Fulham through as Scots tumble

Fulham smashed Lithuania’s Vetra 3-0 in the second leg of their 3rd qualifying round tie on Thursday evening to secure passage to the 2009/2010 Europa League playoffs.

The Premiership side came into the match with a virtually unassailable 3-0 following their away fixture in Lithuania, and had little trouble booting their Eastern-European opponents off the park.

Dickson Etuhu scored the first goal at Craven Cottage before Andrew Johnson scored twice to hand Fulham a 60 aggregate win, and a chance to take on sterner opposition in the next round.

“We were good value for our three goals as we were in the first leg,” Fulham coach Roy Hodgson told reporters after the match. “I am pleased with our attitude, pleased with the quality of our play and pleased with our passing.”

Scottish clubs were not so lucky on the night, as Motherwell perished 3-1 in Bucharest for a 6-1 aggregate thumping at the hands of Steau Bucharest, while Aberdeen can trade in their defence for a colander after they lost 3-0 in their away tie for an 8-1 aggregate loss.