavík cruised to the 3-0 victory.

Bosnia and Herzegovinan Premier League runners-up Široki Brijeg defeated Olimpija 2-0 in Ljubljana Slovenia. Veteran attacker Wagner gave Ivo Ištuk's men the lead just before the break with his Brazilian compatriot Renato making it 2-0 with twenty-two minutes remaining in regulation time.

At Hrazdan Central Stadium in Yerevan Armenia, host Ulisses played Israeli Premier League side Bnei Yehuda to a scoreless draw. Despite the dominating the match for long stretches of the contest, the hosts could not breakthrough goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba, with Armenian international Norayr Sahakyan narrowly missing breaking the deadlock late in the affair.

Courtesy of a later marker by Ricardo Santos, host Kalmar FF of the Swedish Allsvenskan edged Faroese side EB/Streymur 1-0.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's HŠK Zrinjski Mostar defeated Tobol Kostanay 2-1, courtesy of Mate Dragičević's two goals. After Nurbol Zhumaskaliyev gave the host Kazakhstan's side at the thirteenth minute, Dragan Jović's side from Mostar came back with two second-half goals by the veteran for the victory.

Macedonian Premier League runners-up Rabotnički slaughtered Andorra's FC Lusitans before their home fans in Skopje. Zé Carlos and Macedonian international Wandeir gave the hosts the 2-0 lead at the break, before blowing the match wide open with three goals in five minutes just before the hour mark. After Fábio Silva scored twice within a minute of the fifty-fifth minute, Muarem made it 5-0 on the hour.

Visiting Ruch Chorzów of the Polish Ekstraklasa came from behind to defeat Shakhtyor Karagandy 2-1. After Aldin Ðidić gave the hosts the 1-0 lead at the seventh minute, Waldemar Fornalik's side levelled just before the break with Łukasz Janoszka finding the mark. Three minutes after the restart, veteran Wojciech Grzyb connected from the spot to give his side the 2-1 victory.

János Csank's Zalaegerszegi Torna Egylet of the Hungarian Soproni Liga played host KF Tirana to a scoreless draw, in a contest of few opportunities.

At Zimbru Stadium in Chişinău, host Olimpia Bălţi played Lankaran to a scoreless draw, in a highly defensive contest.

Finland's Turun Palloseura (TPS) devastated Wales side Port Talbot Town in front of their host fans with up and comer Riku Riski scoring twice and Babatunde Wusu adding a third before the break. Martin Rose lodged an important away goal with twenty minutes on the clock to bring the match to a 3-1 final.

Slovakia's Nitra came from behind to play Győri ETO to a 2-2 draw. In front of their home fans, Martin Tóth gave the Slovaks the 1-0 lead two minutes shy of the quarter-hour before Estonia international Tarmo Kink hit for two. Ten minutes prior to the end of regulation time, Roman Sloboda added the leveller.

Qarabağ defeated visiting Macedonian side Metalurg Skopje 4-1, in a match that featured three goals in the final six mintues. Rashad Sadygov gave the hosts the 1-0 lead from the spot at the twenty-sixth minute before Afran Ismayilov scored just before the break. Six minutes after the restart Admir Teli was red-carded but despite the man disadvantage Afran Ismayilov added his second three minutes later to make it 3-0. In added-time Giorgi Adamia scored in added-time before Marko Simonovski gave the Macedonian's hope and bring the match to a 4-1 conclusion.

Croatia's HNK Šibenik played visiting Malta side Sliema Wanderers to a scoreless draw that saw few notable advances.

Mogren of the Montenegrin First League visit of Andorra concluded with a 3-0 victory over UE Santa Coloma. After Petar Grbić gave the visitors the lead at the fourteenth minute, Danilo Čulafić and Marko Ćetković added late goals in the final ten minutes to round up the scoring.

