17 August 2007, by Joao Pedro

UEFA Cup: Leiria held to goalless draw

Uniao de Leiria 0-0 Maccabi Netanya

Uniao de Leiria failed to gain an advantage against Israeli team Maccabi Netanya in the first leg of the second qualifying round for this season’s UEFA Cup.

After a goalless draw the Portuguese team will travel to the city of Netanya on 30 August with the tie wide open.

The team from Israel finished runners-up in their national championship last year, and it was the away team who enjoyed the better of the first half.

Leiria were overrun in the opening 45 minutes, and had their goalkeeper Fernando to thank for keeping the scores level. The impressive keeper made two superb saves to ensure the teams went into the break all square.

The second half was a different story, with Leiria wresting control of midfield and constructing several moments of danger, as the Israelis seemed to run out of steam.

Just after the hour mark Laranjeira hit a powerful free-kick towards the net which Maccabi goalkeeper Strauber appeared to push out only after the ball had crossed the line.

The controversial moment incensed home coach Paulo Duarte, who claimed after the match: “It wasn’t a case of the ball creeping just over the line – it was a metre inside the goal!”

Despite the draw, the fact Leiria kept a clean sheet will give them plenty of hope going into the second leg in a fortnight’s time.

Leiria:
Fernando, Eder, Renato, Eder Gaucho, Laranjeiro, Faria, Marco Soares, Tonito (Cadu, 69), Sougou, Paulo Cesar, Alhandra (N’Gal, 57)

Maccabi Netanya:
Strauber, Saban, Murillo, Hermon, Ben Dayan, Almog Cohen, Shechter, Taga (Yampolsky, 87), Bundea (Rozental, 76), Tamir Cohen, Awudu