LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City's new manager Mark Hughes began his tenure with a 2-0 victory away to Faroe Islanders EB/Streymur in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie on Thursday.

Premier League City, who qualified for the competition through UEFA's fair play rankings, scored both goals in the first half through Martin Petrov and Dietmar Hamann.

Hughes handed a debut to new Brazilian striker Jo while England defender Micah Richards was also back in action after missing the end of last season with a knee injury.

Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, who like City qualified via the fair play standings, thrashed Moldova's Nistru Otaci 8-1 to make the second leg a formality.

Croatian side Hajduk Split beat Malta's Birkirkara 4-0 while Hapoel Tel Aviv, who reached the group phase last season, saw off San Marino's Juvenes-Dogana 3-0.

FC Salzburg, with former Porto boss Co Adriaanse now in charge, were too strong for Armenia's Banants, running out 7-0 winners, but Austria Vienna suffered a 1-0 defeat in Kazakhstan against Tobol.

FC Copenhagen, one of four Danish sides in the qualifying round, eased to a 4-0 victory against Northern Ireland's Cliftonville in Belfast but Brondby had to work hard for a 1-0 home victory against B36 of the Faroe Islands.

The 37 teams who win through from the first qualifying round will be joined by 27 more in the second qualifying round. The second legs take place on July 31.

(Editing by Ken Ferris)