Maccabi Haifa, the champions of Israel, have advanced to the UEFA Champions League playoffs after achieving a 3-1 victory at home against Slovak champions Slovan Bratislava in the second-leg match of the third qualifying round.
The victory not only sealed their progress but also set the stage for an exciting clash with Swiss champions Young Boys Bern in the upcoming playoffs. This next stage will be contested in a home-and-away format.
In front of approximately 30,000 fans at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in the northern city of Haifa, the visitors showcased a strong start. Haifa’s goalkeeper Itamar Nitzan was put to the test by headers from Sharani Zuberu and Alexandar Cavric in the early minutes of the match.
However, Maccabi Haifa managed to take the lead on the scoreboard thanks to a well-placed pass from Surinamese captain Tjarron Chery and a close-range header executed by Haitian striker Frantzdy Pierrot in the 29th minute.
A chance for Chery to extend the lead arose in the 42nd minute, but the attempt was thwarted by goalkeeper Milan Borjan. Nonetheless, the home team’s captain played a key role in setting up the second goal just before halftime, with striker Dia Saba finding the back of the net.
Slovan Bratislava managed to register their sole goal in the 85th minute, with Croatian midfielder Marko Tolic scoring from close range following a pass from Nino Marcelli.
Maccabi Haifa’s substitute striker Din David concluded the match with a goal in the 93rd minute, assisted by Chery for the third time. This victory not only secured their place in the Champions League playoffs but also showcased their prowess on the field.
-IANS
