Rosenborg out to end Crusaders´ quest

Rosenborg will look to secure their place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League when they face Crusaders on Thursday.

The Norwegian side edged past their Northern Irish counterparts in the first leg of their first qualifying round clash week, winning 2-1 in a tense encounter.

Jonas Svensson was the hero in that game for the Trondheim club, netting the winner on 77 minutes after Nigerian midfielder John Chibuike had cancelled out Jordan Owens’ opener for Crusaders just before half-time.

Despite notching two away goals, manager Per Joar Hansen will know the job is not yet done, with underdogs Crusaders likely to display the same kind of character they did in the first leg.

Videoton travel to face Mladost Podgorica with a 2-1 advantage after the Montengrin side grabbed what could be a crucial away goal in the first leg.

Bozo Markovic gave Mladost the lead from the penalty spot three minutes in, before Paulo Vinicius and Adam Gyurcso netted for the Hungarians to give them the advantage.

Videoton will go in as favourites, but manager Jose Manuel Gomes will surely be urging his team to guard against complacency and avoid a shock defeat.

Elsewhere, Welsh side Bala Town will attempt to protect a 1-0 lead from the first leg when they travel to take on Levadia Tallinn, while Macedonian minnows Turnovo can progress to the next stage if they can hold on against Suduva following a 2-2 draw in the first contest in Lithuania.

The first second-leg ties take place on Tuesday, with Armenian side Mika hoping to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Montenegro’s Rudar Pljevlja.

Albanian club Laci will attempt to achieve a similar feat against Differdange of Luxembourg.

Differdange’s domestic rivals Jeunesse Esch will be confident of their progression, as they take a 2-0 advantage into their second leg trip to Finnish side TPS.