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Rovers reach UEFA Cup first round

David Bentley, front, of Blackburn Rovers is out-jumped by Tuomas Kansikas of Finnish side MyPa in the UEFA Cup second qualifying round, second-leg soccer match at Ewood Park, Blackburn, England, on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

English Premiership side Blackburn Rovers eased into the UEFA Cup first round on Thursday with a 2-0 win over the Finns of MyPa at Ewood Park.

Goals from David Bentley and Jason Roberts handed Mark Hughes' side a 3-0 aggregate victory in their second qualifying round, second-leg game.

Bentley rattled home a superb left-foot volley in the 48th minute while Roberts extended Rovers' lead in stoppage time with a clever backheel to make sure of Rovers' place in the draw for the first round, which took place yesterday.

In Sweden, 10-man Dunfermline of the Scottish Premier League were dumped out by BK Hacken.

Dunfermline striker Jim Hamilton was dismissed for a second booking in the 57th minute to leave Stephen Kenny's First Division Pars with too much to do in the return leg of the second round qualifier.

Ari Skulason struck after 27 minutes to give the Swedes the lead on the night.

Hamilton's red card -- Dunfermline's fifth in just six matches this season -- summed up their night as Hacken booked their place in the first round proper.

Former French international striker Jean-Pierre Papin enjoyed a great start to his career as coach of Lens who beat Swiss side Young Boys 5-1 for a 6-2 aggregate.

Papin took over from veteran coach Guy Roux, who quit at the weekend after just four league games in charge.

Aruna Dindane headed in Olivier Monterrubio's corner in the 12th minute to put the French side ahead with Kanga Akale making it 2-0 just four minutes later.

On the half-hour mark, Hakan Yakin sent Carlos Varela clear and the midfielder rounded Vedran Runje to reduce the deficit for the Swiss team.

Ten minutes after the restart, however, Lens were back in charge with Dindane scoring the third before Eric Carriere (67) and Simon Feindouno (90) wrapped up the win.

"I could not imagine a better performance for my first game here," said Papin.

Amongst major names going through to the first round were Spain's Atletico Madrid, who beat Vojvodina of Serbia 2-1 on the night for a 5-1 aggregate.

Italy's Sampdoria drew 1-1 with Hajduk Split, but went through 2-1 while Galatasaray of Turkey edged Slaven Koprivnica of Croatia 2-1 for a 4-2 aggregate.
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