Cliftonville FC, FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk, FK Vėtra and FC Honka Espoo had taken the final 4 places in the UEFA Intertoto Cup 2nd round tonight however there were some close calls with both FC Ararat Yerevan and Llanelli AFC going close to wiping out 2 goal 1st-leg defeats. To see a full list of competing clubs and fixtures, click here.
FC Dinaburg 0-1 Cliftonville FC
(agg, 1-2)
Cliftonville of N. Ireland set up a 2nd round meeting with KAA Gent thanks to Mark Holland′s 8 minute goal in Latvia. Dinaburg fancied their chances having drawn 1-1 last week in Belfast, however conceded early as Holland headed in at the far post. The goal clearly shocked the home side who looked out of sorts and were limited only to a half-chance from Arten Yashkin in the 1st half. Dinaburg tried to turn the tables after the break however were unable to find a way through and needed Vadims Fedorovs in goal to keep out 2 counterattacks. In the nervy final minutes Yashkin was sent off for a 2nd bookable offence.
FC Ararat Yerevan 2-0 FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk (agg, 3-4)
Goals from Nshan Erzrumyan and Marcos Pizelli were not enough for Ararat to overturn their 4-1 defeat last week in Belarus. Ararat poured forward in numbers from the start and enjoyed dominance both in posession and territory however only broke through with a quarter of an hour to go when Erzrumyan scored on the turn and Brazilian forward Pizelli reduced aggregate arrears further with a fine solo goal. Sergei Nikiforenko and Aleksandr Klimenko threatened for the visitors, however Ararat were pushing hard for the further goal then needed. Klimenko was sent off for 2 late bookings however his team held on and will now meet Ukraine′s FC Chornomorets Odesa
Llanelli AFC 5-3 FK Vėtra (agg, 6-6, Vėtra triumph on away goals)
A Rhys Griffiths hat trick in Carmarthen was not enough to take Welsh representatives Llanelli through as Vėtra′s 3-1 win last week in Lithuania proved enough to take them through. Vėtra struck today on 4 minutes through Lima Severino, and even though Andy Legg and Wyn Thomas scored for Llanelli, Vitalijus Stankevicius and Egidijus Juska replied in the last 2 minutes of the 1st half to give the visitors a 3-2 lead at the break. Griffiths levelled the 2nd leg scores on 55 minutes and found the target again wice in the last 2 minutes however the extra goal Llanelli needed to pip Vėtra to a tie with Legia Warszawa never arrived.
FC TVMK Tallinn 2-4 FC Honka Espoo (agg, 2-4)
Finnish side Honka secured a 2nd round tie against Aalborg BK after win in Estonia. Having been held at home last week, European debutants Honka were 1-0 up on 6 minutes today when Ilmari Huuhtanen produced a clever flick from John Weckström′s cross. Both teams hit the woodwork once before the break and TVMK came out determined for the 2nd half and gave themselves hope in the 68th minute as Sergei Terehhov hit a thunderous shot only under the crossbar. However, within 60 seconds Honka were ahead again when Jami Puustinen strolled through the TVMK defender and chipped the ball over goalie Vitali Teles. 5 minutes later Rami Hakanpää destroyed home expects with a shot from the edge of the penalty area and Puustinen then hit his 2nd of the night. Oliver Konsa headed a late consolation.
