UEFA Champions League First Qualifying Round: Kiev Calling For Drogheda

By: Alan
Soccer City FC

Irish champions Drogheda United have set up a dream tie with 1999 semi-finalists Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. Drogheda United travelled to Estonia with the comfort of knowing that a draw would see them progress having beaten Levadia Talinn 2-1 in the home leg at Dalymount Park. Gartland’s second-half strike ensured Drogheda’s place in the next round with a 3-1 aggregate victory, but Dynamo Kiev are strong favourites to see them off at the next hurdle. The Ukrainians have been ever-present in Europe’s elite competition, having qualified for the group stage on eleven occasions since it began back in 1992. This season’s competition was the first appearance in the Champions League for eircom League side Drogheda, and they will hope to keep Irish dreams alive by doing the unlikely in Ukraine’s capital.

Linfield could not overturn the first leg deficit against Croatian champions Dynamo Zagreb but they managed to salvage a draw in the away leg to make the aggregate score 3-1. Croatia international striker Mario Mandzukic managed yet another goal against the defending Northern Irish champions, his third in two appearances after scoring twice in the first leg. Michael Gault equalised to salvage a draw for Linfield, but it is Dynamo Zagreb who progress to meet Slovenia’s NK Domzale.

Elsewhere, Llanelli looked on course to produce the upset of the round by beating Latvian title holders Ventspils. The Welsh club took a first-leg advantage with a one-goal win, but resoundingly lost 4-0 in Latvia to end any hopes. IFK Gothenburg confidently pushed aside San Marino minnows Murata with a 9-0 scoreline on aggregate, but they will face tougher opposition in FC Basel of Switzerland. Lithuania’s Kaunas will face UEFA Cup finalists Rangers after they comprehensively beat Santa Coloma of Andorra. Azerbaijan’s Inter Baku progressed at the expense of Rabotnicki due to the away goal ruling and will face FK Partizan of Serbia. Cypriot champions Anorthosis Famagusta claimed their place by overcoming Pyunik Yerevan of Andorra and they were joined by Finnish outfit Tampere United after narrowly triumphing over Budućnost of Montenegro.

The second qualifying round will see the introduction of the more famous and established teams, with last season’s quarter-finalists Fenerbahce facing MTK Hungaria, defending Belgian champions Anderlecht play FC BATE of Belarus and Sparta Prague welcome the challenge of Sheriff Tiraspol. SK Brann of Norway, Panathinaikos of Greece and Israel’s Beitar Jerusalem also enter at this stage.

UEFA Champions League First Qualifying Round aggregate scores:

- Linfield 1 - 3 Dynamo Zagreb
- Valletta 0 - 3 Artmedia Petržalka
- Dinamo Tbilisi 3–1 NSÍ Runavík
- Santa Coloma 2 - 7 Kaunas
- Murata 2 - 7 IFK Gothenburg
- Llanelli 1 - 4 Ventspils
- Anorthosis Famagusta 3–0 Pyunik Yerevan
- Inter Baku 1–1 Rabotnički
- Tampere United 3–2 Budućnost
- F91 Dudelange 0–3 Domžale
- Dinamo Tirana 1–4 Modriča
- Aktobe 1–4 Sheriff Tiraspol
- Drogheda United 3–1 Levadia
- BATE 3–0 Valur