Keflavik 2
Eysteinsson 55; J.B. Gudmundsson 72
Valletta 2
Falzon 40; Priso 82
(Valletta win 5-2 on aggregate)

Ireland here we come! Valletta have earned the right to face St Patrick's in the second round of the Europa League after drawing 2-2 with Keflavik in the second leg of their first qualifying round tie.

Galvanised by the 3-0 win in last week's first leg, the Citizens completed their job in emphatic style at the Keflavikurvollur as they booked their place in the next stage with a 5-2 aggregate win.

Given their three-goal cushion, many expected Valletta coach Ton Caanen to devise a defensive gameplan but the Dutchman refused to budge with his positive philosophy.

Caanen and his brave troops were rewarded for keeping faith with attacking football as Dyson Falzon and Doding Priso were on the mark to rubberstamp the team's success.

It was a gallant, collective effort by the Citizens who would have probably won here had they converted a host of scoring chances, especially in the latter stages of the first half.

All the players did their job superbly but special mention goes to captain Gilbert Agius who was a colossus in front of defence.

Roderick Briffa was also a dynamic performer, mixing graft with craft, especially when he moved to left-back in the second half.

The synthetic surface of the Centenary Stadium and the heat factor were partly blamed for Keflavik's abject performance in the first leg last week. If Keflavik hoped that the elements would aid their quest to overturn the 3-0 deficit their prayers were not answered.

The day dawned cool and cloudy in Iceland but the sun came out as kick-off approached.

Keflavik had midfielder Simun Samuelsen declared fit to start as Kristjan Gudmundsson, the Keflavik coach, effected only one change from last week's match. Haukur Ingi Gudnason was preferred to Brynjar Gudmundsson.

Keflavik might have taken an early lead but Alen Sutej's firm header, from Gudnason's free-kick, was palmed away for a corner by Andrew Hogg.

Six minutes into the game, Samuelsen hit wide from an angled position.

The hosts continued to show the better ideas but their early pressure failed to unsettle Valletta.

Valletta's first significant foray into Keflavik's half almost procured a goal after 20 minutes.

Latching on to a headed clearance by Briffa, Falzon advanced before teeing up Priso whose grounder ricocheted off the near post. The ball flew back into the six-yard box where Geert den Ouden's attempt at an overhead kick proved unproductive.

Having weathered Keflavik's initial pressure, Valletta gained in confidence. As the game reached the half-hour mark, Caanen instructed Falzon and Priso to switch wings in a bid to pull Keflavik out of shape.

For their part, Keflavik's main threat came from the left where Samuelsen was proving a handful for Steve Bezzina.

On a couple of occasions, Agius showed his experience by tracking back to offer cover for Bezzina.

In a counter-attack, Priso ran clear but his effort came off a defender.

Ten minutes from half-time, the Citizens almost took the lead.

Priso, back in his familiar station on the right wing, delivered a cross towards the centre where Den Ouden directed a looping header that almost eluded Lasse Jorgensen but the Keflavik keeper just managed to prevent the ball from crossing the goal-line.

In no time Valletta were at it again as Keflavik continued to look susceptible on the counter.

Briffa released Den Ouden with a clever pass but the towering Dutch forward fired wide.

Five minutes from half-time, Valletta went ahead.

Keflavik were caught at sixes and sevens in defence as Pace's long pass landed in the path of Falzon who sped forward, rounded Alen Sutej and drilled his shot into the bottom-right corner.

Falzon's opener meant that Keflavik now had to score five goals to go through. That looked a bridge too far for the Icelandic side but they refused to lie down.

In the early minutes of the second half, the hosts twice went agonisingly close to pulling one back.

Gudnason whipped in a teasing cross from the left but Jon Gunnar Eysteinsson flicked wide at the far post. Gudnason then fashioned a dangerous shot from just inside the box but much to Valletta's relief, the ball flashed wide.

Keflavik's perseverance paid off 10 minutes into the second half when Eysteinsson made up for his earlier miss with a rising shot that flew past Hogg's groping hands - 1-1.

Throwing caution to the wind, Keflavik now poured forward in numbers and made it 2-1 with 19 minutes left.

Theirs was a bizarre goal as Johann Birnir Gudmundsson delivered a seemingly innocuous free-kick but the ball soared past a posse of players and into the far corner of the net.

With 12 minutes remaining, Caanen made his first substitution, bringing on Justin Grioli for Falzon.

The Valletta coach also switched to five at the back with Jordi Cruyff taking up the old libero position.

Any hopes Keflavik might have had of getting back into contention vanished when Valletta made it 2-2. Agius cut the Keflavik defence apart with a through-ball to Priso who burst into the box and slotted home.

Keflavik might have regained the lead but Hordur Sveinsson blasted over after receiving from Eysteinsson.

The final whistle was greeted with joy by the City players, coach Caanen and the few fans and committee members who made the trip to Iceland.

The Valletta contingent will be flying back to Malta today at 2.30 p.m. but Caanen will not be on the same flight as he is travelling to Dublin to run the rule over St Patrick's.

Keflavik
L. Jorgensen, A. Sutej, G.A. Antoniusson, H.I. Gudnason ('65 S. Arnarsson), N.Jorgensen ('46 B. Gudmundsson), J.G. Eysteinsson, H. Sveinsson, S. Samuelsen, M. Thorsteinsson ('70 J.B. Gudmundsson), E.O. Einarsson, B.H. Adalsteinsson.

Valletta
A. Hogg, G. Agius, R. Briffa, S. Bezzina, K. Scicluna ('89 S. Borg), J. Pace, D. Falzon ('78 J. Grioli), G. Den Ouden, N. Priso ('89 D. Grima), L. Dimech, J. Cruyff.

Yellow cards: Dimech; Priso.

Referee: Mark Whitby (Wales).