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Europa League | Group Stage
Nov 7, 2013 at 6pm UK
 
Eintracht Frankfurt logo

4-2

Zahavi (14', 93'), Yitzhaki (30', 35')
FT(HT: 3-0)
Lakic (63'), Meier (67' pen.)

Live Commentary: Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-2 Eintracht Frankfurt - as it happened

Live text commentary as Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.
2

Maccabi Tel Aviv claimed an important three points in Group F of the Europa League as they just about managed to hold on to a 3-2 win after leading 3-0.

In the first half Eran Zahavi and Barak Itzhaki tore the German side apart, with the former opening the scoring and the latter adding two more.

Frankfurt rallied after the break and scored through Srdjan Lakic and an Alex Meier penalty, but they were unable to net once more for an unlikely point with Zahavi wrapping up the points from the spot late on.

Read how the action unfolded below.


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Hello all. We have Europa League action for you tonight. I will be bringing double German action for you – first up is Eintracht Frankfurt away to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The German side have a perfect record so far, with nine points from their opening three games. Their last game was a breeze at home against tonight's opponents after Tal Ben-Haim was sent off in the first half.

I would expect them to have a tougher time tonight. It will be a hostile environment in Israel and the home side could go a long way to qualification with a win, so they will be up for it for sure.

Right, I have the teams so I'll bring the news right across to you. Bear with me a moment.

TEL AVIV XI: Juan Pablo; Yeini, Tibi, Garcia, Ben Harush; Itzhaki, Dabbur, Mitrovic, Zahavi; Einbinder, Altman

FRANKFURT XI: Trapp; Schrock, Anderson, Zambrano, Djakpa; Russ, Flum; Aigner, Meier, Inui; Lakic

It's a strong side for Frankfurt and they clearly want to get into the next round tonight, which a win could well do for them. It's Lakic up front, but the three in behind including Takashi Inui are dangerous.

A look at the odds tells us that MAccabi are the slight favourites, but it could really go either way. That seems about right, with Frankfurt at 2/1 and the hosts just shy of that,

If you ask me, I think Frankfurt will make it 12 from 12. They have been too strong so far and looking at the teams theirs is the stronger one.

KICKOFF: We're underway then as the hosts, in yellow, kick us off.

The German side are passing well early on, despite the whistles from the opposition whenever they touch the ball. The home side are set up to defend from the front and counter here it looks.

Good defending from Zambrano as Mitrovic looked to attack him down the left. Then Russ gives away a free kick and this could be the first chance of the game around 35 yards out.

Zahavi took it and it was somewhere between a shot and a cross, so in the end Trapp was able to gather down low easily. Aside from that it's still the German side doing all the probing, but they are yet to have a sight of goal yet.

It's a bit niggly early on. It looks like both teams are making sure not to press too many men forward so not to get done on the break. Harush finds Mitrovic, who shoots from 30 yards but again it's weak and to Trapp.

GOAL! Maccabi 1-0 Frankfurt (Zahavi)

The hosts lead out of the blue! Zahavi is a bit fortunate as he does not go for the aerial challenge and Schrock flies over the top of him, but it's a great finish on the bounce afterwards.

The goal has really boosted the home players and crowd. They are looking to cross from all angles now, but Frankfurt are able to break and win a free kick as Lakic is fouled by Harush.

Mitrovic is winning tackles all over the midfield at the moment and Frankfurt just cannot keep hold of the ball. Armin Veh does not look happy with what he is seeing at the moment.

The pressing game is really effective from the hosts just now. Frankfurt have started to try it themselves when not on the ball but they aren't getting close at the moment as Itzhaki shoots not too far wide from 25 yards.

Stefan Aigner is looking frustrated out there as he just cannot keep hold of the ball when it comes to him. Inui cuts inside and looks for one of two runners with his pass but it's all too easily cut out.

Aigner is brought down this time as he's shoved in the back by Yeini going up for a header. It's in quite a dangerous spot for a free kick, which Djakpa steps over and smashes into the stands...

GOAL! Maccabi 2-0 Frankfurt (Itzhaki)

That might be that! Itzhaki meets a left-wing cross and heads into the ground and sees his effort beat Kraft. He was some way out there and I think the keeper might have wanted to do better there. He didn't and the Germans are two down.

The visitors still have very little urgency about their play. Yes, this is their hardest group game but still.

GOAL! Maccabi 3-0 Frankfurt (Itzhaki)

This is getting embarrassing! Zehavi is almost through but in the end is crowded out on the edge of the box. He turns and Itzhaki takes over, taking it into the box and clipping delightfully over Trapp. A wonderful finish.

Can Frankfurt salvage anything at all here? The shot of their fans looking miserable says everything you need to know about their evening so far. Aside from the first 10 or so minutes they have been second best all over the park.

BOOKING: Zambrano is carded for bringing down Harush and then appearing to stamp on the player. It was accidental but he had done enough with the initial foul to get booked.

