Sport

PORTSS

EEKLYW

LOCAL AND NATIONAL COVERAGE... THE ENTIRE PICTURE

BY DAVID SAFFER Maccabi Haifa have landed a dream draw in the UEFA Champions League this season.

Barak Bakhar’s side take on European giants Paris Saint Germain, who boast Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in a star-studded forward line up.

The Israeli club are rank outsiders in Group H as they also face former winners Juventus and Benfica.

The Greens are in the elite Euro competition group phase for a third time having played in 2003 and 2010. And they face the toughest task but there are no complaints from the club or supporters given the world stars they will welcome to their stadium.

Maccabi qualified in dramatic fashion when they edged past Red Star Belgrade 5-4 on aggregate last month. “You’ve brought great pride to all Israelis,” Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a euphoric message. “We’ll be crossing our fingers for you in the Champions League.”

Maccabi stars Dolev Haziza and Omer Atzili made headlines on social media following the draw with requests for signed shirts from Messi and Neymar. The caption noted, “T-shirt to us please.”

Maccabi boss Bakhar ensured the post was taken down.

Haziza was quoted in German newspaper Bild, “We watched the draw in our locker room. It was absolutely amazing, like a volcano. We play against three of the best players in the world. That’s just huge! I still can’t quite believe it.”

The round robin fixtures begin next week and are truncated because of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Maccabi kick off away to Benfica at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday then welcome PSG (September 14). A trip to Juventus follows (October 5) before the return clash against the Italian giants October 11).

Bakhar’s outfit end the campaign at PSG (October 25) then at home to Benfica (November 2).

Defending champions Real Madrid have won the competition a record 14 times and begin another campaign with an away fixture against Celtic on Tuesday night.

The Scottish champions, fresh from a 9-0 drubbing of Dundee United last Sunday, are in Group F where they also face RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk. Celtic Park will have an electric atmosphere when Real come to town.

The draw for the 32- team European tournament sees British clubs in a number of outstanding contests. Premier League champions Manchester City lead the way where they line up in Group G with Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund and FC Copenhagen. City boss Pep Guardiola brought sharpshooter Erling Haaland to the club and the hugely talented Norweigian striker has lived up to his billing. Haaland has cracked home a hat-trick gainst Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forrest in recent wins. He will relish taking on his old club Dortmund. Liverpool were last season’s runners BY DAVID SAFFER up to Madrid and had got off to a slow start in the league but showed intent by Reiss Mogilner scored six goals as Maccabi thumping newboys Bournemouth 9-0 at London Lions thumped Scrabble A in the the weekend. second round of the Cyril Anekstein Cup. Jurgen Klopp’s side are in Group A with

Th e Premier League side racked up a 16-0 Ajax, Napoli and Rangers. The Reds start win with Daniel Green and Michael Kenley out in Italy before a guaranteed hostile both bagging a hat-trick. Ed Brafman, Da- atmosphere. vid Dinkin, and Adam Hassanali complet- Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea have shown ed the rout in a mismatch of a tie. indifferent form to date. But they will

Lions could have scored in the opening be well prepared for games in Group minute of the clash but soon opened the E against AC Milan, RB Salzburg and scoring and led 9-0 by half time. Dinamo Zagreb. The Blues start out

Th e Division One team, though out- against Dinamo. classed, battled away to the end. Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hot-

Lions boss was lost for words at full time spur, in stark contrast to Chelsea, such was the display from his team who have made an impressive start to the gave every respect to the opposition. Premier season and are favourites to

“I’m not really sure there’s anything to top Group D. They tackle last seasay, we are happy to make it through to the son’s Europa League winners Einnext round of the cup,” he commented. tracht Frankfurt, Sporting Lisbon

Hendon United Sports ran out 3-1 victors and Marseille. against League One outfi t North London Star striker Harry Kane struck his Raiders. 200th career league goal in a win at

Th e Premier side led early in the second Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Kane Maccabi qualified in dramatic fashion when half only for Raiders to equalise but struck two late goals to book a place in round three of the competition. is on target to be the club’s all-time top goal scorer as he is fast approaches Jimmy Greaves’ 266 mark. He will they edged past Red Star Hendon now turn their attentions to the league as they travel to Oakwood A for a then begin his quest to overtake Premier League all-time top scorer Belgrade 5-4 on aggregate crucial top of the table clash on Sunday Alan Shearer. last month. “You’ve (10am). Daniel Kristall’s team stunned the league Group C offers an intriguing quartet with Bayern Munich the top seed brought great pride to all leaders last month when they won 2-0, a ahead of Barcelona, Inter Milan and Israelis,” Prime Minister victory would move them to within a point of Hendon with a match in hand. Viktoria Plzen. Bayern, Barcelona and Milan have won the trophy 14 Yair Lapid said in a Elsewhere in the latest round of fi xtures, 10-man North London Galaxy made it a times between them. Porto, Atletico Madrid, Bayer euphoric message. three-way title race in the only Division One Leverkusen and Club Bruges comclash of the day after defeating Oakwood B. plete the line up in Group B.

Jamie Murray saw red early on but Galaxy Manchester City are the bookies rallied with goals from Josh Cohen and Ja- favourites ahead of PSG, Livercob Leigh to record an important 2-1 away pool, Bayern and Real. And maybe win. Guardiola will finally lift the trophy

Galaxy head Redbridge Jewish Care A in since triumphing with Barcelona. the table by just one point after 10 matches, With Halland leading the line City third place Fairlop FC are fi ve points be- have their best chance of joining the hind with two games in hand. footballing elite.

Rafi Bloom scored for Oakwood. The final is scheduled for the Atat-

“It was a fantastic performance in a urk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on 10 June 2023.

must-win game,” commented Galaxy player-manager Luke Lewis.

“We sat back and allowed Oakwood the ball, given the one-man advantage and looked to hit them on the counter attack with pace.

“Both goals came down the right-hand side. Leigh crossed the fi rst one into Cohen to fi nish, before slotting home himself. Up to fi rst we go.”

Th e Division Two title race also took a twist with league leaders Herstwood Vale going down to a 2-1 defeat at Temple Fortune.

Faithfold B have played a game more than Vale but moved level with a 5-3 win at North London Raiders Masters.

Jacob Kalms struck twice for Fortune who scored through leading scorer James Milletwith his 17th goal of the season.

Th e result was all the more remarkable as Temple were down to 11 players with ‘keeper Ben Rebuck dislocating a shoulder in the warm up.

“Th is was a fantastic win given the circumstances,” said delighted Fortune boss Simon Linden.

“We had a number of players out, Rebuck got injured, so I couldn’t have asked any more from the players. We wish Ben a speedy recovery.

“It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner. It’s a big win, one we will enjoy and we hope to build on it in 2019.”

He added, “Th is win marks 50 years as a football club and will be one Nigel Kyte and everyone associated with the club from day

Sixteen-goal Lions rout Scrabble in Cup “It was a proper old school performance, we battled and defended for the 90 minutes and took our chances. Experience proved to be the winner.”

one will enjoy.” Vale boss Jacob Emanuel was quick to wish Rebuck well following his injury. “First and most importantly, everyone at Vale would like to wish the Fortune ‘keeper a quick recovery, we hope to see him back on the football pitch as soon as possible,” he said. As for the defeat, Emanuel commented, “It doesn’t matter how big a squad you have, you can never account for unavailability or injury. Only fi ve of today’s team played in our recent win over FC Team, a lack of togetherness and poor individual

Haifa “dream” Champions League draw

16-goal Maccabi London Lions PHOTO: DAVID SAFFER Karim Benzema led Real Madrid to a record 14th success in 2022 PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK