Hajduk Split of Croatia completed a 7-0 aggregate win over local side Birkirkara yesterday, winning the second leg at Ta' Qali by 3-0.

There was never any doubt as to who would qualify from this tie after Hajduk's 4-0 win in Split a fortnight ago. Yesterday one might have expected Birkirkara to give their more illustrious opponents a good run for their money, but an early third minute goal killed all their hopes of even providing a surprise positive result.

In actual fact, John Buttigieg's young side was no match for a vastly superior Hajduk side which must have enjoyed 75 per cent, at least, of ball possession.

Birkirkara were forced to play without the injured Sean Bajada and Lee Lombardi. Thomas Paris played at the back while Martin Anastasi was employed in midfield.

Hajduk were a totally superior side. The surprise in the first half was that they scored an early goal and could only increase their lead just before the interval whistle despite the several attempts at the Birkirkara goal.

They dominated midfield to such an extent that they only allowed Birkirkara to organise one decent attack throughout the opening 45 minutes, from which they failed to take advantage - a freekick from just outside the area.

The Stripes tried to play the ball along the ground. They did succeed but only as far as the middle of the pitch as the Croatians quickly took control of the ball.

In the second half the Stripes managed to control their opponents better at the back, but they still found it hard to penetrate up front as Michael Galea and Buhagiar were often caught in an offside position when they tried to move forward.

Birkirkara had not yet settled down when they succumbed to a first goal after just three minutes as Ivan Strinic hit the roof of the net from the left angle.

Eight minutes later, in another fast Hajduk move, it was Kalinic who could have added a second, but he shot wide when ideally placed in front of goal. And moments later, it was goalie Paris who denied Maloca with a good save.

The Croatians went close again on the 19th minute when off a Gabric cross, Kalinic's first time effort hit the upright.

Birkirkara somehow survived the Croatian onslaught and on 36 minutes, they were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area from which Alan Tabone hit well over the bar.

The referee then allowed the players - and himself - to drink some water in view of the heat that prevailed yesterday afternoon at Ta' Qali. Of course, the temperature must have exceeded 35C.

On the 45th minute, George Mallia almost profited from a Zivkovic lapse, but the latter managed to clear before the Birkirkara midfielder could lob over the advancing goalie. Immediately, at the other end, Hajduk punished Birkirkara again with a second goal from Mladen Bartolovic.

Due to the incident mentioned elsewhere on this page, most of the attention on the match drifted away although it weas evident that the pattern followed that of the first half with Hajduk dominating and with Birkirkara struggling to move forward.

The Croatians, however, sealed the issue with a third and final goal on the 92nd minute. It was substitute Senijad Ibricic who went through on the left flank to score from an acute angle.

Birkirkara- Hajduk Split 0-3

Birkirkara: B. Paris, T. Paris (R. Sammut), J. Zerafa, E. Yantchev, R. Hartvig, G. Mallia, P. Fenech, M. Anastasi, A. Buhagiar, A. Tabone (JP Mifsud Triganza), M. Galea (L. Sciberras).

Hajduk Split: V. Tomic, B. Zivkovic, S. Linic, N. Kalinic (M. Oremus), D. Gabric, M. Bartolovic, I. Strinic (S. Ibricic), M. Bulat, M. Maloca, M. Ticinovic, G. Rybil (T. Pezo).

Referee: D. McKeon; Asst refs: G. Delaney, D. Wogan; 4th official: T. Connolly

Scorers: I. Strinic, M. Bartolovic, S. Ibricic

Yellow cards: I. Strinic