Something special has happened to Maccabi Haifa over the last few years.
After a decade without a championship title, in 2021 they won their first in a series of three.
And in this last year they have reached their peak, reaching the Champions League group stage for the first time in over a decade.
After winning 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round match against Slovan Bratislava, Maccabi Haifa wanted to cap off the tie with another home win.
They have maintained a magnificent home record during the qualifying rounds, and since their current stadium was opened, they have won 11 of the 13 European qualifying matches they have hosted.
The other two more ended in a draw.
Sammy Ofer Stadium is set to host the #UCL third preliminary match between 🇮🇱Maccabi Haifa and 🇸🇰Slovan Bratislava
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) August 15, 2023
📸 @yossport1 pic.twitter.com/5N1eDRRwMF
And it looked like this run was going to continue as, 29 minutes in, Maccabi’s leading scorer Frantzdy Pierrot headed in a cross from the right-hand-side.
It's Pierrot's fifth goal in European competitions this season, and his 10th since he signed for Maccabi Haifa last year.
In added time, Maccabi Haifa scored again, this time Tjaronn Chery provided a great assist to Dia Saba.
But Slovan Bratislava have a recent history of making dramatic comebacks, and five minutes from time it looked like there was going to be another.
Mark Tolic was the one to give a bit of optimism to the Slovakian side.
Eventually, though, it wasn't enough.
Dean David scored for Maccabi in the 93rd minute, and completed a great 3-1 win for his club.
הכדור עם הכוכבים יגיע לחיפה שנתיים ברציפות ✨⚽️#UCL_Playoffs pic.twitter.com/3McYODzc34
— Maccabi Haifa FC (@mhfootballclub) August 15, 2023
Something has really changed for Maccabi Haifa.
In the next week they will host Young Boys in the Champions League play-offs in front of their supporters, and they will have another chance to hear the prestigious Champions League anthem in their home ground.
Maybe, if the change is real, it won’t be the last time.
Edited by Alex Smith
Thumbnail photo by Maccabi Haifa FC
