Opening up the European Campaign: The Yellow & Blue drew 1:1 at Ferencvaros in Budapest in the first leg of first round Europa League qualifying. Stefan Spirovski gave the host’s the lead in the 61’ but a 91’ strike by Eliran Atar in added time gave Maccabi Tel Aviv the equalizer and a valuable away goal as Vladan Ivic’s squad will look to advance to the second round next Thursday, July 19th at the Netanya Stadium (20:00) when they host the Hungarian outfit for the second leg.

Watch the Highlights Courtesy of Charlton:

Head Coach Vladan Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajikovic, Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Jair Amador, Enric Saborit, Dor Peretz, Eyal Golasa, Avi Rikan, Dor Micha (C), Aaron Schoenfeld, Vidar Kjartansson.

Available on the bench were keeper Haviv Ohayon, Eliran Atar, Omer Atzili, Sheran Yeini, Dan Glazer, Roslan Barsky, Shachar Piven.

First Half
The match began with fast paced action by both sides as the host’s had the first chance in the 7’ of the contest when Varga crossed a dangerous ball into the box, but Saborit cleared it for a corner. Rikan had Maccabi’s opening opportunity in the 11’ as his scorcher from outside of the area went over the goal while ten minutes later, Varga received the ball just to the right of the goal, but his shot missed the target.

In the 22’ Rikan fed Vidar the ball in the box, but his chance went wide left of the goal and 12 minutes later Rikan’s attempt from just above the box missed the target to the left. Golasa was issued a yellow card in the 36’ for a reckless tackle on Botka while two minutes later a give and go between Golasa and Micha resulted in a chance by the former, but his long distance attempt didn’t threaten the Ferencvaros goal.

Dasa sent Schoenfeld the ball in the box in the 45’ as the striker tried a half bicycle kick but the keeper was in place to make the save while at the other side of the pitch, Rajikovic was up to the task as he collected Varga’s opportunity just ahead of the break.

Second Half
A free kick in the 50’ found Lanzafame’s head in the box but his attempt was caught by Rajikovic while at the other end, Vidar’s free kick went into the Ferencvaros wall, Dasa’s corner was headed out by Peretz and Rikan’s ball via a hard working Schoenfeld went wide of the goal as Maccabi poured on the pressure.

Dasa’s 57’ corner was headed by Amador into the waiting hands of the Ferencvaros keeper Dibusz but as the Yellow & Blue continued to press it would be the host’s who would take a 1:0 lead in the 61’. Varga’s free kick made its way into the Maccabi box where Stefan Spirovski found the back of the goal to the delight of the locals.

Kjartansson’s 63’ opportunity was taken care of by Dibusz and one minute later Ivic made his first substitute introducing Eliran Atar in favor of Golasa. In the 74’ Atar’s attempt from the top of the box was stopped Dibusz while Peretz’s header off a Dasa conner went over the bar and out as Maccabi looked for the equalizer. In the 79’ Omer Atzili came on for Vidar Kjartansson as Maccabi made their send substitution of the match. Four minutes later, Atar stole the ball in the midfield and passed it to Atzili, but his chance went out while in the 85’ Sheran Yeini entered the match for Rikan.

In the 88’ Dasa made his way into the box, handed the ball off to Schoenfeld who left it for Micha, but his chance went out as Macabi looked for the tying goal which would come in the 91’ off a tremendous shot from Atar outside of the box to draw the Yellow & Blue even 1:1 as the match came to an end following 4 minutes of injury time. Maccabi Tel Aviv will look to advance to the second round as they play the second leg of their two legged tie against Ferencvaros at the Netanya Stadium next Thursday night, July 19 at 20:00.