The Yellow & Blue moved on to the playoff round of the Europa League with a 2:1 (5:2 on aggregate) victory at home on goals by Nosa Igiebor and Oscar Scarione as Maccabi will find out who their opponent will be tomorrow at the draw being held in Nyon, Switzerland.

Head Coach Shota Arveladze’s Starting XI had Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal with a defensive quartet of Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Egor Filipenko and Avi Rikan in front of him. Captain Gal Alberman was in his usual defensive midfielder position as Haris Medunjanin and Nosa Igiebor rounded our the middle of the pitch. The attack featured Yossi Benayoun, Dor Micha and Orlando Sa.

First Half

Maccabi Tel Aviv came out strong with a number of chances in the opening quarter hour, however none found the back of the goal. Benayoun’s 7th minute header went wide, Sa’s effort missed the goal as well in the 10th minute, while Micha found Dasa in the box but his weak chance was easily collected by Pandurii keeper David Lazar.

In the 24th minute the Yellow & Blue broke the ice as Medunjanin gave Igibeor a wonderful pass in the box that the Nigerian midfielder easily headed home for the 1:0 lead. Number 4 tried his luck from 20 meters out in the 30th minute but his effort was saved by Lazar while Micha’s long range screamer went just wide of the mark.

Rikan’s sharp shot from the left wing was caught by the keeper in the 37th minute and two minutes later a Dasa right side effort was collected by the Lazar yet again as Maccabi continued to search for their second goal of the contest. Igibeor almost did exactly that in the 45th minute but his chance was saved as the sides headed down for the break with Maccabi holding onto a 1:0 advantage.

Second Half

Medunjanin and Igiebor tried to connect again just as they did in the first half but their 48th and 51st minute opportunities couldn’t be converted into another goal. However, Pandurii’s Marian Pleasca did make good on his solo effort going coast to coast on the right wing and then putting the ball by Rajikovic to tie up the match.

Coach Arveladze made his first substitution of the evening in the 59th minute inserting Oscar Scarione for Gal Alberman who handed the captain’s armband to Yossi Benayoun, Maccabi’s new number 5 Scarione had his first chance of the night but his shot just went wide left of the goal while Medunjanin’s ensuing free kick hit the woodwork as the Yellow & Blue continued to threaten the Pandurii goal.

After Barak Itzhaki came on for Sa in the 72nd minute, Maccabi finally broke through for their second goal of the match. Scarione scored his first for his new team, slotting home a wonderful pass by Micha in the box for a 2:1 lead in the 80th minute. Two minutes later, Arveladze made his third substitution of the evening introducing Eden Ben Basat for Yossi Benayoun who handed off the captain’s armband to Itzhaki.

Ben Basat immediately had a marvelous opportunity going one on one with Lazar after taking a brilliant Scarione pass, but number 9’s effort went right into the keeper as the score remained as is as Maccabi advanced to the playoff round of the Europa League.