UEFA Europa League Qualifying Wrap: Gefle, Bala Town triumph

Swedish outfit Gefle won 3-0 against Estonia’s Trans while Bala Town also triumphed in UEFA Europa League qualifying on Tuesday.

Gefle – who entered the match in 12th place in the Swedish top-flight – defied a run of form that had seen them fail to win any of their last 11 matches with an impressive away win in Tallinn in the first leg of their first-round qualifier.

Trans, who sit sixth in the top Estonian division, gave their opponents the lift they needed just two minutes before half-time.

Aleksandr Dubokin’s own goal just before the break gave Gefle the advantage and it was one they doubled 12 minutes into the second half.

Sweden international Mikael Dahlberg scored the important second goal, with the strike his first in more than two months.

Midfielder Jonas Lantto sealed Gefle’s win with another strike in second-half stoppage time.

Welsh outfit Bala Town claimed a surprise 1-0 home win over Levadia, who are also of Estonia.

Levadia sit first in the Estonian top-flight but were stunned by Bala, as the Welsh Premier League side extended their winning streak to 13 matches.

Englishman Ian Sheridan scored the game’s only goal after four minutes and his side held firm in the closing stages to claim a memorable win.

Other first leg results saw Qarabag of Azerbaijan win 1-0 at Macedonian club Metalurg Skopje, thanks to a second-half strike from Brazilian Reynaldo.

Maltese outfit Sliema Wanderers came from behind to draw 1-1 with Khazar Lankaran of Azerbaijan, who were reduced to 10 men when Elnur Allahverdiyev was shown a second yellow card eight minutes from time.

Nigerian Stanley Ohawuchi cancelled out Nildo’s early strike to give Sliema a draw.

The second legs will be played on July 11.