UEFA Champions League: First Qualifying Round Opens With Tuesday Series-Opening Wins By Bhoys, Malmo, Legia, HJK Amongst Others

The first round of UEFA Champions League qualifying commenced on Tuesday with eight games.

At Kutaisi, Georgia:

Giorgi Kukhianidze's successful penalty kick in the 64th minute produced the game winner as Torpedo Kutaisi defeated visiting FC Sheriff 2-1 in the opening match of their two-game series.

The win was the Georgian club's first in European competition since 2002.

At Skopje, Macedonia:

Besart Ibraimi produced a quadruple (38', 53', 60', 66') as Shkendija ran roughshod over The New Saints 5-0 in their series opener.

At Dudelange, Luxembourg:

Bryan Melisse's equalizer in the 58th minute enabled F91 Dudelange to salvage a series-opening 1-1 home draw with Vidi.  

Szabolics Huszti scored for the Hungarian club in the 42nd minute.

At Mitrovica, Kosovo:

Sergio Strandberg (13'), Arnor Traustason (39'), and Markus Rosenberg (82') each scored once as Malmo dominated Drita 3-0 on the road in their series opener.

At Toftir, Faroe Islands:

Atli Gergersen's own goal at 29 minutes proved decisive as HJK Helsinki defeated Vikingur Gota 2-1 in the opening game of their series.

At Cork, Republic of Ireland:

Michal Kucharczyk scored the only goal of the match in the 79th minute as Legia Warsaw took the opening game of their series 1-0 on the road at Cork City's expense.

At Tallinn, Estonia:

Shir Tzedek scored what proved to be the winning goal with his successfully-converted 36th-minute penalty kick as Hapoel Be'er Sheva dominated Flora Tallinn 4-1 in the opening game of their series.

At Yerevan, Armenia:

Odsonne Edouard (45'+2), James Forrest (81'), and Callum McGregor (90') each scored once as Celtic dominated Alashkert 3-0 in the opening contest of their two-game series.