Two minuets Of pleasure
by Amir Ragporker

18.9.2002,
In the 8^th minute all Israel was jumping up in ecstasy, the smallest team in the Champions League, from Israel, took a 1-0 lead, thanks to Yaniv Katan's goal in the temple of football, Old-Traford against the richest team in Europe, Manchester United.

Giggsy equalize the score

Yes it did happened Haifa were in the frame after the goal. But from then on Maccabi sparked only one more time with the second goal. It seems like no one in Haifa played good this night. Haifa missed Yakobo and Zautaotas very much. Almoshlino, Zautaotas sub did to many mistakes in the game and caused two goals of Manchester. Pralija lost too many balls in the middle of the field, Rosu wasn’t effective enough and Zandberg didn’t fit into the game. Some times Haifa looked desperate.
In Manchester hand we could see a good Europian team that did what they needed. The first goal of Haifa pressured them but the Giggs goal made them comeback. Giggs was MOM without any doubt, he took Man Utd out of the big pressure. Good news also for Diego Forlan after the Uruguayan scored his first goal in the red shirt.
Manchester didn’t start so well after it seems like they didn’t know what to except. But in the 7^th minute Veron went on goal but Awate block the ball well.
One minute later Badir found Katan who storke it in… Yes Maccabi Haifa was in the edge of the world only after 8 minutes of play.
In the 10^th minute, Neville brought it up to the box and Giggs headed it in with the bar from 5 meters, 1-1.
United kept going on and Solskjaer shot form 10 meters after pass from Van Nistelroy went over the bar after Awate took it off.
In the 24^th minute Solskjaer kicked the ball in a half volley but Awate jumped and took pushed it away.
In the 26^th minute Pralija stroke the ball well but Barthz took it comfortably.
The second goal for Manchester Utd came in the 35^th minute. After Rod found Solskjaer who went one on one against Awate and score elegantly, 2-1 to Manchester.
It the 37^th minute Veron shot on goal but Awate was there to get it.
Manchester were close to score but Giggs and Rod Van headed it out, later Giggs strike was pushed out by Awate the Maccabi Haifa goalkeeper.
In the 46^th minute Beckham crossed the ball well, Solskjaer passed back to Veron who smashed the ball in with a fine right foot strike.
Badir kicked good ball near the bar but not in the net.
In the 54^th minute Rod Van Nisterlroy score, after good ball from Beckham from the right side into the box to the Dutchman that finished easily, 4-1 to the Reds.
In the another end Forlan missed with a ball over the bar and in the other end Badir kick again from 25 meter but it went near the bar.
Forlan missed again after Beckham found him in the box. Then Rod passed to Forlan that kicked the ball hard but Awate was there.
Pralija passed a wonderful goal to Cohen that ran and score against Ricardo, 4-2 5 minutes to the last whistle.
In the 88^th minute, Ajipor fouled Beckham in the box, Diego Forlan took the penalty kick and made it 5-2 with his first goal ever for Manchester United.
Cohen was close to score and also Katan and Pralija.

Manchester did their job while Haifa looked to weak.

Starting lineup:
Manchester United: Barthz 5(ricardo 68'); O'shea 5, Blanc 5, Ferdinand 5, Silvestre 6; Beckham 7, P. Neville 6, Veron 6, Giggs 7(Forlan 56'- 6); Van Nistelrooy 6(Pugh 75'), Solskjaer 5.
Maccabi Haifa: Awate 6; Harzi 5(R.Cohen 74'), Ajipor 4, Benado 4, Kessi 4; Badir 6, Almoshlino 3(Zano 56'- 5), Pralija 4, Rosu 5, Zandberg 5(Israelevic 65'- 5); Katan 6.
Poul Allert from Belgium refereed with 63,439 fans in Old-Traford Manchester, England.

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