Maccabi Haifa FC embarked upon their UEFA Europa League campaign with a 1-0 win against Group J rivals AEK Larnaca FC thanks to Mohammad Ghadir’s second-half header.
The home side were rewarded for their territorial supremacy nine minutes after the break when Talb Twatha’s delightful cross was met by Ghadir, who made no mistake from close range.
Yaniv Katan and Twatha provided much of the attacking inspiration for the Israeli champions as the hosts dominated from the outset. They created their first opportunity when Twatha was released down the left; his delicate cross was met by Idan Vered, whose effort was deflected agonisingly wide. The impressive Katan then set up Vered but his powerful strike was well handled by Marco Fotin.
AEK Larnaca saw little of the ball but did create chances. Their first opening came from a sweet Gregor van Dijk free-kick. The hosts failed to clear their lines, and the ball fell invitingly for Ander Murillo, who fired just wide with the goalkeeper stranded.
After the break, Miljan Mrdaković’s cute back-heel set up AEK Larnaca’s Edwin Linssen, who missed the target after snatching at his shot, but at the other end, Katan almost doubled his side’s advantage when his shot stung Fortin’s fingertips.
AEK Larnaca almost drew level when Eyal Meshumar inadvertently turned Njongo Priso’s cross towards goal, before scampering to clear off the line. However, the writing was on the wall for the Cypriot side when, with eight minutes remaining, Murillo was dismissed for a last-man challenge on Marlon De Jesus.
PAOK came mighty close to an historic win over Tottenham, as the 0-0 draw in their opening game for the Europa League on Thursday does not do them justice. The Spurs fielded many substitutes, as coach Harry Redknapp clearly had his mind set on the forthcoming game against Liverpool for the Premier League, but PAOK could not take the opportunity to score and win despite the numerous chances they created, particularly in the second half.
The Thessaloniki club did all things right except scoring a goal, while Tottenham must be happy they have managed to come away with a draw from Toumba – that was filled to capacity as ever.
PAOK did score at the 32nd minute, from the penalty spot, but the Serb referee ordered Lino to retake the kick due to the early entry of PAOK defender Pablo Contreras into the box, cutting PAOK’s celebrations short.
Lino missed the target when he retook the penalty, adding to the hosts’ nerves.
The Spurs created few chances, mainly through Roman Pavlyuchenko, and did little to justify their name.
At the other end PAOK left it late in the second half to put pressure on the Carlo Cudicini goal, with the Italian keeper denying the Greeks twice in the last five minutes of the game.
He also had his crossbar to thank for keeping out a Vladan Ivic header in injury time, PAOK’s biggest chance in a rather entertaining game.
In the group’s other match, Rubin beat Shamrock Rovers 3-0 away.
Other Scores
| Besiktas
Almeida (3, 28) |
5-1 (HT 2-0) |
Macc Tel-Aviv
Kahat (49) |
| Bookings: Pavicevic (43) |
||
 |
||
| Dynamo Kiev
Vukojevic (90+1) |
1-1 (HT 0-0) |
Stoke
Jerome (55) |
| Bookings: Garmash (45) |
Bookings: Diao (16) |
|
|
||
| FC Copenhagen
Nordstrand (pen 54) |
1-0 (HT 0-0) |
Vorskla Poltava
|
| Bookings: Kristensen (62) |
Bookings: Bezues (13) |
|
|
||
| FC Zurich
|
0-2 (HT 0-2) |
Sporting
Insua (4) |
| Bookings: Schonbachler (36) |
Bookings: van Wolfswinkel (54) |
|
|
||
| Hannover 96
|
0-0 (HT 0-0) |
Standard Liege
|
| Bookings: Stindl (90+1) |
Bookings: Vainqueur (8) |
|
|
||
| Hapoel Tel-Aviv
|
0-1 (HT 0-0) |
Rapid Bucharest
Herea (55) |
| Bookings: Kende (41) |
Bookings: Deac (41) |
|
| Sent off: Yadin (90) |
Sent off: Surdu (90) |
|
|
||
| Lazio
Cisse (pen 35) |
2-2 (HT 1-0) |
FC Vaslui
Wesley (59, pen 63) |
| Bookings: Gonzalez Luengo (6) |
Bookings: Mike Tamwanyera (4) |
|
| Sent off: Zauri (62) |
||
|
||
| PAOK Salonika
|
0-0 (HT 0-0) |
Tottenham
|
| Bookings: Arias (38) |
Bookings: Kane (28) |
|
|
||
| Paris SG
Nene (pen 35) |
3-1 (HT 2-0) |
Red Bull Salzburg
Sekagya (87) |
| Bookings: Bodmer (63) |
Bookings: Lindgren (28) |
|
|
||
| PSV Eindhoven
Mertens (21) |
1-0 (HT 1-0) |
Legia Warsaw
|
| Bookings: Borysiuk (3) |
||
|
||
| Shamrock Rovers
|
0-3 (HT 0-1) |
Rubin Kazan
Martins (3) |
| Bookings: Sullivan (35) |
Bookings: Ryazantsev (20) |
|
|
||
| Slovan Bratislava
Guede (34) |
1-2 (HT 1-2) |
Athletic Bilbao
Susaeta (13) |
| Bookings: Milinkovic (27) |
Bookings: Munain (50) |
