BALA Town’s European adventure ended with a brave performance against Belgian side Standard Liège at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne, as a penalty and a deflected goal sent the hosts through to the third qualifying round of the Uefa Europa League with a solid 2-0 victory.

Colin Caton’s side, having beaten Valletta in Malta three weeks earlier, missed a golden chance to get back on level terms when skipper Chris Venables won a first half penalty, only to see his spot kick saved by home keeper Arnaud Bodart.

The 10-time Belgian champions had taken the lead with a penalty on 19 minutes, when Felipe Avenatti converted from the spot, and Salim Amallah doubled the lead on 34 minutes when he deflected a strike past Bala keeper Alex Ramsay.

Facing a mammoth task against their illustrious hosts in the second half, brave Bala refused to capitulate, but it was Les Rouches who eased through to the next round to face FK Vojvodina of Serbia.

Liege, who had held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw in the group stages last season, started strongly, with Moroccan playmaker Amallah testing alert keeper Ramsay in the opening seconds of the game.

Bala responded with powerful forward Raul Correia turning well in the box, only to see his shot kept out by the feet of keeper Bodard, and in a frantic first 20 minutes back came the skilful hosts.

Ramsay got down well to save when Nicolas Gavory’s cross was deflected by Amallah, and kept out strikes from Felipe Avenatti and Michel Ange Balikwisha, before Amallah curled a shot just wide.

For Bala, Will Evans made a driving run down the wing, came back inside and made the keeper work with a fierce left footed strike, which produced a corner.

Bala were pressed back again, however, and on 19 minutes the unfortunate Steve Leslie was adjudged to have brought down Zinho Vanheusden and Avenatti stepped up to coolly convert the penalty.

Ramsay kept his side in the game when he brilliantly pushed away a curling shot from the edge of the box by Mehdi Carcela, but then Bala attacked and Venables went down in the box under pressure from Kontstantinos Laifis for a penalty.

The Cymru Premier’s Golden Boot stepped up, but the keeper got down far to his right to push it beyond the post, and Bala’s golden opportunity was gone.

Ramsay made a great double save to parry a rocket from Balikwisha and a follow-up from Shamir, and denied Avenatti, before the hosts doubled the lead.

A long range strike from Nicolas Gavory was deflected into the back of the net by man of the match Amallah, to put Les Rouches in firm command of the game.

They almost made it 3-0 before the break when Mehdi Carcela saw his effort diverted just wide, whilst at the other end a great run and cross from Lassana Mendes was tipped over for the visitors.

Liege tightened their grip on possession in the second half, with Ramsay keeping out efforts from Carcela, Amallah and sub Jackson Muleka, but to their credit the Bala rearguard struck to their task to earn the respect of their prestigious hosts.

LIEGE: A Bodart, Z Vanheusden (C), K Laifis, N Gavory, G Cimirot (B Bokadi 72), M Carcela, S Amallah (J Mukela, 67), E Shamir, C Fai, M Balikwisha, F Avenatti. (O Oulare 84). Subs: Henkinet, Dussenne, Raskin, Cop.

BALA TOWN: A Ramsay, A Burns, S Smith, J Spittle, N Peate, O Shannon, A Kay (A Stephens 80’), L Mendes, W Evans, S Leslie (H Jones 80’), C Venables (C), R Correia (Kieran Smith 60’). Subs: A Burns, L Molyneux, Ll Morris, H Lloyd.