Jerusalem, July 21 (IANS) Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa snatched a 1-1 draw at home to Greek champions Olympiacos Piraeus in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round on Wednesday night.
The team that will qualify for the third round will be determined after the second leg which will take place on July 27 in Piraeus. The overall winner will face Cypriot champion Apollon Limassol.
In Wednesday’s other second qualifying round matches, Ukraine’s Dynamo Kyiv were held to a draw by Turkey’s Fenerbahce; Dynamo Zagreb of Croatia were held 2-2 by Shkupi of North Macedonia and HJK of Finland lost to Plzen of the Czech Republic 1-2.
Linfield of Northern Ireland improved their chances of qualifying for the third round by beating Bodo/Glimt of Norway; Ferencvaros of Hungary lost 1-2 to Slovan Bratislava and Maribor of Slovenia were held 0-0 by Sheriff of Moldova.
Around 30,000 fans at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in the northern city of Haifa celebrated a late equalizer in the 92nd minute, courtesy of a lucky shot by Dolev Haziza on goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.
The Greeks had been leading since the seventh minute after a Tiquinho Soares shot hit the post, and Philip Zinckernagel easily converted the rebound into the opening goal.
Haifa failed to even the score at half-time, with two goals for the home side disqualified by German referee Sascha Stegemann for offside, Xinhua reports.
Haifa striker Frantzdy Pierrot found the crossbar in the 77th minute, before Haziza equalized late.