Finnish hat-trick in Europe

The first qualifying round for the Europa League has been and gone, and half of the teams involved will have to go back to dreaming... The winners have moved onto bigger things, and the next round will bring bigger challenges.

Let's start with the game I went to, Llanelli v KuPS. The Finns won the first leg 2-1, and came to Wales knowing a clean sheet would see them through. The first half was a scrappy affair, KuPS had more openings but barely made the keeper work, while Llanelli had a few long range efforts that Hilander dealt with comfortably. An early second half penalty took Llanelli briefly ahead (on away goals), but substitute Paananen levelled by rolling the ball into an unguarded net. KuPS now go on to face Israeli's Maccabi Netanya, who came fourth in their league last season.

Pre-match rituals at Llanelli v KuPS

Fellow Veikkausliiga strugglers JJK Jyväskylä were in action against Norwegian fair play entrants Stabæk. The first leg in Suomi was 2-0 to the Finns, and this game had plenty of action - the Norwegians drew first blood, but the game was levelled just before half time with an away goal from Jordi van Gelderen. A goal deep into first half injury time by Mads Stokkelien lifted the spirits, but with another goal for each team in the second half, the game finished 3-2 to Stabæk, so 4-3 to JJK, who go on to face Montenegro's Zeta, who eliminated Armenian Pyunik.

Stabæk v JJK on Thursday night

MyPa had the most to lose in this round - after a surprising 0-0 draw at the Welsh second division side Cefn Druids, a repeat would have led to serious questions being asked. Luckily the team who are currently fifth place in the Veikkausliiga hit a five-star performance, and progress to the second qualifier where they will face Rapid Bucharest, where they won't find things so straight-forward against a team who reached the group stages last season.

Olajide Williams puts number three past the Druids

Inter Turku's opponent was confirmed as FC Twente, 9-0 aggregate winners over Andorrans Santa Coloma. Twente recently re-appointed former England umbrella user Steve McClaren as coach, and will be hoping to repeat the form that won them the Dutch title in 2010.

While I won't be attending any of the ties in the next round, I'll be writing about them, and also HJK's Champions League tie against KR. The draw for the subsequent rounds is also to be made next Friday, so will also provide some views on that.