UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round – British Round-Up

30 Jul 2010

Last night was a mixed bag for our British hopefuls in the second Europa League tournament. Whilst Liverpool managed to stroll past a weak (albeit enthusiastic) Rabotnicki Skopje side, Motherwell were unlucky to draw with Aalesunds FK and Hibernian were crushed by three goals to nil against NK Maribor of Slovenia.

The Merseysiders’ new manager Roy Hodgson must certainly feel justified in his decision to leave no less than ten World Cup players at home, including the likes of new signing Joe Cole and Steven Gerrard, and finalists Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres. With this competition the only hope of lifting European silverware this season, questions will have been raised as to how seriously Hodgson took this tie. Surprisingly, Paddy Power offer odds of 20-1 that he’ll be the next manager to leave his post.

Fortunately for the visiting side, David Ngog was on side to score a brace as Liverpool cruised confidently past the Macedonian runners-up. With such a strong performance away from home, Hodgson might even be tempted to rest his more senior players yet again for the return leg at Anfield. Liverpool are now 10-1 with Sky Bet to win the trophy at the old Lansdowne Road in May.

Motherwell could well be kicking themselves after last night. Jamie Murphy’s 48th-minute goal looked to have the game won for the Scots, especially considering their fine play for the rest of the game, but hearts were broken three minutes into injury time, when Steven Saunders fouled Demar Phillips in the penalty area and Alexander Mathisen coolly converted the penalty.

NK Maribor played their third game of this season’s campaign last night, having qualified for the last round by winning last year’s Slovenian Cup. They proved far too strong for a Hibernian side which entered in this round, possibly due to a comparative lack of match-fitness against an already competitive side for this time of year. At 400-1 with Tote Sport to win the Europa League they’re not looking likely to advance much further, but after such a performance as last night’s they can’t be dismissed.