Striker Barak Itzhaki had a last minute penalty saved as Maccabi Tel Aviv played out a goalless draw with APOEL Nicosia in their first Europa League group stage tie
After resting throughout the day for the Jewish Succot holiday, on Thursday night the time had finally arrived for the real thing as Maccabi Tel Aviv prepared themselves to host Cypriot champions APOEL Nicosia in the first round of Europa League group stage.
In the event, the first half at Bloomfield Stadium proved an uneventful affair, with both sides' focus on probing their opponents' tactical formations producing little activity of note in front of goal. Close to the half Maccabi defender Manuel Ortiz (Manne) was injured and replaced by Omri Ben Haroush. A minute later Maccabi midfielder Eran Zahavi created the only real chance of the half, his strong shot from outside the area sailing narrowly over the Cypriot goal.
The second half began with little change in the run of play. Ten minutes after the restart APOEL skipper Constantinos Charalambidis received a ball down the left flank of the Maccabi area but shot straight into the hands of Maccabi goalkeeper Juan Pablo. With just half the period remaining, Maccabi head coach Paulo Sousa made two tactical substitutions, bringing on strikers Barak Itzhaki and Moannes Dabbur to strengthen the attack in search of the winning goal. The 76th minute saw arguably Maccabi's best chance of the match from open play as striker Tal Ben Haim fired a ball he received in the area from Eran Zahavi, but APOEL keeper Chiotis Diyonisos proved up to the challenge. Substitute Itzhaki also tried his luck at distance but his shot went wide. Maccabi's real opportunity came in injury time as they were awarded a penalty after Eran Zahavi was brought down in the area. But Barak Itzhaki's kick was saved by Diyonisos forcing the home side to share the points with their Cypriot opponents after a goalless draw.
On October 3rd Maccabi Tel Aviv will play their next Europa League match away against French Cup winners FC Girondins de Bordeaux. In between they'll return to league duties this coming Monday night for an intriguing tie at Maccabi Haifa's Kiryat Eliezer Stadium.
