A decade ago Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Dutch giants Ajax in the Champions League. A Reason to celebrate
Ten years ago to the day Maccabi Tel Aviv FC booked their only ever victory in the group stages of the Champions League. Return with us now for a very special birthday party and join the 25,000 fans who crowded the national stadium in Ramat Gan on that very night, Nov.3rd 2004 at 8.45pm.
The Hosts
The Maccabi first eleven: Liran Shtrauber, Avi Strul, Baruch Dego, Erez Mesika, Ishmael Addo, Kobi Mussa, Liran Cohen, Marcio Fabiano Giovanini, Moshe Mishaelov, Salem Abu Siam, Tamir Cohen. Substitutes: Bruno Reis, John Pantsil and Oren Zeituni.
The Special Guests
The Ajax first eleven: Maarten Stekelenburg, Hatem Trabelsi, Johnny Heitinga, Mauro Rosales, Nigel De Jong, Anthony Obodai, Rafael Van Der Vaart, Steven Pienaar, Nicolae Mitea, Wesley Sneijder, Zdenek Grygera
The Late-comers
Ajax substitutes: Wesley Sonck, Noradin Bochari and Daniel de Ridder, who nearly spoiled the party with a goal two minutes from time.
The Chaperones
The head coaches: Nir Klinger and Ronald Koeman, Maccabi and Ajax respectively. The former began his coaching career as assistant to the legendary Avram Grant at Maccabi, the latter as assistant to the legendary Louis van Gaal at Barcelona. Ten years later Klinger is in his second year at Ashdod FC, Koeman is holding Southampton in an unexpected second place in the English Premier League table.
The Party Games
For Maccabi: After losing the away leg 3-0 on goals by Sonck, De Jong and Van Der Vaart, you have 90 minutes after the Champions League music stops to score your first goal, earn your first points and book your first victory in the competition after three consecutive losses.
The Magician
His lean look can be deceiving, but behind that shy smile hides an array of wondrous powers that make him Maccabi Tel Aviv's top European goalscorer. Four minutes into the second half comes that singular moment of magic when midfielder Baruch Dego, with absolutely nothing up his sleeve but plenty in his foot, will round his marker Johnny Heitinga and score the first of his two goals on the evening. After spending the first three group-stage matches on the bench, Dego would wind up scoring a total of four goals in the final three games of the campaign.
The Clown
No mockery intended, but what birthday party would be complete without a clown? And on this night unfortunately the "honour" fell to Ajax keeper Maarten Stekelenburg. Defender Johnny Heitinga was once again involved when just under the hour mark he passed back to his keeper, whose clearance bounced off Baruch Dego and went into his net. As the somewhat thunderstruck Dutchman tried to work out what went wrong, Dego ran off to celebrate with the Maccabi faithful.
The Balloons
Ever since that famous victory over Ajax in the Champions League group stage, Maccabi Tel Aviv have been expanding their position in Europe. They've doubled their appearances, twice reached the group stage of the Europa League and even made history by reaching the last 32 knock-out round in the 2013/14 season. Maccabi are now a home venue force to be reckoned with, recording impressive victories at Bloomfield Stadium against such European stalwarts as Germany's Eintracht Frankfurt and France's Girondins de Bordeaux. But Baruch Dego's magic of Nov. 3rd 2004 has never been repeated.
Thank you for joining our party. Hope to see you again soon!
