The first goal of this season's competition was scored by Sabah Baku's Pavol Safranko less than five minutes in. Facing one of last season's Conference League quarter-finalists in Celje, it was a dream start for Sabah, who are participating in the Europa League for the very first time.
It was a back-and-forth affair in the Azeri capital, as the Slovenians managed to level the game twice, both times courtesy of Franko Kovacevic. In the end, Darko Hrka scored in the 93rd minute to give the visitors a 3-2 first leg win. That could be a crucial result as the teams reconvene in Slovenia next Thursday.
That was the only game in Thursday's UEL play where both sides found the back of the net. AEK Larnaca beat Partizan Belgrade 1-0 at home, while Legia Warsaw achieved the same result versus Aktobe of Kazakhstan. The Poles also reached the last eight of the UECL back in April.
The goals flowed in Ljubljana as Shakhtar Donetsk won by a convincing 6-0 scoreline against Ilves. There was no signs of struggling from the Pitmen, who had five different players score in their home leg. Shakhtar enjoyed their second-largest victory in a UEFA club competition with the result.
Elsewhere, Paks and CFR Cluj played to a scoreless draw in Hungary. Neither team created enough meaningful chances, making it a winner-take-all clash in Romania next week.
Levski Sofia and Hapoel Be'er Sheva also failed to find the back of the net in their encounter. The Israelis played 25 minutes up a man after Maicon received a second yellow in the 70th minute. Both sides ended up with 10 players by full-time, as Eliel Peretz was also given his martching orders.
Severin Nioule played hero for Swedish club Hacken, as they edged Spartak Trnava 1-0 on the road. In what was a fairly even match, the Ivorian's goal 11 minutes after the restart gives his side a slender advantage heading into the decider.
Sheriff Tiraspol were the other big winners on the day, cruising to a 4-0 defeat of Kosovo's Prishtina. Cyrille Bayala netted a hat-trick for the Moldovan outfit, who reached the Europa League's knockout round playoffs in 2022/23. The victory ended a six-game winless run in European home matches for Sheriff.
Second leg games for the first qualifying round will all occur next Thursday. The losing sides - as is the case following each qualifying round - enter the Conference League.