13.8.2002,
Maccabi Haifa can smell history after a great win over Sturm Gratz. Now all Haifa fan don’t thank god but they thank the Nigerian national coach that he didn’t play with Yakobo 2 games more, cause this was the difference between Champions League or not!!!

Pralijia and Matsudi looking for the Champions League

Yakobo the Nigerian striker played this game cause Darby didn’t manage to get his work permit due to 2 less games he played in the international field. So Yakobo scored a vital two goals that may put Haifa in the Champions League!

Haifa played well in the first half. In the 11^th minute Adu Kessi's header where near the ba but Weber, the keeper of Gratz, pushed the ball to corner. Zoutaotas and Pralija almost scored for Haifa but Weber was there for there's shot from long range.

In the 19^th minute Yakobo passed two players and from 8 meter slammed the ball to the ceiling of the net, great 0-1 to Haifa.

9 minute to the end of the first half Katan and Pralija missed good chances to make it two. Badir also missed from great spot.

In the second half Haifa played offal and Gratz miss a lot of chances to equal to score, Hass was close in the 52^nd minute, Gratz was closer then ever when Rojas passed to Amoha who head the ball but Awate block it to the crossbar. Near the end (88) Masudi found the ba, even earlier Yakobo miss after one on one with Weber.

Deep into stoppage time Giovani Ruso the Croatian star took the ball from half line and run into the area, passed one defender, gave a wonderful pass to Yakobo and put him in front of goal. The Nigerian didn’t mixed and scored his second goal on the night, 0-2 to Haifa.

So Haifa need to finish the work in Gratz next week!

Maccabi Haifa: Awate 5; Harzi 6, Ajipor 6, Benado 7, Kessi 6; Badir 5(Zano 76'), Zoutaotas 7, Pralija 8, Rosu 6; Katan 6(R.Cohen 73'), Yakobo 8.

Sturm Gratz: Weber 6; Dag 5, Strafner 4, Neukirchner 5, Petrovic 5, Rojas 5; Masudi 6, Wetzl 4(Malich 66'), Brzeczek 5; Haas 5, Amoah 5(Sevitz 74').

Greham Barber from England refereed in CSKA Sophia std. in Bulgaria.

DID U KNOW: Avi Nimni Maccabi Tel Aviv's player played at Derby County for while. Yakobo want to be the second player that goes from Israel to Derby.