Llanelli 0-3 Motherwell : The Steelmen Advance

By: Ian Rose | July 9th, 2009

Against a side of Welsh part-timers that they frankly should have dominated in the first leg, the Steelmen of Motherwell came out today and showed their quality, taking the day 3-0 away in Wales, and moving on to the 2nd Qualifying round of the first Europa League by an aggregate of 3-1. The goals came from John Sutton (2) and the last from Jamie Murphy off the bench. Jim Gannon’s first victory as Motherwell gaffer comes before the season starts, and in Europe, so that’s got to feel good.

Next up for the Well: Albanian side Flamurtari Vlore, which I’m just going to assume is Albanian for “The Flame-Retardant Velour” because that’s what it sounds like and that’s how I translate languages. The one-time (1991) champions of the Albanian superliga are actually the most successful Albanian club in Europe, and not to be taken lightly.

On July 16th and 23rd (happy birthday to me), Motherwell will take on Vlore, and Falkirk will start their European campaign against the pride of Liechtenstein, Vaduz. If Scotland doesn’t put someone into the third qualifying round, we are truly in a sad, sad state of affairs.

Category: Europe

Tags: But I still call it the UEFA Cup, Deal with it, Europa League, Europe, Llanelli, Motherwell

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• Stearling |  July 10th, 2009 at 7:02 am

  
  
  

  Ian, good work, didn’t know you lived in Oregon.

  I’m in Salem, lived in Glasgow all last year getting my Mlitt at Glasgow Uni. Rangers and Timbers fan, do you happen to go to Timbers matches?

  Posted from United States

  

• Matt |  July 10th, 2009 at 7:13 am

  
  
  

  An embarrassment avoided there. Though even if Falkirk and Motherwell go out, if Celtic are unsuccessful in their first qualifying round of the CL, they go into the last Europa League qualifier. If they win the first CL qualifier and lose the second, they go to the Europa group stages, so at least someone (though I’d rather be in the CL) will be in Europe still.

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• Ian |  July 10th, 2009 at 2:18 pm

  
  
  

  Stearling – always good to have locals. Yeah, after the Scotland NT and Caley Thistle, Timbers are my third team, and the only one I get to see week in and week out.

  Matt – still plenty of chances for Scotland to come away with another awful coefficient, but I’d rather have two teams in the second qualy round than one. And Motherwell at least has a shot of further advancement, I think. On European days, I promise to be just as supportive of you Celts.

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