Stjarnan

      Motherwell knocked out of Europe

      Motherwell threw away a lead for the third time in their Europa League qualifier against Stjarnan to suffer a 3-2 extra-time defeat and crash out of the tournament in Iceland.Motherwell, who led 2-0 at Fir Park before being pegged back in injury-time, again got an early goal when Steven Hammell scored a rare header but Keith Lasley gave away his third penalty of the tie and Olafur Finsen levelled in the 37th minute.Lionel Ainsworth volleyed Motherwell ahead midway through the second half, but Rolf Toft took the game into extra-time with an impressive strike five minutes from time and Atli Johansson scored a spectacular winner in the second period of extra-time to secure a 5-4 aggregate win.Motherwell forced a succession of early corners on the artificial surface and the pressure paid off in the 12th minute when Hammell powered a header into the top corner from Ainsworth's delivery.Lasley came close from another corner when he fired just wide and Motherwell were looking comfortable but Hammell had to throw himself in front of Toft's shot.And Lasley was soon on the end of a controversial decision by Greek referee Antonis Giachos, who ruled he had brought down Johansson in the box, although the award might easily have gone in Motherwell's favour after the Stjarnan player brushed into the midfielder's body and fell over.Finsen, just as he did twice at Fir Park, converted the penalty.Lasley was determined to atone and almost did so on the stroke of half-time with a volley that was well-stopped by Ingvar Jonsson.Motherwell almost fell behind early in the second half but Dan Twardzik came off his line quickly to foil Toft.But Stuart McCall's side came roaring back and Lasley came close again following another corner when his shot was deflected over.Craig Reid's cross was then deflected on to the post and Ainsworth's delivery was just turned wide as the hosts continued to live dangerously.Stjarnan broke and Pablo Punyed shot wide just before Ainsworth put Motherwell ahead for the third time in the tie.Josh Law, who scored twice in the first 19 minutes at Fir Park, sent in a delightful ball and Ainsworth volleyed home from close range.Motherwell almost squandered their lead again when Hordur Arnason got in behind Reid but he made a hash of his finish.McCall, knowing his men would at least get to extra-time unless Stjarnan scored twice, brought on Fraser Kerr and Zaine Francis-Angol for Ainsworth and Law in the 74th minute for fresh legs and more defensive strength.But there was another twist when Toft levelled with five minutes left as he shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.Motherwell lost Stuart Carswell to injury early in extra-time as Jack Leitch came on and Jonsson made a great double stop from Lasley and Sutton, but the hosts then missed two good chances.And Stjarnan, who are unbeaten in the league after 12 matches, won it with seven minutes left when Johansson fired a long-range volley in off the bar to set up a tie with Lech Poznan.
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        Well held by Icelanders

        Josh Law scored twice in the first 19 minutes of his Motherwell career, but Stuart McCall's men were pegged back by two penalties in a 2-2 draw against Icelandic side Stjarnan at Fir Park.Law, who started just off John Sutton in his first appearance since a summer move from Conference side Alfreton Town, showed early promise in his bid to emulate brother Nicky's impressive two-year spell at Fir Park as he finished twice after getting ahead of the visiting defence.Motherwell were well on top until the 35th minute when Olafur Karl Finsen converted a penalty after Keith Lasley was adjudged to have handled.And they suffered a huge blow in injury-time when Finsen netted again after Craig Reid was ruled to have pushed over Rolf Toft as Motherwell scrambled to defend a counter-attack.The hosts might have had a penalty themselves seconds earlier when Simon Ramsden went down as he looked set to score following a corner.Stjarnan, who sit second in the Icelandic League after 11 unbeaten games, have the advantage of playing on their own artificial pitch for the second leg of the Europa League second qualifying round.The visitors had hinted they would sit in, but they pushed four men forward when attacking and Motherwell had a let-off inside four minutes when the unmarked Veigar Pall Gunnarson sent a diving header wide from six yards after the visitors had broken away from defending a corner.Motherwell forced several more corners and their pressure paid off in the ninth minute as Law scored their first goal in eight European games.Lasley chipped a cross in for John Sutton, whose header was palmed out by Ingvar Jonsson, and Law had the simple task of knocking it over the line from close range.Motherwell kept attacking and the second goal came after right-back Niclas Vemmelund slipped on the touchline to concede possession to Iain Vigurs.Vigurs cut in and played a perfect reverse pass for Law, who dinked the ball over the goalkeeper.Stuart Carswell should have made it three when Sutton rolled the ball back to him 14 yards out, but the midfielder blazed over.The visitors were handed a lifeline when Lasley was penalised by Danish referee Michael Johansen as he tried to block a shot with his chest.Lasley did not protest much as he was booked and Finsen sent Dan Twardzik the wrong way from the spot to the delight of the 22 visiting fans.Lasley almost made amends by setting up Sutton two minutes later following a one-two with Steven Hammell, but the Englishman shot just wide from 16 yards.Motherwell finished the half nervously. Reid cleared the danger after some risky defending almost allowed Finsen in, but the right-back then dived in to allow Stjarnan to break and Twardzik got down well to save from Arnar Mar Bjorgvinsson.Stephen McManus saw a powerful strike saved well after the restart, but Motherwell had another huge scare when Finsen volleyed wide from four yards following a cross from the right.Vigurs slotted home after a one-two with Law, but a strange offside decision scuppered the celebrations with the flag presumably going up against Sutton, who did not touch the ball.Finsen came close again with an angled strike from 20 yards and right-winger Bjorgvinsson was causing problems.But Motherwell had chances to get a two-goal cushion and Jonsson saved well from Lasley before substitute Lee Erwin headed over.And the injury-time drama nudged the game in Stjarnan's favour.
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          Derry progress in style

