Maccabi suffer Europa League heartache
Maccabi Tel Aviv have been knocked out of the Europa League - despite winning their final group game against Dundalk.
Andrew Sherwood is the Jewish News Sport and Community Editor
The Israelis went into Thursday’s final group game knowing they had to beat the Irish side, while also hoping Zenit St Petersberg – who had already qualified from the group as leaders – avoided defeat at Alkmaar.
However, despite beating Dundalk 2-1, AK Alkmaar’s 3-2 win over the Russians meant their win was in vain.
The hosts, who had lost 1-0 in Dublin back on match day two, got off to the perfect start in the 20th minute when Gary Rogers brought down Haris Medunjanin in the box. Tal Ben Haim II stepped up and fired the spot kick down the centre of the net.
The lead only lasted five minutes when Eli Dasa put through his own net, however just as Maccabi began to show signs of frustration, Ben Haim II this time played provider, as he set up Dor Micha, who fired home.
The second half saw Maccabi go in search of a goal, especially as news filtered through from Holland that Zenit had pulled back a goal to trail 2-1. That gleam of hope was soon tempered when news filtered through of the Dutch side scoring a third, and although Zenit scored again, they couldn’t claim an equaliser, meaning Maccabi finished the group in third place.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
