Soccer - Europa League Round-up:Alessandro Del Piero was the star of the show after his wonder goal was the standout moment during Juventus' 1-0 win (3-0 on aggregate) over Shamrock Rovers at a rain-soaked Stadio Braglia in Modena tonight.
Rovers bowed out of the Europa League by superior opposition but Michael O’Neill’s side gave a good account of themselves in what were almost impossible conditions, such was the downpour of rain in the first half.
Juventus were unchanged from the side that won 2-0 in Tallaght Stadium last week while Rovers could understandably be forgiven for having one eye on Sunday’s derby with champions Bohemians – O’Neill made four changes.
Fullbacks Craig Sives and Enda Stevens, along with midfielders Chris Turner and Thomas Stewart, were dropped and in came Pat Flynn and Danny Murphy at the back while Paddy Kavanagh and Billy Dennehy returned on the flanks.
The rain was torrential and bordering on the unplayable at times. Greek referee, Georgios Daloukas, inspected the pitch a half hour before kick off and declared it playable.
The amount of rain on the pitch was such that passing the ball was a lottery as players knew not when it would stop dead in surface water.
Del Piero (35) came on for the second half to raptures from the crowd and soon began to play his part in igniting a slow burner of a second half.
His wonder goal came with a free-kick which arrowed directly into the roof of the net with a sublime strike to put the home crowd in ecstasy and deservedly win the game.
Elsewhere Joe Cole had an inspired competitive debut for Liverpool who brushed aside Rabotnicki 2-0 for a 4-0 aggregate victory in their qualifier.
David Ngog, who scored both goals in the first leg last week, wrapped matters up when he headed Liverpool ahead after 22 minutes after a perfect pass from Cole.
The five-time European champions doubled their lead after 40 minutes when Steven Gerrard cooly wrong-footed the Macedonian side's goalkeeper Martin Bogiatinov from the spot after Fernando Lopes hauled down Ngog.
England midfielder Cole, who moved to Anfield from Chelsea last month, almost scored seconds after halftime when his far post cross hit the bar.
The visitors were totally outplayed and only escaped a much heavier defeat because of some wayward Liverpool shooting, the only minor niggle for new coach Roy Hodgson in his first match in charge at Anfield.
Jamie Murphy continued his impressive Europa League goalscoring streak as Motherwell beat Aalesund 3-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.
Murphy blasted his third goal in as many games and his seventh in Europe before John Sutton's effort gave Motherwell a commanding lead over Aalesund with just 13 minutes gone.
The home side were more purposeful in possession than their Norwegian visitors during a comfortable first half and stood firm in defence when put under concerted pressure after the interval.
Substitute Jonathan Page netted a late third to round off an impressive victory which sends Motherwell into a potentially lucrative tie - one step from the group stages and a round further than they achieved last season.
Hibernian lost 3-2 at home to Maribor and 6-2 on aggregate.
Europa League Third Qualifying Round 2nd Leg
Bangor City 1 Maritimo 2
(Maritimo win 10-3 on agg)
Hibernian 2 Maribor 3
(Maribor win 6-2 on agg)
Juventus 1 Shamrock Rovers 0
(Juventus win 3-0 on agg)
Liverpool 2 Rabotnicki Kometal 0
(Liverool win 4-0 on aggregate)
Motherwell 3 Aalesund 0
(Motherwell win 4-1 on agg)