Former European champions Liverpool, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Steaua Bucharest put aside their embarrassment of missing out on the lucrative Champions League this season by easing into the third round of the Uefa Cup on Wednesday.
French teenager Anthony le Tallec marked his first Anfield start with a goal as Liverpool moved on with a 3-0 win and a 4-1 aggregate victory over Olimpija Ljubljana of Slovenia.
Steven Gerrard skippered Liverpool for the first time while Emile Heskey and Harry Kewell were also on target for the Merseysiders.
”Once we scored, we looked extremely comfortable and with the passing and the movement we played some very good stuff,” said delighted Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier.
Fellow English Premiership side Newcastle also sailed through with a one-goal victory against Dutchmen NAC Breda to give them a 6-0 advantage over the two legs.
Bobby Robson rested key players Alan Shearer and Gary Speed and his side were never in danger of losing their advantage before a precise shot from French midfielder Laurent Robert in the 87th minute put the tie beyond doubt.
”We came here to treat Breda with great respect, which I think we did,” said manager Bobby Robson.
”I know I changed the team and left one or two players out, but we still put out a very good team.”
A controversial penalty from Nicolas Anelka was enough to see Manchester City cruise past Lokeren in Belgium as Kevin Keegan’s men built on 3-2 lead from the first leg.
”We were fortunate to get a penalty. If it had been given at the other end, I would have been disappointed,” said Keegan.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for English sides, however, as both Southampton and Blackburn made their excuses and left.
Claudiu Raducanu gave Steaua Bucharest a 1-0 victory over Southampton in the Romanian capital after the first leg had ended 1-1 while, at Ewood Park, Blackburn drew 1-1 with Genclerbirligi but the Turkish team’s 3-1 first-leg lead proved decisive.
”We are a better team than Steaua and would have won easily on a lucky day,” said Saints boss Gordon Strachan, whose side missed a hatful of chances.
Brazilian World Cup star Ronaldinho banged in a hat-trick as Barcelona crushed Matador Puchov 8-0 for a 9-1 aggregate.
And Cameroonian international striker Samuel Eto’o also scored three as Real Mallorca demolished Apoel Nicosia 4-2 in Spain and 6-3 on aggregate.
Lars Ricken hit the only goal as Borussia Dortmund beat Austria Vienna 1-0 for a 3-1 scoreline but fellow German clubs Hertha Berlin and SV Hamburg both crashed out.
Hertha conceded a late goal and went down to a 1-0 defeat against Polish outfit Groclin Grodzisk while Hamburg were thrashed 3-0 by Dniepropetrovsk in Ukraine and went down 4-2 on aggregate.
Italian Serie A side Parma overcame the controversial late withdrawal of on-loan midfielder Manuele Blasi, who failed a drugs test, to defeat Metalurg Donetsk 3-0 and progress to the second round.
Perugia advanced after winning 1-0 at home to Dundee, which secured a 3-1 aggregate while AS Roma’s 1-1 draw away to Vardar Skopje earned Fabio Capello’s men a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Hearts saved Scottish pride when a a 0-0 draw against Zeljeznicar Sarajevo preserved their 2-0 first leg win. — Sapa-AFP