Going through an easy phase

May 21 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND FIRST LEG

Aug 9 v MACCABI HAIFA (H) 2-1

IN what was described as Liverpool’s most important match of the season by manager Rafael Benitez, two newcomers helped Liverpool to a slender first leg lead over the Israeli side.

Afterwards Benitez hailed “the perfect start” made by goalscorers Craig Bellamy and Mark Gonzalez to their Liverpool careers, but it was anything but for the club’s bid to qualify for the Champions League group stages.

Jamie Carragher had forced a save out of Maccabi keeper Nir Davidovitch, but tThe visitors shocked the 40,038 inside Anfield by opening the scoring just before the half-hour as Gustavo Boccoli raced forward out of midfield and after exchanging passes with Roberto Coluatti he skipped past the Liverpool defence to slot past Pepe Reina.

Within four minutes Liverpool were level. After neat play between Steven Gerrard and another Anfield debutant Jermaine Pennant, Momo Sissoko fired a low drive from 20 yards which wasn’t held by the Maccabi keeper and a gleeful Bellamy fired home into the roof of the net in front of the Kop.

Liverpool pressed to gain a first-leg advantage, but iIt wasn’t until the final minutes that they grabbed the winner, substitute Gonzalez drifting in at the far post onto Xabi Alonso’s pass to clip in an fine effort past Davidovitch.

With the tie finely balanced, Benitez expected an improved showing from his rusty players in the return leg. He said after the match: “I’d say it is still 50-50, but we do have a slight advantage. We will be fitter for the next game.”

THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND SECOND LEG

Aug 22 v MACCABI HAIFA (A) 1-1; Liverpool win 3-2 on aggregate

LIVERPOOL’S progress to the riches of the Champions League group stages came at a price with injuries to Stephen Warnock and Momo Sissoko.PlayedPLAYED in Kiev in the Ukraine due to the problems in war-torn Israel, Liverpool secured their passage with a 3-2 aggregate victory after a 1-1 second leg draw.

Liverpool dominated for much of the match. Xabi Alonso struck the bar from 25 yards and Spanish compatriot Luis Garcia could easily have had a hat-trick but for three smart saves from Maccabi keeper Nir Davidovitch.

It was nine minutes into the second half before Liverpool finally made the breakthrough thanks to Peter Crouch . The impressive Jermaine Pennant collected Sissoko’s pass on the right wing and skipped past full-back Haim Magrash and from his cross Crouch headed in at the near post. Jbut just as Liverpool looked like they would be able to relax Maccabi drew level throughwith a strike similar to the opening goal at Anfield the previous week.

A one-two between Anderson and Yaniv Katan put the former in and despite Pepe Reina blocking his effort Roberto Colluati followed up to tap in.

Liverpool’s Spanish goalkeeper Reina prevented the tie from going to extra-time with superb tip over from Coluatti’s shot from the edge of the box. With that Liverpool’s progress and a £12million windfall was assured.

Goalscorer and man of the match Crouch, who was in fine form in front of the goal in the early part of the campaign, said: “It was a difficult game, they were no mugs at all, they proved that. It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but it’s got us through.”