Last update - 00:00 01/08/2007
Narrow loss in Copenhagen for Beitar
By Matan Krakow
COPENHAGEN - Beitar Jerusalem survived Derek Boateng's sending off and a pathetic mistake by Tvrtko Kale in a 1-0 loss to FC Copenhagen in the first leg of their Champions League first qualifying round tie last night.
Marcus Allback scored for Copenhagem, which will face Beitar at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem next week.
The narrow loss allows Itzhak Shum and his players to be optimistic ahead of the second leg.
The Danish club and its home fans celebrated after Kale, who was referred to as the best goalkeeper in Israel when he was brought to Beitar, jumped to make a simple pass in the penalty area but caught only air, which allowed Allback to simply roll the ball in from eight meters out for the easiest goal of his career.
Beitar had its first shot on goal 28 minutes into the match. Idan Tal took advantage of a mistake by the Copenhagen defense and passed the ball to Toto Tamuz, whose shot from 25 meters out sailed over the crossbar.
Beitar and its fans began celebrating an equalizer in the 28th minute when Christian Alvarez shot past Copenhagen 'keeper Jesper Christiansen, but the goal was disallowed due to a justified offside penalty. After a penalty was committed on Tal, Barak Itzhaki collected the ball in the penalty area. Copenhagen could not clear the danger, and Alvarez received the ball behind the defense after a header from Michael Zandberg.
Allback almost doubled Copenhagen's tally in the 42nd minute after receiving a splendid pass from Jesper Gronkjaer and controlling the ball in Beitar's penalty area. The Swedish striker hit a powerful shot that Kale pushed away for a corner kick. Kale then made a virtuoso save on Allback's header from five meters out.
Beitar held on for most of the second half with 10 men after Boateng picked up his second yellow card of the match in the 53rd minute.