Bohemians 3 Lavadia Maardu 0
Bohemians have started this years European campaign as impressively as they concluded last season's. By the time the final whistle of their first Champions League qualifier blew, they hademerged victorious over Estonian Champions Lavadia Maardu by three goals to nil.
Bohs tore out of the stalls and grabbed the opener after just 62 seconds.Paul Byrne touched a short corner to GlenCrowe and received it back again before sending a curling cross to the back post where Shaun Maher headed it powerfully home.
Just eight minutes later another excellent header, this time from Crowe with Byrne again providing, allowed Bohs to march even further ahead.
After 57 minutes Crowe added a third goal for the home side when he sent the visiting goalkeeper the wrong way from a penalty which Mark Rutherford had won after being fouled by Oleksander Tatorinov.
Crowe could have had a hat-trick on twooccasions but both times skewed his shots wide.Simon Webb drew an excellent save from keeper Earnest Martinson and Rutherford tormented the defense witha series of intricate dribbles, but Bohs couldn’t find a fourth.
Nonetheless this comprehensive first leg victory should be enough to see them into the next round where they will face a stiffer test in the form of Sweden’s Halmstad.
Bohemians: Wayne, Shelley, Webb, Hunt, Shaun Maher, Avery, Paul Byrne, Caffrey, Nesovic, Crowe, Rutherford. Subs: Morrison, Mark Dempsey,Harkin, Quigley, O'Connor, O'Neill.
FC Levadia Maardu: Ernest Martinsons, Juri Leitan, Tatarinov, Kulikov, Krasnopjorov, Kalimulin, Rotskov, Sergei Bragin, Toomas Krom, Tselnokov,Kotenko. Subs: Shishov, Ratnikov, Lepik, Vitali Leitan.
Referee: Dieter Schoch (Switzerland)