A Graziano Pelle strike and a Dusan Tadic penalty have given Southampton a 2-0 lead in their Europa League third qualifying round clash against Vitesse at St Mary's.

The game exploded into action as Valeri Kazaishvili's low strike across goal in the third minute, following a poor Maya Yoshida clearance, flew inches wide.

Moments later the hosts thought that they had a shout for a penalty after Tadic was brought down in the box, but the move had already been flagged for offside.

The Saints came close to opening the scoring just before the half-hour mark when Victor Wanyama had a pot-shot at goal, but opposition goalkeeper Eloy Room palmed the danger away.

Vitesse hung on valiantly but were undone in the 36th minute when Sadio Mane sent an incisive diagonal ball over to Pelle, who struck a powerful effort past Room and into the net.

There was more drama to come before the half was over as Mane was brought down inside the area, prompting the referee to point to the spot.

Tadic stepped up and duly stroked his penalty home - as Room dived the wrong way - to double his side's lead on the stroke of half time.