After Maccabi Tel Aviv drew with Pyunik 0:0 in the first leg of Third Round Europa League Qualifying in Yerevan, Armenia, the decisive return match took place this evening at the Netanya stadium.

Maccabi were thrilled to welcome 150 children from the Gaza Periphery, who made the long journey, thanks to Maccabi’s Tel Aviv partners, Bon Tour, which provided the transportation while sponsor Pizza Prego made sure that everyone had dinner to accompany the match for the guests.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Jair Amador, Enric Saborit, Dor Peretz, Ruslan Barsky, Dor Micha (C), Eliran Atar, Omer Atzily and Vidar Kjartansson.

Available on the bench were keeper Haviv Ohayon, Eyal Golasa, Dan Glazer, Sheran Yeini, Matan ozez, Aaron Schoenfeld, Itay Shechter.

First Half

Pyunik took the early lead in the 10’, when Denis Voynov ran through on goal past Eitan Tibi and scored with a clinical finish as he hit the post and the ball rolled into Maccabi’s goal. After much appeal from the Maccabi’s players about a potential offside ruling the goal stood.

Maccbai were given space to create chances and in the 21^” Omer Atzily tested the Pyunik keeper with a quick shot from outside the box, the shot stopper made the timely save as he dove to his right while the clearance was completed by the Pyunik defenders. 

Maccabi had a chance on the stroke of halftime from an Eli Dasa cross that was put over the bar by an Enric Saborit header. Maccabi found themselves frustrated with a tough task ahead in the second half, down 1:0 with the need to score two goals to qualify for the Playoff Round.

Second Half

Itay Shecter came on for Vidar Kjartansson before the second half began, in an attempt to give Maccabi a boost, and he did just that by testing the Pyunik goal in the 47’ with nice shot on the turn, that was pushed away for a corner kick.

In a great spell of passing, Shechter spread a fine ball out into the path of Eli Dasa, who whipped in a great cross on the ground for Shecter who passed the ball off, while receiving a challenge, to Dor Micha who swept it into the back of the net on his left foot to score the equalizing goal in the 54’. 

Maccabi found themselves with plenty of chances, in the 65^’ Omer Atzily had a strike deflected back to him outside the box and hit the ball while on the ground, directly at the Pyunik Keeper.

In the 67’ Maccabi took one of these chances quite ruthlessly with a routine right off the training ground. Eliran Atar played a quick give and go from the corner flag and stroke the ball with tremendous power, that took two deflections and still found its way into the back of the net good for a 2:1 advantage.

In the 81’ Eliran Atar had a thunderous strike denied by the Pyunik crossbar and after 5 minutes of stoppage time, Maccabi heard the referee’s final whistle as the Yellow & Blue advanced to the Playoff Round of the UEFA Europa League.