home advantage helps helsingborg past tns published: wednesday 25 july 2012, 21.25cet helsingborgs ıf 3-0 the new saints fc (agg: 3-0) tns were unable to respond to first-half goals from walid atta and thomas sørum before the swedish champions sealed the win late on.
by ulf nilson from olympia stadium
goals from walid atta, thomas sørum and substitute álvaro booked helsingborgs ıf's place in the uefa champions league third qualifying round and eliminated the new saints fc.
with neither side able to find the net in last week's opener in shropshire, it was all to play for in helsingborg and the hosts made the perfect start. jere uronen's eighth-minute corner was met firmly by the head of atta to give the swedish champions the lead.
alfred finnbogason tested paul harrison in the visitors' goal seven minutes later as helsingborg began to assert their authority on the game. ındeed, åge hareide's side doubled their advantage on 27 minutes when sørum capitalised on a mistake to score.
the second half continued in a similar fashion with finnbogason heading against a post on 65 minutes. tns left themselves exposed at the back as they threw men forward in a bid to get back into the match and álvaro took full advantage on the counterattack to seal the win one minute from time.
helsingborg will play wks Śląsk wroclaw in the next round after the polish title holders squeezed past fk budućnost podgorica.
