UEFA Champions League results: Benfica, Maccabi Haifa and Viktoria Plzen advance past playoff round
Tue, Aug 23, 2022
Soccer News (AP)
The UEFA Champions League will return to the Middle East for the first time in seven years with Israel's into the group stages after edging out Red Star Belgrade of Serbia.
Portuguese giants SL and Czech outfit also made it through on a night of drama in Europe with more to follow on Wednesday as the play-offs reach their climax.
In the Champions Path, Maccabi led 3-2 from the first leg in Israel with Frantzdy Pierrot scoring twice, Dolev Hazizia providing three assists and Tjaronn Chery's superb strike clinching the win after and goals for the Serbs had threatened an away win.
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It was another memorable night on Tuesday in Belgrade with Pesic and giving the hosts a comfortable lead only for to level the tie and 's dramatic own goal sealing the tie for the visitors as extra time loomed.
After a goalless opening leg in Azerbaijan, Viktoria Plzen edged 2-1 with and 's goals canceling out Philip Ozobic's opener as the tie took time to get going before finally catching fire in the Czech Republic.
As for the League Path, Benfica already led 2-0 from leg one after Gilberto and goals in Poland and the Portuguese added three to their advantage before half-time in the second leg with Nicolas Otamendi, Rafa Silva and all on target in the space of 15 minutes in Lisbon.
Tuesday was just the appetizer for Wednesday with plenty coming up in both the Champions Path and the League Path with Danes FC Copenhagen holding a narrow 2-1 advantage over Turkish giants and Norway's Bodo/Glimt 1-0 up on of Croatia. You can catch all the action on'Paramount+.'
Most eyes will be on Scottish outfit Rangers and Dutch side PSV Eindhoven after last week's pulsating 2-2 draw which could quite easily produce second leg drama and might well go beyond the 90 minutes in the Netherlands as was the case against AS Monaco of Ligue 1 in France.
