Hibernians 2
Jorginho 74; Lima 84;
Maccabi Tel Aviv 1
Igiebor 21;

Hibernians produced a strong second-half fightback to overcome Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv in the opening leg of the Champions League second qualifying round, first leg tie at the Hibs Stadium yesterday.

In the run up to the match, Hibs coach Branko Nisevic had anticipated that Maccabi would bring the best out of his players and so it was as after a shaky start, the Paolites gradually seized the initiative to first equalise through Jorginho and then capped up a spirited rally with a late winner from Jackson Lima.

The result hands Hibernians a slight edge ahead of next week’s second leg in Israel, even though Maccabi will still fancy their chances to progress after grabbing what could prove to be a vital away goal.

But whatever the outcome, Hibs gallant display will still remain in the minds of their enthusiastic fans who serenaded their players with chants of ‘Campioni... Campioni’ at the end of the game.

Nisevic opted to field three central defenders and two fast wing-backs in Marcelo Dias and Clayton Failla.

Up front, the attacking trident of Andrew Cohen, Gilmar and Jorginho shifted positions with two pushing forward and the other staying behind, thus giving the Israeli defence no point of reference.

The early stages lacked goalmouth action but after six minutes, Gil Vermouth cut through the defence and hit a fine shot that goalkeeper Jurgen Borg did well to touch away for a corner.

Maccabi enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but Hibernians were rarely stretched beyond normal routine.

A whiff of anticipation swept through the Paolites after 20 minutes when Dias’s cross from the right flank reached debutant Gilmar but his swerving shot finished just wide.

As is so often the case when the Maltese sides take on foreign teams, Maccabi looked more lethal in front of goal.

In fact, as Hibs were trying to gain a foothold on the match, they suffered a blow. Tal Ben Haim’s cross caused panic in the Hibs defence and Emmanuel Igiebor had an easy task to slot the ball past Borg from close range.

After 26 minutes, an inswinging cross from Eytan Tibi spelled danger for Hibs as the ball dropped in the goalmouth where Rodolfo Soares intercepted the well-positioned Eden Ben Bassat as the Paolites toiled to drag themselves back into contention.

Eight minutes from the break, Jackson Lima’s sweetly-struck free-kick took a deflection to almost surprise Juan Pablo Colinas Ferreras, the Maccabi goalkeeper, but the ball finished wide.

Hibernians raised their game after the change of ends and Gilmar burst through midfield to set up Jorginho, who, after taking a touch to wrong-foot an opponent, came face to face with the goalkeeper but Gal Alberman recovered his position to clear the danger.

The home team’s improved showing lifted the spirits of their vocal fans but the Paolites never really threatened the Maccabi goalkeeper.

With over 25 minutes remaining, Nisevic introduced Jorge for Gilmar as he looked to step up the pressure on Maccabi.

The home side’s efforts were finally rewarded on 74 minutes, when in a prolonged move Lima made good progress on the right flank. His first cross was repelled but the ball rolled back to the Brazilian whose inswinger fizzed across the face of goal and to the far post where Jorginho leapt to head the ball home.

It was all Hibernians now amid the noise of the ecstatic crowd.

The Israeli defenders were having a torrid time trying to tame the Paolites, repeatedly resorting to foul play and conceding a number of free-kicks in key areas.

So it was inevitable that Hibs’ qualities were becoming important on set-pieces to apply more pressure on their opponents.

In fact, six minutes from time, Hibs were to deliver the final blow when Lima rose above everyone to head home from a Cohen free-kick.

Failla could have further extended Hibs advantage but his inswinger was pushed away by Colinas Ferreras.

Hibernians
J. Borg, R. de Gracia Gomes, J. Lima, R. Soares, M. Dias, A. Cohen (90 J. Bezzina), B. Kristensen, C. Failla, A. Agius, Jorginho (90 J. Mbong), Gilmar (63 Jorge).

Maccabi Tel Aviv
J. Colinas Ferreras, G. Alberman, T. Ben Haim, D. Miha, E. Tibi, N. Mitrovic (46 O. Ben Harush), T. Ben Haim, G. Vermouth (58 B. Itzhaki), C. Garcia, E. Igiebor, E. Ben Basat.

Referee: Sergei Lapochkin (Russian FA).

Yellow cards: Kristensen, Lima, Harush, Ben Basat, Dias, Miha.

Attendance: 1,473.

Second qualifying round

Second legs: July 21-22.