Champions League wrap: Defeat for Debrecen

Skenderbeu Korce edged past Debrecen in their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round clash, while HJK Helsinki crushed KR Reykjavik.

Sebino Plaku was the hero for Skenderbeu Korce, with his strike shortly after the hour mark steering the Albanian side to a 1-0 first leg victory.

Debrecen, who reached the group stages of the competition in 2009/2010, made a flying start to the match with Peter Szakaly’s header flying over the bar.

But Skenderbeu Korce started to impose themselves on the contest as the match progressed and were rewarded for their efforts with a goal on 65 minutes.

Gjergj Muzaka put a delightful cross into the box and Plaku was on hand to find the back of the net.

That strike proved to be enough for Skenderbeu Korce to register their first win in the competition, as the two sides head to Hungary for the second leg on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Juho Makela scored a hat-trick as HJK Helsinki cruised to a 7-0 victory over KR Reykjavik in Finland.

Makela was on target in the 13th minute to give his side the lead, before adding his second and third late in the second half to complete the rout.

Joel Pohjanpalo added a brace for the Finland side, while Rasmus Schuller and Mika Vayrynen also got on the scoresheet.

In other matches on Tuesday, Sheriff Tiraspol picked up a 1-0 victory away at Uliss Yerevan, while FC Basel won 2-0 at FC Flora Tallin.

Neftchi triumphed 3-0 at home against FC Zestafoni, F91 Dudelange edged past SV Salzburg 1-0, Vojtech Hadascok scored the only goal as Liberec defeated Shakhter Karaganda and MSK Zilina won 1-0 at home against Hapoel Kiryat Shmona.

T.N.S and Helsingborg played out a goalless draw as did Shamrock and FK Ekranas, while Partizan Belgrade won 4-1 at Valletta.