Maccabi Petah Tikva comeback sinks Zrinjski in Intertoto Cup

Faces Ethnikos Achnas of Cyprus in the next round, with a place in the UEFA Cup at stake.

By ALLON SINAI
maccabi petah tikva 88 (photo credit: )
maccabi petah tikva 88
(photo credit: )
Maccabi Petah Tikva advanced to the third round of the Intertoto Cup after a 3-1 victory over Zrinjski Mostar in Bosnia Saturday evening. Petah Tikva could only manage a 1-1 home draw against the Bosnian team last weekend but overcame the tough return leg. Maccabi will now face Ethnikos Achnas of Cyprus in the third round, with a place in the UEFA Cup going to the aggregate winner. Petah Tikva is bidding for a second straight season in the UEFA Cup after a successful season last year that saw the team progress all the way to the group stage of the competition. Maccabi had to come from behind in Bosnia with Rubil Sarsur making the difference. After Petah Tikva gave up a goal in the 16th minute, Sarsur equalized four minutes later. Dovev Gabai gave Petah Tikva the lead in the 59th minute and Sarsur settled the tie 10 minutes later with his second of the match. Petah Tikva, now only two matches away from a place in the UEFA Cup, will surely be favored against Achnas. The first leg of the tie is on July 15, with the return leg a week later.