Haifa was down two goals but came back with goals by Meshumar and Katan. It was not enough, a Romanian player was sent off, but than Tănase scored twice and sent Haifa disappointed
By Yitzhak Haberman
Maccabi Haifa missed out on a golden opportunity to ensure a ticket to the next stage of the Europa Cup.
After a weak start which produced two goals for Steaua Bucharest by the head of Tatu (13) and Costea (27), Haifa bounced back and scored twice. The first after a magnificent run by Eyal Meshumar (36) and four minutes later a sophisticated goal by Yaniv Katan.
After a weak start which produced two goals for Steaua Bucharest by the head of Tatu (13) and Costea (27), Haifa bounced back and scored twice. The first after a magnificent run by Eyal Meshumar (36) and four minutes later a sophisticated goal by Yaniv Katan.
In the second half Haifa enjoyed the sent off the scorer of Romania's second goal Florin Costea (61) who wildly kicked Yaniv Katan, but than Cristian Tănase headed a goal (64) and he was the one to score the fourth goal with a tremendous kick from outside the box.
The game had a fast pace, became two-sided and Haifa's coach made two early substitutions thirty minutes in to the game Vered and boccoli who weren't at their best.
It is now an interesting situation in Haifa's group. Germany's Schalke ended its' game against Cyprus's Larnaca in an astonishing tie (0:0) and has 8 points, Haifa has 6, Steaua has 5 and Larnaca has 2. It is going to get joyful for the two finishing games.
It is now an interesting situation in Haifa's group. Germany's Schalke ended its' game against Cyprus's Larnaca in an astonishing tie (0:0) and has 8 points, Haifa has 6, Steaua has 5 and Larnaca has 2. It is going to get joyful for the two finishing games.
Maccabi Haifa's lineup: Davidovitch, Meshumar, Buljat, Falach, Tawatha, Seidu (Turgeman), Boccoli (Dvalishvili), Katan, Golasa, Vered (Yampolsky), Amasha.
