Birkirkara 0
Hajduk Split 3
Strinic 5; Bartolovic 45; Ibricic 90
Birkirkara
B. Paris, T. Paris ('77 R. Sammut), J. Zerafa, E. Yantchev, R. Hartvig, G. Mallia, P. Fenech, M. Anastasi, A. Buhagiar, A. Tabone ('61 J.P. Mifsud Triganza), M. Galea ('81 L. Sciberras).
Hajduk Split
V. Tomic, B. Zivkovic, S. Linic, N. Kalinic ('46 M. Oremus), D. Gabric, M. Bartolovic, I. Strinic ('46 S. Ibricic), M. Bulat, M. Maloca, M. Ticinovic, G. Rubil ('73 T. Pezo).
Referee: David Mckeon (Ireland).
The gulf in class between Maltese club sides and most of their European counterparts was again in abundant evidence yesterday as Croatian heavyweights Hajduk Split followed up their first-leg 4-0 win over Birkirkara with another convincing 3-0 victory.
Hajduk descended on Malta comforted by the knowledge that their passage to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup was already assured but that did not deter them from taking the game to Birkirkara.
The Stripes put in a gallant effort in their bid to bow out of the competition with a respectable result but their commitment was not enough to stop their superior opponents hitting three goals to complete a 7-0 aggregate victory.
Unfortunately, the camaraderie on the field of play and Hajduk's brisk performance were overshadowed by sporadic clashes between a section of the visiting fans and local police.
Hajduk broke the deadlock after five minutes, Ivan Strinic firing home from the left of the penalty box after a shot by Marjan Bulat had been deflected into his path by the Birkirkara defence.
Four minutes later, Hajduk threatened to double their lead but were foiled by Birkirkara goalkeeper Bernard Paris who blocked an effort from striker Nikola Kalinic.
Hajduk maintained a stranglehold on the match in the Ta' Qali sunshine, going close to a second goal on 18 minutes when Kalinic's volley from Drago Gabric's left-wing cross came off a post.
As was the case in the first leg, Birkirkara were finding it hard to venture out of their half. Michael Galea cut a forlorn figure in attack as John Buttigieg's 4-5-1 approach meant that the Birkirkara captain had to lead his side's attack on his own.
The injury-related absence of Shaun Bajada deprived Buttigieg of one of his most creative midfield players. New signing Angus Buhagiar replaced Bajada. Defender Lee Lombardi was also absent yesterday due to a knee injury.
Just when it looked as though Birkirkara had done enough to restrict Hajduk to one goal in the first half, the Croatians struck again on the stroke of half-time, Mladen Bartolov hammering a low shot past Paris after receiving a pass from Goran Rubil.
Hajduk remained in cruise control as they dominated large swathes of possession without posing serious trouble to Birkirkara in the second half.
The lack of excitement on the field of play meant that the sights of the spectators were drawn to the unsavoury events on the terraces.
Birkirkara seemed more concerned about containing Hajduk's advances than to create some problems of their own but their resistance was broken again in the dying minutes. Substitute Senijad Ibricic charged down the left and fired a low shot past Paris from a somewhat angled position.