Counago hat-trick helps Ipswich back into Europe

Ipswich stormed back into the UEFA Cup tonight with an emphatic 8-1 thrashing of Luxembourg part-timers Avenir Beggen at Portman Road.

The First Division side left it late to win the away leg of their qualifying tie 1-0 but the return game was as good as over after just three minutes.

Tommy Miller put Town on their way to a return to the competition in which they were beaten by Inter Milan last season when he finished off Pablo Counago’s good work.

Beggen were to see a lot more of Spanish striker Counago who, playing as first-leg scorer Marcus Stewart discussed a move to Premiership Sunderland, scored the first of his hat-trick in the 18th minute.

Counago and Miller then put the tie beyond all doubt by each netting again within two minutes to make it 4-0 on the night and 5-0 on aggregate.

Town eased off after that early burst but added their fifth before the break when Wayne Brown nodded in.

Greg Molitor pulled one back after the break but John McGreal, Counago again and Darren Ambrose wrapped up the win.

Ipswich will be joined in the first round draw by Livingston and Aberdeen, who both emerged from tough battles to progress.

Livingston went through on away goals after an extraordinary end to their goalless draw with Leichtenstein minnows Vaduz at Almondvale.

Vaduz thought they had secured a 2-1 aggregate success in the dying seconds when Marius Zarn struck but referee Ivan Novak blew the final whistle before the ball crossed the line.

That let-off allowed Livi to emerge victorious from their first ever tie in European competition on away goals and continue the fairytale of their rise since foundation seven years ago.

Aberdeen also went through on the back of a 0-0 draw as they survived a battling second half-display from Moldovan club Nistru Otaci.

The Dons, who held a narrow 1-0 advantage from the first leg, were forced to defend for long spells but managed to cling on to win a place in tomorrow’s draw.

Welsh interest came to a disappointing end as Yugoslavian side Sartid overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit to beat Bangor City 2-1.

Milorad Zecevic and Nenad Mirosavljevic were both on target as City were soundly beaten on the continent.

TNS’ hopes of reaching the first round had long since gone having lost 5-0 away to Amica Wronki of Poland.

Former Watford striker Steve Anthrobus and John Toner both struck tonight as TNS twice took the lead as they looked to restore some pride but the Poles responded to run out 12-2 aggregate winners.

Dundalk were also on the end of a sound thrashing as Croatian side Varteks won 4-0 at Tolka Park to go through 9-0 on aggregate.

Glentoran also failed to find the net as they went down 4-0 in Poland to Wisla Krakow to lose 6-0 overall.

Shamrock Rovers’ European involvement ended in Stockholm as they suffered a 2-0 defeat tonight. Shamrock rarely threatened in the Swedish capital and never looked like overturning their 3-1 first-leg loss.

Linfield restored some pride after their 4-0 first-leg loss to Stabaek with a 1-1 draw against the Norwegians at Windsor Park.

Tryggui Goodmundsson netted an 82nd-minute equaliser for Stabaek after Glenn Ferguson had given Linfield the lead in a stormy affair.

Stabaek had both Andre Flem and Martin Andresen sent off and Ferguson also saw red for Linfield.