UEFA Cup: Kiryat Shmona, Hap TA advance in Europe

Netanya also included in today's draw for UEFA Cup second qualifying round

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel TA soccer 224.88 (photo credit: AP)
Hapoel TA soccer 224.88
(photo credit: AP)
Ironi Kiryat Shmona ensured on Thursday that all three of Israel's representatives in the UEFA Cup will be included in Friday's second qualifying round draw. Kiryat Shmona defeated Mogren 3-0 in Montenegro, claiming the tie 4-1 on aggregate after only managing a 1-1 draw at home last week. "We believed we could progress despite the poor result at home and we are delighted," Kiryat Shmona defender Barak Bachar said. "We hope to face a big team like Napoli, Besiktas or Aston Villa in the next round." Hapoel Tel Aviv also advanced to the second qualifying round on Thursday, beating Juvenes/Dogana 2-0 in San Marino, cruising to a 5-0 aggregate victory. The first and second legs of the second qualifying round will be played on August 14 and 28, respectively, with Maccabi Netanya to join Ironi and Hapoel in the competition at this stage. With Tel Aviv all but clinching its progress in the first leg last week, the only question that remained to be answered on Thursday was whether Kiryat Shmona would be able to overcome the disappointment of being held in Israel last week and claim in its first ever European tie. Kiryat Shmona, which conceded an 82nd minute equalizer in the first leg, seized the initiative right from the kickoff in Montenegro, with Abas Suan registering the visitors first dangerous shot on goal in the 25th minute, shooting just over the crossbar from 20 meters out. Seven minutes later, the northerners broke the deadlock and scored the all-important opener. Guy Tzarfati crossed the ball from the left and Amir Nusbaum headed his side into the lead with ease. Mogren knew it needed to score to avoid elimination and in the 50th minute Nikola Vujovic should have tied the score, but instead released a weak shot which was easily saved by young keeper Danny Amos. As often is the case, Mogren's lack of cutting edge cost it dearly and Kiryat Shmona soon wrapped up the win. In the 53rd minute, Omer Peretz, who scored his team's goal in the first leg, tucked in Kiryat Shmona's second goal of the match and 15 minutes later Tzarfati put the tie beyond doubt with a deflected long range shot. In San Marino, Hapoel needed just five minutes to take the lead and was 2-0 in front after a mere seven minutes. Defender Yigal Antebi scored his second goal of the tie with his head in the fifth minute and only two minutes later another defender, Brazilian Douglas da Silva, scored another headed goal.