Last update - 00:00 22/02/2007
Haifa hangs on for 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow in UEFA Cup match
By Haaretz Service
Maccabi Haifa reached the last 16 of the UEFA Cup Thursday night after a 1-0 victory over 2005 winners CSKA Moscow at Bloomfield Stadium.
Haifa, which held CSKA to a 0-0 draw in the first leg played in Vladikavkaz last week, took the lead through Argentine-born Israel international Roberto Colautti in the 14th minute.
The striker easily stabbed home to break a long goal drought after the CSKA defence failed to clear the danger after Alain Massudi shot hit the post.
The Russians dominated for prolonged periods, but failed to get a significant shot on target in the first half.
The second period was almost all CSKA but some sterling defending from the entire Haifa team secured their first knockout round win.
Haifa battled valiantly despite missing five key players who were absent either through injury or illness as captain Yaniv Katan, and fellow midfielder Abas Suan, striker Maor Melicsohn and defenders Adoram Keisi and Rafael Olara missed the match.
Haifa coach Roni Levy looked subdued but said he was bubbling inside after the victory.
"This is a very auspicious achievement for the whole club against very strong opposition, I am very, very, very happy," he said.
Levy said that Haifa's good performances in Europe were down to the players' commitment and the dedication of the rest of the back-room staff. He said that the club's poor performances in the domestic league were due to the changes in the lineup.
Haifa, who have won the league title for the last three seasons, are currently in seventh place on 31 points after 21 matches, 11 points behind leaders Beitar Jerusalem and look to have no chance of retaining their title.
"We are currently in transition with new players coming in after others who were very important in previous seasons departed, so it's not surprising that we don't have the consistency of previous seasons," he said.
CSKA coach Valery Gazzayev also paid tribute to Haifa's performance.
"We needed to simply score a goal, there weren't many chances, but we missed the few opportunities which came our way," he said.
"This takes nothing away from Maccabi Haifa who battled all the way and are worthy winners after good performances in both legs," Gazzayev added.
Haifa will play Espanyol in the round of 16 after the Spanish team beat Livorno of Italy 2-0 to a complete a 4-1 aggregate win.
"Espanyol is a very strong team and it won't be easy," Levy said of Haifa's next opponent. "I'm not even thinking about going all the way; we will take each game as it comes."