BIRKIRKARA-1, DIOSGYOR-4
Birkirkara have been knocked out of the Europa League after crashing to a 4-1 home defeat to Diosgyor this evening with the Hungarians advancing to the second qualifying round 6-2 on aggregate.
After losing 2-1 in the away leg, Birkirkara will have fancied their chances of causing an upset but an early goal compounded their task.
The Stripes did well to equalise on the evening through Ryan Camenzuli but Diosgyor's technical and physical superiority came to the fore in the second half as the Hungarians struck three goals to leave Birkirkara reeling.
The two teams cancelled out each other for much of the opening half-hour as their attempts to build attacks were easily dealt with by the respective defences.
Already hit hard by the absence of injured captain Gareth Sciberras, right-back Zach Muscat, out due to issues surrounding his registration with UEFA, and suspended defender Matheus Bissi, Birkirkara suffered another blow on the half-hour when Diosgyor took the lead.
Agos Elek pounced on a short clearance by Leighton Grech before running into the box from the left and hitting a rising shot that had the better of Birkirkara goalkeeper Adrian Murcia Sanchez.
With Diosgyor leading 3-1 on aggregate, Birkirkara's qualification chances took a hit but they revived their hopes on the stroke of time. Captain Paul Fenech supplied an excellent through-ball to Ryan Camenzuli who slipped the attentions of the Diosgyor defenders and slotted home.
Birkirkara tried to apply the pressure on Diosgyor at the start of the season. Substitute Rafael Ledesma had a dangerous free-kick tipped away by Antal but on 62 minutes, the Hungarians all but sealed the issue when Senad Husic's angled effort had the better of Sanchez.
Four minutes later, Diosgyor increases their lead when substitute David Barczi flicked the ball past Sanchez from closer range after meeting a perfect cross from Andras Gosztonyi.
Birkirkara looked stunned.
Camenzuli, one of Birkirkara's better performers, came close to reducing the arrears as the Malta U-21 winger forced his way past a clutch of defenders but his grounder rolled inches wide of the far post.
With 11 minutes remaining, Diosgyor threatened again when Husic again advanceson the left before laying the ball back for substitute Mark Nikhazi who lifted his shot over the bar.
Birkirkara should have reduced the deficit when Ledesma's set-piece cross from the left found Alejandro Mendoza at the far post. The Spaniard flicked the ball across the face of goal before Vella picked it up but his cross found no takers.
The two teams were now conceded more space in defence as the game became stretched out. Nikhazi again hit wide after another surging run by Husic while, at the other end, Camenzuli's well-hit strike was kept out by Antal.
In the dying stages, Diosgyor extended their lead when Lazar Marjanovic's low effort rolled past the fumbling Sanchez after good work by Nikhazi.