Celje showed its teeth, took the lead, but ‘fizzled out’ in the second half against Maccabi: Styrians on the verge of historic success
What if… If
Celje
hadn’t been rather naive in defence in Israel? If Celje had played a return match with
Maccabi
could have made better use of the excellent first half? We will never know. But the facts are what they are. Celje is stuck on the edge of paradise. On the verge of a historic success. 180 minutes separated Celje from autumn in Europe. But that may come another time. The Israelis were, to be honest, too strong an opponent. Maccabi won the first match 4:1. Then came a mission that not only seemed impossible. It was impossible. Celje played the return leg 1:1 and were eliminated 2:5.
Celje went into the return leg of the last round of the Conference League qualifiers incredibly well. The Styrians immediately took control of the action and were on the attack. One of them is already in its 12th year. in the final minute to take the lead. Celje newcomer Yegor Prucev stunned the Maccabi defence with a great diagonal pass across half the field. Derrick Luckassen even landed in the back of the net on his pass! But the Russian was not so lucky. He fired and… the door! And then a goal! The ball bounced to Aljosa Matko, who reacted politely enough to kick it into the net.
The hosts continued to create chances in the first half. Prucev and Matko were a nightmare for the visitors, but it was Žan Karničnik who squandered the best chance. He came from the right in front of the goal, then shot slightly to the right and completely missed the goal. Celje won the first half 1:0, could have won it 2:0, 3:0. After the break… wink! It’s as if the home troops have run out of breath. Maccabi pressed the accelerator and in 49. The game was tied in the first minute when Gabi Kanichowsky, who had just come on, scored after a shot from a turnover.
The match was then, hand on heart, over. Celjani finally surrendered, while the Israelis easily paved the way to the conference group stage. And they have reached the goal they set themselves. But Albert Riera and his protégés will no doubt regret their missed opportunity for some time to come. Not only this time, but also in the first…
