Lille end Macedonian dream

A Johan Audel goal midway through the first half guided LOSC Lille Métropole to a place in the UEFA Champions League group stage as they won 4-0 on aggregate to end FK Rabotnicki's hopes.

Audel opener
Three goals behind from the first leg, Rabotnicki made the early pace but failed to test Lille goalkeeper Grégory Malicki and with 20 minutes on the clock it was the visitors who broke through. Jean Makoun lifted the ball into the penalty area where Audel was fastest to react to head the ball in. Three minutes later Souleymane Youla could have doubled the visitors' advantage after finding himself unmarked with only Tome Pacovski to beat but the goalkeeper won the battle, palming the ball behind for a corner.

Long shot
Just as they did in the first half, Rabotnicki began the second period strongly but Vanco Trajcev's long-range effort, easily saved by Malicki, was all they had to show for their endeavour. Then, when captain Zoran Jovanovski was sent-off for a second yellow card seven minutes from time, the writing was on the wall.

Late chances
Despite going down to ten men Rabotnicki still went close through Ivan Pejčić while Audel and Youla squandered late changes to extend Lille's advantage. It was all academic however as the French side switch their thoughts to Thursday's group stage draw and the Macedonian champions to the consolation prize of the UEFA Cup.