Maccabi Tel Aviv Takes Early Lead Against Sheriff Tiraspol in Europa League Qualifier
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Maccabi Tel Aviv took a 1-0 lead against Sheriff Tiraspol in the first leg of the Europa League second qualifying round in Moldova. Maccabi scored early and maintained pressure, entering the tie as favorites based on UEFA rankings and recent form. Both teams have history with Israeli clubs, but this was their first direct encounter.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Tel Aviv leads Sheriff Tiraspol 1-0 in Europa League qualifier first leg.
- Maccabi scored early in the 5th minute via Said Abu Freih's header from Ido Shahar's assist.
- Maccabi arrives confident after winning the Israeli Super Cup 3-1 over Hapoel Be'er Sheva.
- Sheriff ranks over 60 places below Maccabi in UEFA club rankings but has recent experience against Israeli teams.
- The match is the first-ever meeting between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Sheriff Tiraspol.
- Both teams showed strong form, with Sheriff winning three of four Moldovan league matches so far.
Maccabi Tel Aviv began their 2023-24 European campaign with a strong start, taking a 1-0 lead against Sheriff Tiraspol in the first leg of the second qualifying round for the UEFA Europa League. The match took place in Tiraspol, Moldova, where Maccabi arrived in high spirits following their recent 3-1 victory over Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Israeli Super Cup. Coached by Kenny Miller, Maccabi is favored to advance, as Sheriff ranks over 60 places below them in the UEFA club rankings.
The game kicked off with intensity, and Maccabi scored early in the 5th minute when Ido Shahar delivered a precise cross to Said Abu Freih, who headed the ball into the net. Maccabi continued to press, with Shagiv Yehezkel narrowly missing a chance shortly after. Sheriff responded with a strong header from Jaider Aspia Moreno, saved well by Maccabi goalkeeper Ofek Melika. The Moldovan side showed resilience but also received a yellow card for a foul by Baia Sis in the 17th minute.
Maccabi's lineup featured key players such as Ofek Melika, Itay Ben Hamo, Mohammed Ali Kamara, and Dor Peretz, while Sheriff fielded Emil Timbur, Baia Sis, and Jaider Aspia Moreno among others. This was the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, though Sheriff has previous experience facing Israeli teams, having been eliminated by Hapoel Be'er Sheva in 2016-17 and Maccabi Haifa in the current season's Champions League qualifiers.
The match remains open, with Maccabi holding a narrow advantage as both teams prepare for the second leg. Sheriff aims to overturn the deficit on home turf, while Maccabi seeks to build on their positive momentum in European competition.
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