Thor Akureyri 5 Bohemians 1SIGURDUR KRISTJANSSON scored a hat-trick as Bohemians suffered humiliation in northern Iceland. On an uncanny night in the far north Atlantic, the game started encouragingly for Bohemians as they dominated the opening half hour. But it all went horribly wrong in a 15-minute spell either side of half-time as dreadful defending was clinically punished and they suffered an embarrassment to perhaps surpass their 4-0 loss to Welsh side TNS two years ago.

Dave Scully had put Bohemians deservedly in front on 23 minutes as they started the match most encouragingly. But a slip by skipper Owen Heary gifted Kristjansson the equaliser before a badly defended corner gave Thór the lead through Orri Hjaltalin.

Teenager Kevin Feely put through his own goal early in the second half and man-of-the-match Kristjansson then rubbed their noses in it with two more goals late on to complete his hat-trick as the second division Icelanders, on their debut in Europe, waltzed into the second round.

Early on, a mistake by Thór right-back Andri Albertsson set up Peter McMahon whose dipping volley was comfortably taken by keeper Srdjan Rajkovic.

McMahon, who’d had a goal wrongly disallowed in the first leg, then worked Rajkovic a little more from further out three minutes later. Struggling to get into the game, a poor back header by Ryan McEvoy gave Thór their first sight of goal on 19 minutes.

Evan McMillan saved McEvoy’s blushes when galloping back to make a superb tackle on Thór skipper Sveinn Jonsson.

On a sunny and humid evening, the conditions were surprisingly sapping. But Bohs were enjoying all the ball, knocking it around confidently. And it led to their lead goal on 23 minutes.

McEvoy swept the ball wide left for Luke Byrne who pushed it on to Martin. Rajkovic hadn’t looked safe in Dublin with some unsure handling and he duly spilled Martin’s low cross. The alert Scully scooped the loose ball to the net.

Looking in full control now, Keith Buckley was put clean through six minutes later. Rajkovic redeemed himself with a decent stop with his feet to concede the first corner of the night. It was all downhill after that for the Dublin side.

THOR AKUREYRI:Rajkovic; Andri Albertsson, Atli Albertson (Olaffson, 76 mins), Vrenko, Funicello; Aevarsson (Stroemberg, 79 mins), Hjaltalin, Kristjansson; Jonsson, J. Hannesson (Rosbergsson, 88 mins), Hjaltason.

BOHEMIANS: McNulty; Heary, McMillan, Feely, Byrne; McEvoy, Martin, Ward (Moore, 67 mins); Buckley (Wilson, 60 mins), Scully, McMahon (Traynor, 61 mins).

Referee: Igor Pristovnik (Croatia).