AMSTERDAM – Two out of the three Americans waging Champions League battles on Wednesday put one leg firmly in the next round, with Bryan Gerzicich bagging a pair of late goals to pad Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona's 4-0 victory over third qualifying-round visitors FK Netchi.
With the home side already leading the tie opener by two with 20 minutes remaining, the Los Angeles-born midfielder stabbed home from two corner kick scrambles inside a seven-minute span. After opening their Toto Cup defense at Bnei Sakhnin on Saturday, Hapoel will head to Azerbaijan for the return leg on Aug. 8.
Sacha Kljestan worked the final 28 minutes as Anderlecht cruised past Lithuanian guests Ekranas 5-0. The former Chivas USA man took over corner-kick duties, serving a handful of dangerous restarts.
Meanwhile, Molde FK dropped a 1-0 first-leg decision at Basel without hobbled winger Josh Gatt.
