Maccabi Haifa Stuns PSG in Historic 1998 Cup Upset

Twenty-eight years ago, on October 1, 1998, Maccabi Haifa achieved one of its most significant victories by defeating French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 3-2 in the European Cup Winners' Cup. The Israeli team, playing at a sold-out Kiryat Eliezer Stadium in front of 18,000 fans, overcame a PSG squad that reportedly underestimated them. PSG, with a budget of 406 million Swiss francs compared to Maccabi Haifa's 25 million, had drawn the first leg 1-1 in Paris. In the return match, PSG took an early 1-0 lead, but a 17-year-old Yossi Benayoun equalized for Maccabi Haifa. Alon Mizrahi scored twice, including the winning goal in the 90th minute, to secure the dramatic win for the Israeli club. PSG's coach, Alain Giresse, had previously dismissed Maccabi Haifa as a "very reasonable draw." Following the first leg, PSG official the official publicly criticized his players, calling them unprofessional. Despite PSG's efforts to acclimatize to the Israeli heat with a training camp in Caesarea, they were unable to overcome Maccabi Haifa. A PSG player at the time, Nicolas Ouédec, described the loss as the "biggest disappointment of my career" and an "unforgivable defeat." French sports newspaper L'Équipe called PSG "ridiculous" and the defeat a "total collapse" and a "shame." The upset left a lasting impression, with PSG reportedly remembering the name Maccabi Haifa from that moment on.