Kilmarnock's UEFA Cup hopes suffered a potentially fatal blow yesterday as they succumbed to an impressive Sigma Olomouc side in the sweltering heat of the Anders Stadium in the Czech Republic.

Olomouc midfielder Jiri Krohmer opened the scoring, beating the offside trap after 26 minutes. A second 12 minutes from time from the impressive Radim Konig now leaves Kilmarnock with a mountain to climb in the return at Rugby Park in a fortnight's time.

It was a simple ploy that undid the Scots for the opening goal. A long ball out of defence by Martin Kotulek found the whole Kilmarnock defence stepping out as one, leaving two Olomouc players alone inside the six yard box. Krohmer wasted no time in firing left-footed high past a helpless Marshall.

Kilmarnock's attacking moments in the first half had been restricted to an early 30-yard Paul Wright freekick that was comfortably held by the Czech's giant goalkeeper Jindrich Skacel.

Olomouc included three internationals including balding striker Radek Drulak and he should have killed the game off on the resumption as the home side peppered Marshall's goal.

The former Rangers midfielder, Ian Durrant, gave the visitors some hope when he split the Czech defence with a glorious long pass to find Alan Mahood, but the former Morton man could only direct his lob wide.

Frenchman Jerome Vareille came on for the tiring Wright to add fresh impetus to the attack, but it was the Czechs who found a second goal. Konig jinked past Lauchlan on the right angle of the Kilmarnock penalty area after 78 minutes before toe-poking the ball under the on-rushing Marshall.

Sigma Olomouc: Skacel; Kovar, Ujfalusi, Krohmer, Mucha (Steska, 85min), Barborik (Ryska, 82), Drulak (Cupak, 68), Machala, Konig, Kotulek, Heinz.

Kilmarnock: Marshall; MacPherson, Montgomerie, McGowne, Lauchlan, Baker, Holt, Durrant, Mahood (Burke, 70), Mitchell, Wright (Vareille, 62).

Referee: E Ersoy (Turkey).