Motherwell turned in a professional performance to advance to the third qualifying round of the Europa League, scoring a crucial away goal and holding firm to eliminate Iceland’s Breidablik. Jamie Murphy scored the decisive goal three minutes before the break, latching onto Stephen Craigan’s long ball.

Their opponents lived up to expectation in the early stages, making a bright start and going close through Kristinn Steindorsson and Gudmundur Petursson. But Craig Brown’s team held firm, before grabbing their chance to lead with both hands.

Breidablik boss Olafur Kristjansson stuck with the same starting XI, setting his team out with a remit to level the scores as early as possible. Brown meanwhile made one switch, bringing in Steven Saunders at right back and moving Tom Hateley into midfield, with Chris Humphrey making way.

Motherwell to their credit also started in a positive manner, eager to put the pressure on their hosts with the away goal that would leave Breidablik needing to score three times to advance.

Petursson nearly handed the impetus to the home side after 20 minutes after Craigan’s clearance from a Kristinn Jonsson free-kick failed to dispel the danger. The ball fell to Petusson but his drive cleared the crossbar, much to the relief of the Motherwell player.

Ross Forbes, scorer of the only goal in the first leg, then should have done better soon after when he was presented with an opportunity after good build-up play by Keith Lasley and John Sutton. But Forbes also missed the target, failing to test keeper Ingvar Por Kale.

With Breidablik pushing on as the half moved towards its climax, the visitors delivered the sucker punch. Murphy utilised his pace to get on the end of Craigan’s lofted delivery from deep, in turn making him Motherwell’s joint all-time scorer in European competition with five.

Forbes then smacked a free-kick against the post early in the second half as Motherwell looked to put the game beyond any doubt but, deflated by the goal before the interval, Breidablik struggled to find the enthusiasm to seriously test Darren Randolph and try to bring themselves back into the tie.

Motherwell will be straight back in Europa League action, travelling to play Norwegian side Aalesunds in the third qualifying round on July 29. The return leg will be played a week later at Fir Park.