Israeli duo suffer Europa League exits

Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Beersheba crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday night after both failed to overturn first leg deficits.

Forced to play their home legs in Larnaca, Cyprus, due to the current situation in the Middle East, Tel Aviv did beat FC Astana 1-0 last night thanks to Sasha’s 57th minute penalty, but it was too little, too late, having lost the first leg 3-0 in Kazakhstan last week. after losing the first leg 3-0 on the road.

BeerSheba trailed their tie against Croatian side 2-1 from the first leg, and while a 1-0 win would have sufficed to see them through, they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw.

Coach Elisha Levy said: “To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. This was a really one-sided match. The better team lost. We will have to lift ourselves and focus on the league.”

Their early exits mean Ironi Kiryat Shmona will be Israel’s only representative in the competition, they take on Russians Dynamo Moscow in the third qualifying round.

*Maccabi Tel Aviv’s opponents in the third qualifying round of the Champions League will be Slovenian side NK Maribor. The first leg takes place on Tuesday evening.