Liberec and Jablonec win Europa League first-leg games

Two Czech clubs won their first-leg games in the third qualification round for European soccer’s second-tier competition, the Europa League, on Thursday evening. Slovan Liberec went a goal behind against Zurich in north Bohemia, but managed to turn the game around to win 2:1. Jablonec, meanwhile, beat their guests, Norwegian side Strömsgodset, by the same score-line, with the winning strike coming in time added on. The second legs of those ties take place next Thursday.