Peter Thompson was one of Linfield's best players

Having secured a 1-1 draw in the away leg, the Belfast side had their sights on the first round proper.

But Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson, Tommy Jonsson and Yaw Preko goals had Halmstads 3-0 up by half-time.

Tim Mouncey and Glenn Ferguson scored for the Blues but Dusan Djuric netted a free-kick for the visitors with Michael Gault of Linfield sent-off.

Thorvaldsson stooped to head Halmstads in front in the 10th minute and it was 2-0 on 33 minutes when Tommy Jonsson's free-kick took a wicked deflection off home defender Pat McShane.

Preko was then allowed room to cut in from the right and beat keeper Alan Mannus at his neat post for the third just before the interval.

The Irish League side restored some pride with their second half display.

Mouncey pulled a goal back on 54 minutes with a glancing header from Aidan O'Kane's right-wing free.

A brilliant free-kick by Dusan Djuric restored the Swedish side's three-goal advantage although Ferguson later pounced for Linfield's second after good battling play by striker partner Peter Thompson.

Gault was dismissed on 84 minutes, harshly adjudged to have gone into a challenge with a raised elbow.

Linfield: Mannus, Douglas (Kingsberry 53), McShane, Kearney, William Murphy, O'Kane (McAreavey 58), Thompson, Mouncey (Mulgrew 75), Ferguson, Gault, Bailie.
Subs Not Used: McKnight, Picking, Bell, Hamilton.

Sent Off: Gault (84).

Booked: Thompson, William Murphy.

Goals: Mouncey 54, Ferguson 82.

Halmstads BK: Conny Johansson, Per Johansson, Jonsson, Preko, Svensson (Sashcheka 77), Thorvaldsson (Anklev 85), Zvirgzdauskas, Andreas Johansson, Djuric, Larsson, Jensen (Ingelsten 66).
Subs Not Used: Sahlman, Magnfors, Tandrup, Fagercrantz.

Booked: Svensson, Jensen.

Goals: Thorvaldsson 10, Jonsson 33, Preko 45, Djuric 74.

Agg: 3-5.

Att: 4,000.