[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] American Sacha Kljestan needed just seven minutes to score his first goal for Belgian champion Anderlecht in its 3-1 win over Welsh club FC The New Saints in their UEFA Champions League third-round qualifying match.

Anderlecht was the heavy favorite in the first leg at the Racecourse Ground -- built in 1872 -- and put the game away with goals by Kljestan after seven minutes and Jonathan Legear in the 18th minute.

Anderlecht should clinch the series when it concludes next week at the Parc Astrid in Brussels.

Champions League qualifying wraps up next month with the fourth qualifying round. The winners advance to the group phase, while the losers move into the Europa League.

According to Anderlecht estimates, qualifying for the Champions League would be worth $12 million to $15 million in additional revenues and bonuses.

July 27 in Wrexham
FC The New Saints 1 Anderlecht 3. Goals: C.Jones 51; Kljestan 6, Legear 18, Suarez 73.
FC The New Saints -- Harrison, D.Holmes, C.Marriot (T.Holmes, 20), Evans, Baker, Jones, Ruscoe, Hogan, Berkeley (Seargeant, 78), Williams, Sharp (Darlington, 83).
Anderlecht -- Proto, Gillet, Juhasz, Mazuch (Lecjaks, 83), Deschacht, Kouyate, Kljestan (Kanu, 85), Biglia, Legear, Suarez (De Sutter, 76), Boussoufa.