Failure: Maccabi Tel Aviv drew 1:1 against Lugano and was eliminated
Not ready for the season: Despite leading against 10 players following a Peretz penalty goal (69'), the Yellows ended their European run after a 3:2 aggregate loss. Moncada equalized (79').
Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived this evening (Thursday) trailing 2:1 for the second leg of the Conference League playoff against Lugano. After leading against ten Swiss players, Kenny Miller's side conceded a goal, finished 1:1, and was eliminated from Europe with a disappointing 3:2 aggregate score.
Maccabi Tel Aviv looked poor, and it seems the team is not ready for the season. The pace of the game was slow for almost the entire duration, and in the first half, both teams made many mistakes and struggled to create chances.
The change came in the second half when Mattia Zanotti was sent off after receiving his second yellow card, leaving the visitors with ten players. The Yellows' goal came in the 69th minute when Elad Madmon was fouled in the box, and Dor Peretz took advantage to score from the penalty spot.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Swiss equalized to 1:1 in the 79th minute with an amazing goal by Derek Moncada, who took the ball at the halfway line, ran deep, and unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner of Ofek Melika's goal.
Kenny Miller's side finished a disappointing European campaign that began in the Europa League qualifiers with a 6:0 clean sweep over Sheriff Tiraspol, but continued with an elimination after a 4:3 aggregate loss to CSKA Sofia and ended this evening with the 3:2 aggregate score in the Conference League playoff round against Lugano.