Visiting Republic of Ireland side Dundalk played Grevenmacher to a 3-3 draw in Luxembourg. After Fahrudin Kudozović and veteran, player-coach Wayne Hatswell gave Dundalk the two goal advantage the Luxembourgian's fought back with three unanswered markers. After Tim Heinz, Gabriel Pereira and Jorge Almeida gave the hosts the lead, an own-goal by Khalid Benichou late in the contest squared the match.

Visiting Gefle IF of Sweden's Allsvenskan defeated Faroe Island's side NSÍ Runavík 2-0 in Tórshavn, courtesy of Alexander Gerndt's brace.

RUBIN KAZAN’S TEST IN WOLFSBURG

Coming off CSKA’s remarkable advancement to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, Rubin Kazan looks to push to the next stage of the Europa League as they visit VfL Wolfsburg at Volkswagen Arena in the second-leg of their tie.


The task of the Russian champions will not be an easy one, as they found out in the opening-leg 1-1 draw in Kazan on 11 March and they have a further concern that Wolfsburg is riding a wave of optimism under manager Lorenz-Günther Köstner.

The tide has turned quickly in Wolfsburg since the new manager took over from Armin Veh on 25 January. Quickly restoring the attacking principles that saw them claim their first Bundesliga title last year, Zvjezdan Misimović and Edin Džeko are performing at a lustful goal-scoring pace, with much credit owing to the return of right back Peter Pekarík, formerly of MŠK Žilina, back into the starting eleven.

Die Wölfe is riding a four match-winning streak, including last Saturday’s 4-0 slaughter of Borussia Mönchengladbach at Borussia-Park and showing no signs in letting up.

Rubin Kazan, in the opening week of the Rosgosstrakh Championship of Russia, got past Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0 with a late surge. Though the match was a bottled-up affair, manager Kurban Berdyev magnificently utilized his bench and will have no personnel problems in their German visit.

While Mr. Berdyev is known to refrain from the spotlight, what he has accomplished with the Tatarstan side is remarkable. Should he manufacture an upset, Rubin Kazan will be positioned perfectly for a run towards the final in Hamburg and he might find himself at the centre of the football world.

However to do so, they will first need to get past Wolfsburg in what is likely a wide-open, attack-laden contest.

Prepared by John Davies

SEMAK: WOLFSBURG WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT

Captain of the Russian champions Rubin Sergey Semak believes that the next stage of Europa League campaign will be more difficult for his team.


"Our return game was difficult, but results satisfied us", Semak told Sport Express after Kazan club left behind Hapoel Tel-Aviv. "Both teams had opportunities to score and win".

"Result of the first game didn’t let us play at our maximum and we didn’t learn to win thanks to our high class. The team will learn it when we are experienced enough".

"It’s hard to say why the second match ended in a goalless draw, because we created perfect scoring opportunities, especially Alexandr Bukharov. Maybe weather was not fine or maybe it was not our lucky day".

"Of course the eightfinal will be more difficult. Hapoel is good team, but level of German Bundesleague is not comparable to Israeli championship".

"Wolfsburg played against CSKA in the Champions League, so we are aware of level of this club. Unfortunately, we will have to fight with Germany strict discipline and power".

"It is unpleasant factor for Rubin, but we will try to play successfully".

IZMAILOV: I DON’T HAVE A CONTRACT YET

Europa League tonight match against Everton could become the last one for Russian midfielder Marat Izmailov in Sporting uniform, as he is likely to move to Lokomotiv.


"To my mind we stand good chances to go past Everton following away 1:2 defeat", said Izmailov. "We reached acceptable result in Liverpool when we scored a valuable away goal. In any case my partners and I believe in our overall success".

"We didn’t demonstrate our maximum in recent matches, and we know that we can play even better. Everton is a good team, but at the same time I cannot say that they surprised me".

"Now I train and prepare for the game against Everton and I don’t contact anybody concerning my possible switch to Lokomotiv. So far as I know the clubs have already come to an agreement and completed the deal. However I don’t have a contract yet".