Striker Roque Santa Cruz put Blackburn in the driving seat in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup match against MyPa today.

The Paraguay striker, who had replaced the injured Benni McCarthy, made the breakthrough in the fifth minute with a clinical finish, shooting with his left foot across the goalkeeper.

It was a great start for Rovers.

In fact, MyPa goalkeeper Janne Korhonen was tested inside the first minute when he got his body behind a 25-yard free kick from Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Two minutes later Korhonen stood tall to block Jason Roberts' effort after he was released by David Bentley. Pedersen latched on to the loose ball but smashed it wide of the target.

However the home side hit back in the 23rd minute and goalkeeper Brad Friedel did well to tip away a shot from Miko Hyyrynen.

Then in the 36th minute, Bentley weaved his way forward and thumped in a shot that Korhonen took cleanly.

Blackburn almost grabbed a second goal on the stroke of half-time when Dunn strode forward.

He wasted no hesitation in firing in a powerful shot that went narrowly wide of the post.