Feyenoord, the 2002 UEFA Cup winners, kicked off their latest campaign with their first win over Austrian opponents, beating Kaernten 2-1 in their first- round match at the De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam on Thursday.

 Hamburg, Girondins Bordeaux and Wisla Krakow also secured home wins by the same scoreline, while Croatia's Kamen Ingrad played out a goalless draw at home to Schalke 04 in the night's other tie, as the remaining first-leg games were completed.

 The other 43 first round matches were played on Wednesday with the second legs scheduled for October 15-16.

 It was fitting that Feyenoord, who are struggling in 10th place in the Dutch league, should start their quest for another UEFA Cup success in the stadium where they beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a dramatic final 16 months ago.

 But they made hard work of it and had to come from behind against a dogged Austrian side who will fancy their chances of reaching the second round when the teams meet in Klagenfurt.

 Kaernten opened the scoring on 57 minutes when Marijo Maric headed home a Patrick Jovanovic corner at the near post. But their lead was short-lived as Dirk Kuijt equalised when he found the net from close range after a corner by Robin van Persie.

 Feyenoord got what proved to be the winner with 13 minutes remaining as Thomas Buffel and Danko Lazovic combined well to break through the visiting defence before Belgian international Buffel struck the second goal for the home side.

 GOALLESS DRAW

 Hamburg also had to come from a goal down at home to beat Ukrainians Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 2-1 before a crowd of just over 26,000, while fellow Bundesliga side Schalke, who won the UEFA Cup in 1997, ground out a goalless draw away to Kamen Ingrad.

 Hamburg's Nico-Jan Hoogma equalised with a penalty four minutes after the break before Argentine striker Bernardo Romeo headed the winner from a Sergej Barbarez cross on 81 minutes after Oleg Venhlinskyi had given Dnipro a 10th minute lead.

 Schalke began their tie in Velika without seven first-team regulars and were under pressure throughout the first half, but the home side could not convert their few chances against a disciplined defence intent on keeping a clean sheet.

 In fact, it was Schalke who came closest to scoring when striker Mike Hanke fired a close-range effort against the post from inside the penalty area 17 minutes from time.

 Bordeaux had to survive an extended period of injury time before securing their slim victory over Slovakian visitors Petrzalka with all the goals coming in the first half.

 Albert Rieira put the French side ahead after seven minutes before the visitors got back on level terms through Marek Krejci nine minutes later. Jean-Claude Darcheville restored Bordeaux's lead on 37 minutes and there were no further goals.

 Poland's Wisla Krakow will defend a narrow lead in the Netherlands after beating NEC Nijmegen thanks to goals from Tomasz Frankowski on 29 and 55 minutes. But Nijmegen got a vital away goal when Rob Wielaert tucked away a 65th minute penalty.

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