New Saints get better of Red Imps, while Dundalk draw

The New Saints take a 2-1 lead to Gibraltar after beating Lincoln Red Imps at Oswestry.

Dean Ebbe’s sixth-minute goal for the hosts was cancelled out by Joseph Chipolina only for Blaine Hudson’s 83rd-minute strike to give the Welsh champions the advantage.

League of Ireland side Dundalk face a tricky task in Cyprus next week after a goalless home draw to AEK Larnaca.

Crusaders battled bravely before eventually succumbing 5-1 to Olimpija Ljubljana in Slovenia.

Kingsley Boateng put the home side ahead on 30 minutes. Matic Crnic curled in Ljubljana’s second on 56 minutes and Boateng netted his second on 68.

Crusaders responded with Jordan Forsythe’s deflected effort but Crnic and Haris Kadric completed the scoring.

Dundalk and AEK Larnaca played out a scoreless draw in the first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie at Oriel Park in what was a cagey encounter.

A draw was perhaps a fair result considering neither goalkeeper was ever really tested, but Dundalk will be quietly confident heading into the return leg in Cyprus next week.

Bundesliga club RB Leipzig have one foot in the third qualifying round after a convincing 4-0 win over Swedish side BK Hacken.

Bruma, Matheus Cunha and Kevin Kampl put them 3-0 up inside 50 minutes and, even after the sending-off of Stefan Ilsanker, they were still able to add another through Jeankevin Augustin.

Slovenian’s Maribor, Liverpool’s Champions League opponents last season, were held to a goalless draw at Georgian side Chikhura Sachkhere.