LONDON — Luis Suarez was the key player as Liverpool moved smoothly into the final qualifying round of the Europa League Thursday with a 3-0 win over Gomel of Belarus. The Uruguyan created first-half goals for Fabio Borini and skipper Steven Gerrard as the east European visitors proved no match for the Merseyside giants. Glen Johnson added another after half-time. It was a positive way for Brendan Rodgers to mark his first home game in charge, particularly with his first signing Borini capping a useful performance by grabbing a precious goal on his home debut, thrashing home a first-time shot from 10 yards. More significant tests are to come and the presence of Reds' former assistant-manager Steve Clarke was a reminder that the first Premier League game against West Brom is only nine days away. However, this win should at least settle some of the nerves which have started to grow amid speculation that Daniel Agger and Andy Carroll might end up joining the summer exodus from a club that expects much better than last season's eighth-place finish. The other British side in action on the night, Scotland's Dundee United, was thrashed 5-0 at Dynamo Moscow losing by a hefty 7-2 on aggregate. Italian giant Inter Milan was given a fright when it lost 2-0 at home to Hajduk Split of Croatia. But having won the first leg away 3-0 it scraped through 3-2 on aggregate. Other top sides to make it through were Marseille of France who defeated Turkey's Eskisehirspor 3-0 and FC Twente of the Netherlands who swept past Mlada Boleslav of the Czech Republic 4-0 on aggregate on the back of two 2-0 wins. Sparta Prague drew with Admira Wacker 2-2, but advanced on 4-2 aggregate. Cypriot club Anorthosis, meanwhile, is facing disciplinary action after Thursday's match at home to Georgia's Dila Gori was abandoned because of crowd trouble, UEFA said Friday. “The UEFA Europa League third qualifying round match between Anorthosis and Dila Gori was abandoned due to crowd disturbances (with Dila Gori leading 3-1 on aggregate),” European soccer's governing body told Reuters in a statement. “UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings and is now also waiting to receive reports from the match officials.” However, UEFA said both teams would still be part of the playoff round draw taking place later Friday. The visitors had just taken a 3-0 lead in the third qualifying round second-leg tie at the Antonis Papadopoulos stadium in Larnaca when play was abandoned in the 82nd minute. The Cyprus Mail said on its website that Anorthosis fans invaded the pitch and pelted police with stones. Celtic vs. Helsingborg Scottish champion Celtic will play Swedish league winner Helsingborg for a place in the group stage of the Champions League. The playoff draw Friday also pitted Spanish side Malaga against Panathanaikos of Greece. The Andaluc?a-based side is in financial turmoil despite reaching club football's most illustrious competition for the first time in its history, and allegedly owes a number of clubs money for players bought last season. German club Borussia Monchengladbach will face Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine and Spartak Moscow of Russia will play Turkish club Fenerbahce. The first leg of the ties will be played on Aug. 21-22 with the return fixture the following week on Aug. 28-29. — Agencies
