An own goal by Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday evening (23.08.22) gave Maccabi Haifa a place in the group stage of the Champions League. Benfica Lisbon and Viktoria Pilsen were also able to celebrate.
It was dramatic in Belgrade. Red Star lost the first leg 3-2 at Maccabi Haifa a week ago. But when Aleksandar Pešić (27′) and Mirko Ivanić (43′) scored and Haifa’s Dolev Haziza missed a penalty, the Serbs thought they were on the winning track. But Daniel Sundgren (45th) made it 4-4 before the break.
Own goal shocks Red Star Belgrade
The game in Serbian Marakana remained hard-fought until the 90th minute. But then an unsuccessful defense by Milan Pavkov after a free-kick hit sharply from the left of midfield shocked the Red Star supporters. The hosts threw everything forward, but Haifa salvaged the 2-2 draw and 5-4 in the final added-time tally.
Benfica extremely sovereign
At the Estádio da Luz in the Portuguese capital, Nicolás Otamendi (27), Rafa Silva (40) and David Neres (42) scored in Benfica’s 3-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv. The Portuguese, coached by Roger Schmidt, had already won the first leg 2-0. National player Julian Weigl, who has a difficult time at Benfica and is said to be about to move to Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach, came on in the 70th minute at last year’s quarter-finalists.
Pilsen also prevails
The qualification also worked for Viktoria Pilsen from the Czech Republic. The team from the famous beer city won 2-1 against Qarabag FK from Azerbaijan. Filip Ozobić scored for the visitors in the 38th minute. But Jan Kopic equalized after just under an hour (58th). Jan Kliment (73rd), the former professional of VfB Stuttgart, redeemed the Pilseners. The first leg ended goalless.
The first round of the Champions League is on 6./7. on stage in September.