Roque Santa Cruz was the hero again as Rovers took a big step towards the next round of the UEFA Cup.

The Paraguay striker followed up his goal on Saturday against Middlesbrough with another vital strike on five minutes in this second qualifying round first leg match in Finland.

He made the breakthrough when he fired a shot into the corner after Jason Roberts had cleverly turned Heikki Pulkkinen.

Blackburn dominated the first half, with Santa Cruz having two headers saved, anhd Bentley thumped in a shot which keeper Korhonen took cleanly.

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

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

In the 55th minute, as Eero Peltonen surged forward, Chris Samba managed to get a vital touch and deflected the ball to safety, much to Rovers' relief.

Blackburn almost added a second in the 60th minute when MyPa defender Toni Huttunen lost his bearings.

He chested the ball back to Korhonen, not realising the goalkeeper had come off his line - but it drifted wide of the post.

However Rovers had to settle for a one-goal advantage going into the return leg at Ewood Park in a fortnight.