          Rory Patterson netted a hat-trick as Derry City won 5-0 at Aberystwyth Town on Thursday to wrap up an emphatic aggregate victory and seal their place in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.The League of Ireland Premier Division visitors went into the game already with a handsome advantage over their Welsh Premier League opponents, having triumphed 4-0 in the opening leg of the first qualifying round tie.And they swiftly added to it at Park Avenue, with Michael Duffy putting them 1-0 up on the night in the 11th minute and Barry McNamee doubling that lead just three minutes later.Northern Ireland forward Patterson scored his first on the hour mark and then netted twice in quick succession (84 and 86) late on - the final effort being a penalty, awarded for a Luke Sherbon foul on Mark Timlim - to complete the 9-0 overall rout.Two other League of Ireland Premier Division outfits also progressed on Thursday in Sligo and Dundalk.Sligo were another to post a comprehensive result, thumping Lithuanians Banga, who they had drawn 0-0 with away, 4-0 at The Showgrounds.Alan Keane put the hosts 1-0 up in first-half stoppage time, and after Karolis Urbaitis was sent off for the away side in the 68th minute, Sligo made the most as Aaron Greene (72), Danny North (83) and David Cawley (89) also got on the scoresheet.Dundalk saw off Luxembourg's Jeunesse Esch 3-1 at home for a 5-1 aggregate victory, with goals from Brian Gartland, Kurtis Byrne and John Mountney putting the Lilywhites out of sight by the interval before Jonathan Zydko's second-half consolation.There were mixed fortunes for Danske Bank Premiership teams as Crusaders advanced to the next round but Glenavon crashed out.Crusaders completed a 5-2 aggregate win over FK Ekranas of Lithuania with a 2-1 away triumph, Paul Heatley scoring a second-half brace either side of Lukas Kochanauskas' reply.Glenavon lost 3-2 at home against FH Hafnarfjordur of Iceland, going down 6-2 overall.Goals from Ingimundur Niels Oskarsson and Kristjan Gauti Emilsson put the visitors firmly in control of the tie in the first half.Glenavon levelled on the night when Kevin Braniff and Eoin Bradley scored a couple of minutes apart around the hour, but nine minutes later Emilsson converted a penalty.Two other Welsh teams were in action and both suffered the same fate as Aberystwyth in being eliminated.Airbus UK lost 2-1 at Norwegian side FK Haugesund of Norway for a 3-2 aggregate defeat, with Michael Pearson equalising Torbjorn Agdestein's opener early on before the second half saw Maic Sema net for the hosts and Jordan Barrow sent off for the visitors.Bangor City were on the end of an 8-0 aggregate thumping as they were beaten 4-0 at home by Icelanders Stjarnan, the goals being notched by Martin Rauschenberg, Arnar Bjorgvinsson (two) and Atli Johannsson.
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