At the end of a particularly volatile game, Maccabi Haifa took a big step towards qualifying for the Champions League. The Greens won last night (Wednesday, 8/17/2022) 2:3 over the Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade, in front of 29,132 spectators at the Sami Ofer Stadium in the first game of the Champions League playoffs. On Tuesday (23/8/2022) the Serbs will host the return match and at the end of it, it will be clear whether the champion in green will qualify for the Champions League for the 3rd time in its history.
Taking advantage of situations is the name of the game
After playing the Champions League anthem that moves millions of fans around the world, the game started. The hosts were not intimidated by the situation and pressed from the start in order to get a quick goal. Charon Sherry missed Milan Burian’s shot in the 10th minute, but the Greens scored on the next attempt. Dolev Haziza dribbled from the right side and passed wide, Burian made a bad header, Franzi Piero took control of the ball and kicked from close range into the net. First goal with a foot for the striker from Haiti, 0:1 justified for Maccabi Haifa.
Haifa’s good moments continued, then ended in one moment. In the 27th minute, Alexander Katai kicked outside the box, the ball hit Alexander Pesic and entered the net. Peshich, former Maccabi Tel Aviv striker, scores a fortuitous goal, 1:1 and silence in the stadium. 3 minutes later, the reversal was almost registered, but Bokari missed a good situation from outside the box. Maccabi Haifa stopped playing, didn’t recover from the shock and conceded the second in a burst in the 39th minute, at the end Bukari found the free Kanga from 20 meters who shot into Josh Cohen’s net. 1:2 to Belgrade at halftime.
They were fired from the muzzle of a cannon
The second half also started with green control, but this time the goal came faster. In the 51st minute, Haziza picked up from the left and Piero hit a powerful shot into the net. Burian could not stop, 2:2 and a new game in Haifa. 2 minutes later Neta Lavi should have reversed the result, but missed the frame from the extension. The host was looking for her own makeover, and for that she needed the best actor she has – Charon Sherry. In the 61st minute, Haziza found the Dutchman on the right, and number 10 kicked from 20 meters into the net. Upheaval after upheaval, 2:3 to Haifa.
The rest of the game was less intense than it looked on the grass in the first 60 minutes. Maccabi Haifa wanted to increase the advantage but did not overly threaten Belgrade’s goal, the guests were looking for an equalizer and except for Cohen’s save in the 84th minute did not threaten the green goal. A wonderful 2:3 for Maccabi Haifa at the end, the champion is 90 minutes away from a third appearance in history in the Champions League.
Before the rematch – a game against Sakhnin
You can almost forget that apart from Europe, Maccabi Haifa also has a league on their minds. On Saturday (20/8/2022), the champion will begin her journey with the goal of winning a third plate in a row when she will be hosted by Bnei Sakhnin for the first round of the Premier League.
3 days later, as mentioned, the Red Star is waiting for her at the Raiko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade. There will be 55 thousand fanatical Serbian fans waiting for her there who will give her a feeling of hell. If Maccabi Haifa avoids a loss in the rematch, they will secure their place in Heaven, also known as the Champions League. If you lose by a goal difference, the game will go to overtime and, if necessary, to a penalty shootout for a decision. In case of a loss with a difference of more than one goal, Haifa will lose the confrontation and will have to settle for the Europa League.
Additional articles in Haifa – Haifa News:
