Maccabi maul Man Utd

Maccabi Haifa 3-0 Man Utd
BBC Sports News
Tuesday, 29 October, 2002, 21:38 GMT 

Manchester United's perfect Champions League record was 
shattered by two spectacular Maccabi Haifa strikes and 
a late penalty. 

Yaniv Katan set the Israeli side on their way to a famous 
victory over a makeshift United with an excellent first-half 
goal. 

The striker had scored Maccabi's opener against United at 
Old Trafford in September before the Israelis succumbed and 
lost 5-2. 

But there was to be no such capitulation as Raimondas Zutautas 
fired in an inexorable strike to leave Ricardo Lopez in the 
United goal a mere bystander. 

The impressive Zutautas was then brought down by Lopez in 
the penalty area with 13 minutes remaining, earning his side 
a spot-kick which Yakubu Ayegbeni duly converted. 

The main beneficiaries were 18-year-old Kieran Richardson and 
Irishman John O'Shea. 

But it was another full debutant, goalkeeper Lopez, who made 
the first telling contribution, saving smartly after Giovanni 
Rosso's shot took a wicked deflection off O'Shea. 

Not to be outdone, Dudu Awate's outstretched leg diverted 
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's goal-bound effort out for a corner 
moments later. 

The unfamiliarity of United's line-up made for a disjointed 
opening period, although the visitors enjoyed the greater 
possession. 

Yet there was nothing unfamiliar about the way in which 
United went behind just before the interval. 

United's defence parted like the Red Sea as Katan surged 
forward and unleashed a searing strike past Ricardo, who was 
angered that no-one had challenged the Maccabi striker. 

If the United goalkeeper could not believe his eyes for the 
first goal, there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop 
Maccabi's second after the break. 

Diego Forlan had only just hit the crossbar with a dipping 
volley before Zutautas stunned the visitors with an unstoppable 
shot. 

The 35-yard strike was hit with such power and pace that Lopez 
had no chance. 

But Lopez was definitely the culprit for the Israelis' third 
goal, hauling down Zutautas, conceding a penalty and earning 
himself a yellow card. 

Ayegbeni slotted home the spot-kick to leave Lopez picking the 
ball out of his net for a third time in what was a torrid full 
debut for the Spaniard. 

Ferguson will no doubt bring his big guns back against Bayer 
Leverkusen on 13 November to make certain United top Group F 
and are seeded for the second phase. 

Maccabi Haifa: Awat, Zautatas (Zandberg 81), Harazi, Benado, 
Badir, Keisi, Ayegbini (Almoshnino 84), Rosso, Zano, Katan, 
Pralija. Subs Not Used: Al Madon, Sevilia, Cohen, Israilevich, 
Gabrin. 

Man Utd: Ricardo, Gary Neville, Silvestre, Ferdinand, O'Shea, 
Phil Neville, Scholes, Fortune, Richardson (Nardiello 62), 
Solskjaer, Forlan (Timms 79). Subs Not Used: Carroll, May, 
Pugh, Roche, Lynch. 

Booked: O'Shea, Silvestre, Ricardo. 

Attendance: 22,000 

Referee: Antonio Jesus Lopez Nieto (Malaga). 
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"For two wonderful hours, everyone in Israel can forget all 
the problems we have." Maccabi manager Itzhak Shum