A late flurry in the half for the visitors. Djakpa swings across a free kick but under pressure Pablo punches well. Frankfurt win a corner but nothing comes of it, which cues more cheering from the home fans.

It could have been a fourth there for Zahavi, but he's just offside from Altman's ball through. Two minutes of time have been indicated at the end of the first half.

Flum is trying hard, but there's no way through the wall of yellow at the moment. It has to be said that MAccabi's game plan has been very good.

HALF-TIME: Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-0 Frankfurt

So the first half is over and so is the game, essentially. Tel Aviv have been brilliant in front of goal and at the other end have completely shut out Frankurt. There was me thinking the Germans would edge it...

Can the visitors salvage anything at all from the game? On the one hand they won't want to overexert themselves because they do still have a lot of points in the group, but on the other getting thrashed is not good for morale.

Veh might well make some changes at the break to make this a bit more respectable. There hasn't been a player in his team who has performed well so far, although there has been effort from Inui and Aigner.

The players are making their way back out and we're nearly ready to get going again.

KICKOFF: Frankfurt get us back underway for the second 45.

It's a similar start to this half as we had in the first, with Frankfurt passing patiently in midfield. They win an early corner as Tibi's backpass is not kept in, but the kick was terrible and Tel Aviv clear their lines.

No chances to speak of yet in the second half, but Frankfurt are still on top. It has been a brilliant defensive performance from the hosts as Flum has a rare shot on goal but curls an effort from range well wide.

There has been a real lack of movement from the German side whenever they get into the Maccab half. Inui has been up and down the left but has found himself without any support at all.

Now the hosts are coming into the half. Zahavi in particular is seeing a lot of the ball, but he is just crowded out by three players as he looked to twist and turn on the left.

You know when Frankfurt have had a spell of possession because the crowd start to whistle. Maccabi break with Zahavi clipping the ball over the top but Trapp was out quickly and was able to gather.

As could probably have been expected, this half has not been nearly up to the standard of the first. There is not much need for the hosts to get forward now, and in truth they aren't being put under much pressure either.

GOAL! Maccabi 3-1 Frankfurt (Lakic)

Well is this game on? Schrock crosses and Lakic stoops really well - albeit unmarked - to get an effort on goal. Pablo really has to keep it out but somehow lets it slip under him and into the net.

PENALTY TO FRANKFURT!

BOOKING: Yeini is booked for handball as the ball comes over the top, and really he cannot complain. Chance for 3-2 then...

FRANKFURT SUB: Kadlec is on for Aigner, who has had to come of through injury. A moment ago Margolis came on for Altman for the hosts.

GOAL! Maccabi 3-2 Frankfurt (Meier, pen)

Alex Meier rolls in the penalty and with still more than 20 minutes left we really do have a game on our hands. Another yellow card here, this time for, as the hosts begin to lose their discipline.

MACCABI SUB: Itzhaki, who has been fantastic, makes way for Radi, who will try to put a bit of pressure on the visitors' defence.

They are starting the chase shadows now, the Israeli side, and it certainly looks as though Frankfurt have the time to get the equaliser and maybe the winner. Brilliant cross from the right from Schrock, but no-one was able to turn it in.

CHANCE: Bit of handbags between Einbinder and Flum. The Frankfurt man did not like the way he was taken down after being hassled, but there are no booking. From the free kick Maccabi break anc Einbinder's shot from the left goes well wide. He should have turned that across goal for Radi.

FRANKFURT SUB: Lakic makes way for Joselu here, who does have the creative ability to unlock a defence late on. Will he be able to here?

Inui is still running and he has just hurled himself at a low cross from the right, but it was too far in front of him and he could not get there.

MACCABI SUB: Dabbur is coming off for Rade Prica. It seems as though the hosts have ridden the pressure.

CHANCE: Tough chance, but a chance nonetheless for Kadlec. The ball is crossed from the right by Schrock and Kadlec meets it but under pressure puts his header wide of the far post.

Really good run down the left by Djakpa, who is eventually fouled. It's taken short to Inui, who crosses, but it's met by a huge head from a yellow shirt. The pressure is being ramped up again - can Frankfurt earn themselves a point? Joselu gets another chance on the volley after meeting a Kadlec flick-on but it's high and wide.

FRANKFURT SUB: Djakpa comes off for Oczipka, who will offer more of a threat with his crossing. A different type of wing-back.

There will be three more minutes for Frankfurt to create the one chance they need to equalise. Can they do it? I'm sensing no right now.

PENALTY TO MACCABI!

GOAL! Maccabi 4-2 Frankfurt (Zahavi)

FULL-TIME: Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

So Maccabi take a big win here as Zahavi nets a cheeky chip from the spot. Thanks for joining me here - I'll be back with Freiburg's game very soon. Until then.

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Frankfurt's Vaclav Kadlec is congratulated by team mates after scoring his team's opening goal against Bordeaux during their Europa League group match on September 19, 2013
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