SAINTS enjoyed a dream return to European action, as they beat Vitesse 3-0 at St Mary’s.

The club stepped back into continental competition for the first time in 12 years, taking a commanding lead in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie against the Dutch side.

Following a slightly nervy start, Graziano Pelle put them in front, before Dusan Tadic made it 2-0 from the penalty spot just before half-time.

Shane Long then delivered a potentially decisive blow six minutes from time, putting Ronald Koeman’s side in firm control as they prepare to head to Arnhem for the second leg next Thursday.

Koeman handed competitive debuts to three players, with keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, right-back Cedric Soares and midfielder Jordy Clasie all starting.

There was no place on the bench for Jay Rodriguez, but summer signings Juanmi and Cuco Martina were among the subs.

St Mary’s was rocking ahead of kick-off, as a capacity crowd savoured the end of the long wait for European football to return to the stadium.

The atmosphere was helped immeasurably by a raucous band of 1,357 Vitesse supporters.

It was their side who actually settled better, and they nearly took a third-minute lead, as striker Uros Djurdevic’s backheel picked out the run of Valeri Kazaishvili down the inside-right, but his low shot across goal flashed just inches wide of the far post.

Saints’ first opportunity of the night came in the 13th minute, as an out-swinging Steven Davis corner picked out Maya Yoshida, who was left unmarked on the penalty spot, only for the defender to plant his header straight at Vitesse keeper Eloy Room.

Yoshida was again guilty of wasting a terrific opportunity in the 23rd minute, slicing wide of the near post from a brilliant position, after Room had parried a low shot from Victor Wanyama into his path. Wanyama too should have done better with his effort, after the ball fell to him in space, in a central position, inside the area.

The breakthrough did arrive in the 36th minute, though, as a chance finally fell to one of Saints’ natural finishers.

Some nice build-up play worked the ball to Sadio Mane on the edge of the area, and he slipped a little through ball behind the Vitesse defence for Pelle. The striker had checked his run to make sure he was onside, and he made no mistake when through on goal, lashing high past Room at the near post.

The lead was then doubled with the last kick of the first half.

Mane turned the brilliantly-named Marvelous Nakamba just outside the left edge of the area, before being tripped inside it by Rochdi Achenteh. Referee Jesus Gil Manzano pointed straight to the spot, booking the Vitesse defender, before Tadic stepped up to stroke the ball calmly into the bottom corner, sending Room in the wrong direction.

The second half began with Davis being booked for a foul on Kevin Diks, before Saints were nearly gifted a third goal.

Matt Targett’s left-wing cross was headed down disastrously by Achenteh, straight into the path of Pelle, but, although he struck the ball well on the rise, he couldn’t keep the effort down.

In the 60th minute, Vitesse made the first change of the night, as Milot Rashica replaced Djurdevic, before Koeman responded by removing Clasie, who had picked up a knock, and Tadic for Juanmi and Long.

After Davis send a 30-yard free-kick curling harmlessly over the bar, the visitors made another change, swapping Kazaishvili for Danilo Pantic.

By this point, the game had begun to meander, with Saints looking completely unperturbed, but there was a reminder in the 71st minute that Vitesse still posed a threat, as substitute Rashica brilliantly turned Jose Fonte on the edge of the area to unlock the home defence, but he couldn’t beat Stekelenburg, with the keeper diving to his right to keep out the low effort.

Rashica collapsed to the turf in despair after seeing his shot saved, knowing that it would have changed the entire complexion of the tie had he bagged his team an away goal.

Rashica had another excellent opportunity ten minutes later, as a deep free-kick ended up dropping into his path on the penalty spot, but he got right under his side-footed half-volley and sent it high into the Northam End.

He was made to pay a big price for those two misses, as, with six minutes left, Saints bagged third – and potentially a knock-out blow.

Long pounced on a loose pass from Lewis Baker, intercepting the ball and bursting through on goal. His initial effort was saved by the on-rushing Room, only for Juanmi to collect the rebound outside the area, round the Vitesse keeper and dink a cross into the path of Long to head home from a few yards out.

SAINTS: Stekelenburg; Cedric, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett; Wanyama, Clasie (Juanmi 62); Tadic (Long 62), Mane (Reed 86), S Davis; Pelle.

Unused subs: Gazzaniga, McCarthy, Martina, Ward-Prowse.

VITESSE: Room; Diks (Lelieveld 90+2), Kashia, Leerdam, Achenteh; Baker; Brown, Nakamba, Kazaishvili (Pantic 67), Oliynyk; Djurdevic (Rashica 60).

Unused subs: Velthuizen, Van der Werff, Dauda, Osman, Lelieveld.

Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain).

Att: 30,850.