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Europa League Review: Cloud-nine Brondby ignite opening round

Brondby were the standout winners in the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round first leg as they thumped Juvenes/Dogana of San Marino 9-0.

Johan Elmander got the Swedish club up and running with a sixth-minute opener and his first-half brace would be matched by a double from substitute Elbasan Rashani in the second period.

Carlgren's team-mates were grateful for a Nabil Bahoui double that salvaged a 2-2 draw after Admir Catovic and Jordan Seabrook put the Finnish outfit two goals ahead.

Norwegian teams Odds BK and Stromsgodset IF were 3-0 and 3-1 victors at FC Sheriff and at home to FK Partizani respectively, while Lithuanian club FK Trakai celebrated their European debut with a 3-0 win over HB Torshavn of the Faroe Islands. 

Welsh Cup winners Newtown AFC secured a last-gasp 2-1 win over Valletta thanks to Jason Oswell’s 91st minute strike. The Maltese side had captain Ian Azzopardi sent off, while their counterparts Birkirkara shared a goalless draw with Ulisses FC.

Lokomotiva Zagreb won 3-1 at Airbus UK and FK Spartaks Jurmala did the same at Buducnost Podgorica, with an identical scoreline separating hosts Differdange 03 against Bala Town of Wales, who finished the match in Luxembourg with 10 men due to Mike Hayes' red card.

Debrecen appear virtually assured of progress after overcoming Sutjeska Niksic 3-0 - a scoreline bettered by FC Vaduz in their 5-0 triumph over San Marino's La Fiorita.

FC Shirak, FK Kukesi, Dinamo Tbilisi and Skonto Riga were on target twice in home wins, although the latter two shipped an away goal to FK Qabala and St Patrick's Athletic respectively.