Maccabi hit by second half Hibs double

Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv hopes of reaching next season’s Champions League lie in ruins after they suffered a humiliating 2-1 defeat at Maltese side Hibernians.

Things were going well for the Israelis when Nigerian Nosa Igiebor fired them ahead in the 22nd minute. However, two goals in the last 16 minutes – from Jorginho and Jackson Lima – mean Maccabi have it all to do in next week’s return leg at the Bloomfield stadium.

Coach Slavisa Jokanovic told Maccabi’s website: “We didn’t deserve to win today. Hibernians played better than us with much more passion and ambition and they deserved the victory. We will have to make some changes going into the next match and it’s impossible to win if we don’t play with passion.

“Maccabi has some great players and they will have to step up to the plate and show their qualities during the next game. We talked a lot about the good things from last season but in football you can’t rest on your laurels.”