There was no UEFA Intertoto Cup success for Irish clubs on Saturday, as Cork City and Cliftonville fell at the first hurdle. Cork's interest in the competition came to an end with a 3-1 aggregate defeat in Latvia. Trailing Metalurgs Liepaja 1-0 from the first leg - in which Pat Morley missed an injury-time penalty - Cork lost two first-half goals in Metalurgs, Sergey Skoblyob scoring both. Things got worse for Cork when forward James Mulligan was red-carded four minutes from half time after he appeared to head-butt a Metalurgs player. Metalurgs' Giedrjus Zuautas was sent off seven minutes into the second half for a second bookable offence before Morley scored a late consolation goal.

Cliftonville's first taste of European action ended in heartbreaking fashion at Solitude. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, the Belfast club were soon level on aggregate when Chris Scannell scored after just 11 minutes.

But in extra-time, the Moldovans sealed victory with two goals in three minutes from Covalcivc and Lurie Priganiuc. Midfielder Valentin Ivannenco added a third a minute from time to take the Moldovans through 4-1 on aggregate.

AIK swept past Welsh club Carmarthen 3-0 to reach the second round. The Swedes had been held to a goalless draw in Wales, but AIK's 17-year-old midfielder Gabriel Petrovic scored the first after 27 minutes in Stockholm and created the second for Patric Andersson on the stroke of half-time. Mattias Thylander added a third seven minutes from time to wrap up a comfortable victory.