The Yellow & Blue are through! After a nail bitter in Split Maccabi came away with a 4:3 penalty victory as Avi Rikan a late substitute scored the decisive spot kick. Oscar Scarione scored in the second half while Marko Cosic scored a brace for the hosts, however it was his moss that allowed Rikan to out through the winner.

Head Coach Shota Arveladze made numerous changes to the Starting XI that graced the Netanya Stadium pitch last week for the first leg of the Europa League Playoff Round where the Yellow & Blue defeated Hajduk Split 2:1. However, that didn’t include the keep position as Serbian Predrag Rajikovic was in his usual place while a defensive quartet of Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Tal Ben Haim and Omri Ben Harush played in front of him. Haris Medunjanin, Nosa Igiebor and Oscar Scarione manned the midfield while Yossi Benayoun, Eden Ben Basat and Dor Micha who was the acting captain provided the attack.

Available on the bench were Haviv Ohayon, Egor Filipenka, Avi Rikan, Baral Itzhaki, Dor Peretz, Eyal Golasa and Orlando Sa.

First Half

Ben Basat has Maccabi’s first chance of the evening as his long range effort was easily collected by Lovre Kalinic in the 10th minute. Seven minutes later Rajikovic pulled down a Hajduk corner while he made a save off a ball from the left side in the 25th minute to keep the match goalless.

Following a 31st minute yellow card issued to Micha a pair of Split corner kicks couldn’t find the goal as the second went flying over the bar. In the 39th minute, defender Ben Haim was booked for a reckless tackle and Hajduk made Maccabi pay on the ensuing free kick as a defensive lapse gave Marko Cosic the chance to head the ball past Rajikovic for a 1:0 lead late in the first half.

As the fourth official indicated two minutes of injury time, Ben Basat missed a wonderful opportunity as his shot went just over Kalinic’s goal. The sides headed into the break with the hosts holding a 1:0 advantage.

Second Half

The Yellow & Blue evened things up fairly quickly as Scarione scored on a brilliant free kick from the left side of the box, fooling everyone including Kalinic as the ball found its way behind the keeper in the 50th minute. However, it didn’t take long for Hajduk to take the lead again as Susic’s 59th minute free kick found Cosic in the box as Split’s number 44 headed it into the back of Rajikovic’s goal.

Scarione and Igiebor teamed up for a 60th minute opportunity but the latter’s attempt went wide right of the goal. Again it was Scarione in the 72nd minute with a good effort but his shot also went wide.

Coach Arveladze makes his first substitution of the game as Orlando Sa comes on for Yossi Benayoun in the 81st minute. Franck Ohandza’s 85th minute opportunity for Hajduk went wide left as both sides looked for a winner late in the contest, however it would not be as the match went into extra-time.

Extra-time First Period

In the 94th minute Rajikovic was called upon to make a magnificent save after a fast break by Ohandza while one minute later Igibeor’s opportunity just went wide left to keep the score 3:3 on aggregate. After a 99th minute yellow card to Dasa, Raijkovic again came to the rescue making a point blank stop on Tino Susic’s attempt.

Extra-time Second Period

Avi Rikan entered the match to begin the second extra-time period for Ben Basat while Barak Itzhaki joined him in the 114th minute in favor of Micha as number 10 took the captain’s armband, but after a goalless extra-time the match headed into penalties.

Penalties

Hajduk Vlasic scores 1:0
Maccabi Itzhaki scores 1:1
Hajduk Tudor save Raijkovic 1:1
Maccabi Ben Haim save Kalinic 1:1
Hajduk Ohandza miss 1:1
Maccabi Scarione save Kalinic 1:1
Hajduk Savvas scores 2:1
Maccabi Sa scores 2:2
Hajduk Susic scores 3:2
Maccabi Medunjanin scores 3:3
Hajduk Cosic miss 3:3
Maccabi Rikan scores 3:4

Maccabi advances to the Europa League Group Stages! The draw will take place tomorrow, Friday in Monaco at 14:00.