Maccabi Tel Aviv Falls 4-3 to CSKA Sofia Despite Late Comeback Attempt
Maccabi Tel Aviv was eliminated from the UEFA Europa Conference League after losing 4-3 on aggregate to Bulgaria's CSKA Sofia on August 13, 2026. The Israeli cup holders staged a dramatic comeback in the second leg, overturning a 1-3 deficit with goals from Dor Peretz (13th minute), Astr Sukler (60th), and an own goal by CSKA's Lapuhov (69th). Despite their spirited performance in Sofia, Maccabi could not complete the turnaround and will drop to the Conference League playoffs.
The match marked an important effort by Maccabi to recover from their heavy defeat in the first leg in Batumi, which had cast doubt on their European campaign. Under coach Kenny Miller, the team dominated much of the second leg but ultimately paid the price for their earlier loss. The result ends Maccabi Tel Aviv's hopes of advancing further in the competition this season.
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