3 Historic Numbers
from Amir Ragporker

28.8.2002,
Now fan in Israel can stop dreaming, Maccabi Haifa the greenest team in Israel is in the best 32 teams in Europe, among Real Madrid, Milan, Bayren Munich, Manchster United and more.
Everyone in Israel still remember the goal from Andreas Hertzog former the Austrian International against Israel and we all was frighten from the same scene. But Haifa show adolescence after Gratz scored their 3^rd goal and Yakobo was sent off. What a game it was 3 goals each, 3 red cards and a lot of drama. The pace was change too often in the game and we got very nice game.
Haifa knows they have the best opportunity ever to make history but still they had managed to give all their fans hart attacks all the match. Giovani Ruso the Croatian star was man of the match after he made some great plays and scored a decisive goal. We also saw a great defensive plays by Arik Benado Haifa's captain. Of course Adu Kessi's goal was the one who made everyone in Israel proud and he also had fantastic match. Dodo Awate the Israeli national keeper need to be much improved after horrible mistakes in the game. But even he knows that this is time to celebrate and not to weep about mistakes.
At the other end Gratz looked very wonrabel, her defense look like butter and her offence need a scorer right away. Amoha is not in shape and Matsudi look like a tourist who doesn't know the language of football.

Harazi and Masudi argue about the ball, Harazi with the green shirt won!

It started good for Gratz with strike of Dag the Turkish. In the other end Kessi's header went to Weber's hands from 5 meters.

In the 11^th minute Edi Bosnar took a free kick from 30 meters, the ball went in. Bosnar took the ball not very strong and very flat but Awate mistake helped it go in.
Haifa didn’t cry and Yakobo was closed to score when he shot the ball near the bar.

In the 27^th minute Maccabi Haifa was in the Champions, after Pralija gave a blind pass to Ruso, who run to the box and passed the ball to the middle somehow found the net!
From that goal Haifa played very calm and cool. The Israeli team stopped all Gratz's efforts in theirs half. And of course the attack like in the 36^th minute Yakobo found Zautaotas in the box but Zautaoas headed the ball to Weber's hands. It ended 1-1 at half time.
In the 57^th minute Masudi's strike went beside the ba.

In the 58^th minute Savic and Strafner double passed the ball and Savic stroke the ball into the net from 25 meters. That goal gave Gratz a lot of spirit and they looked very good.
Then, in the 68^th minute Igabiny Yakobo the green team star was sent off after silly foul on Angen.
Afterwards Awate took Matsudi's ball and Shtarfner's shot went out.
In the 73^rd minute Neukirchner the center back scored easy goal after Maccabi Haifa's defense went to sleep and led him get free to the ball 3 meters from the goal. Haifa really looked bad these moments and wanted to hear the final whistle.
In the other end Zoutautas past the keeper found Ruso that from net free shot the ball but Angen was on the line.
In the 78^th Adu Kessi meet the net after Ruso passed from free kick found Adu that past one defender and blasted the ball one meter from goal in to the net. 3-2 to Maccabi Haifa and suddenly Haifa looked very good.
In the 81^st minute Edi Bosnar fouled Ruso and sent off. Gratz looked really bad and Haifa run to score, after two one on one chances that Badir and Zano missed.
In the 90^th minute Maccabi Haifa is in The Champions League officaly. Badir run on goal, past the keeper easily and roll the ball in to the exposed net.
4 minuets in stoppage time Pregeli was sent off because a foul on Badir.

Maccabi Haifa won 3-3 at the end. The celebrations in Israel are still on and will be all night long. Goodbye Gratz Milan here Haifa comes.
Itzhak Shom, Maccabi Haifa's coach at the end: "I am very happy that there isn't someone like me. Very strange game, first half we played very well, then in the second half after Yakobo was sent of I moved Ruso as the new striker and he hold the ball in his feet very well. Maccabi Haifa's players prove that they are truly men of honor and all the respect is for them. This qualify need to go to Jecob Shahar and Maccabi Haifa's fans that gave it all only for Haifa."

Starting Lineups:
Maccabi Haifa: Awate 5; Harzi 5, Ajipor 6, Benado 7, Kessi 8; Badir 6, Zoutaotas 7, Pralija 5, Rosu 8; Katan 6(Zano 60'- 6), Yakobo 5.

Sturm Gratz: Weber 5; Dag 5, Neukirchner 7, Angan 5, Bosnar 7, Rojas 5(Wetl 46'- 4); Masudi 3, Malich 5(Helt 61'- 5), Strafner 6; Savic 6, Amoha 4(Pregeli 46'- 6).

Refereed by Alan Hamar from Luxembourg in "Arnold Shwartzenegr" std. in Gratz, Austria.

DID U YOU: Nenad Praljia the Croatian player of Haifa already played at the Champions League in Croatia Zagreb. Now he can renew his days there.

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