Despite a great performance by Hamrun Spartans, Maccabi Tel Aviv came from behind to win 2-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round at the Tony Bezzina Stadium on Thursday.
Hamrun were clearly an improved side compared to the last two games against Dynamo Kyiv and held the initiative throughout the ninety minutes. However they managed to score only one goal thanks to a penalty and Maccabi Tel Aviv struck twice to take a 2-1 lead ahead of the second leg, in programme on Thursday 14 at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia.
The winner would continue its journey in the UEFA Europa League against the winner of the clash between FC Dynamo Kyiv of Ukraine and Pafos FC while the loser would face the loser of the clash between FC RFS of Estonia and KuPS Kuopio of Finland in the UEFA Conference League play-off round.
The Spartans went close early in the game with a cross by Ryan Camenzuli from which N’Dri Koffi headed high but the visitors replied with a Jehezkel conclusion from the right which was deflected by Bonello into a corner.
Saliou Thioune concluded a good move with a shot from the edge of the area which was deflected into a corner on 13 minutes. The Spartans threatened once again on 18 minutes with a short corner by Cadjenovic for Camenzuli and off the latter’s cross, Eder headed just wide. Two minutes later, Thioune failed to connect off an inviting cross by Camenzuli from the left. Maccabi Tel Aviv replied with a Revivo effort from the left which was blocked by Bjelicic and Weslley sent Shahar through but the latter was obstructed by Eder as he was about to conclude.
Hamrun reacted with a cross by Camenzuli from which Joseph Mbong headed wide five minutes from the end of the first half and a minute later, Koffi served Thioune on the left but the latter concluded wide from inside the area.
In added time, Koffi head a close range header cleared into safety by Peretz following a cross by Rafael Compri from the right.
Sixteen minutes in the second half, Camara slipped and Joseph Mbong advanced into the area but his conclusion was blocked by goalkeeper Michpati. Six minutes later, off.a Cadjenovic corner from the left, there was a short clearance by the Maccabi Tel Aviv rear-guard but Koffi’s first time effort scraped past the post.
Hamrun finally managed to take the lead on 71 minutes when Thioune was brought down inside the area by Sissokho. Referee Kristo Tohver ordered a penalty and N’Dri Koffi converted from the penalty spot.
However ten minutes from time, Maccabi Tel Aviv levelled matters when off a corner from the left, Roy Revivo hit home past goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
Six minutes in added time, the visitors notched the winner when Revivo sent the ball through and with the Hamrun defence failing to clear into safety, Dor Turgeman served Elad Madmon who slotted the ball past Bonello from inside the area.
HAMRUN Henry Bonello, Rafael Compri, Saliou Thioune (80’ Mouad El Fanis), Joseph Mbong, Vincenzo Polito (64’ Emerson Marcelina), N’Dri Koffi (81’ Stijn Meijer), Jovan Cadjenovic, Eder (88’ Matias Garcia), Ognjen Bjelicic, Ante Coric (63’ Domantas Simkus), Ryan Camenzuli.
MACCABI TEL AVIV Roi Michpati, Roy Revivo, Mohamed Ali Camara (83’ Raz Shlomo), Tyrese Asante, Weslley Patati (82’ Itamar Noy) Sagiv Jehezkel (63’ Osher Davida), Nemanja Stojic, Issouf Sissokho, Ido Shahar (46’ Elad Madmon), Dor Perez, Ion Nicolaescu (63’ Dor Turgeman).
Referee: Kristo Tohver EST
Assistant referees: Silver Koiv EST, Sander Saga EST
Fourth official: Kevin Kaivoja EST
Video Assistant Referee: Alan Kijas AUT
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Josef Spurny AUT