SOCCER/Uefa Champions League, third qualifying round, second leg, Maccabi Haifa 1 Liverpool 1 (Liverpool win 3-2 agg): Politics had cast serious doubts over where this tie would be staged, though there is absolute certainty as to where Liverpool will be playing in the months ahead. Passage into the Champions League proper was secured, albeit unconvincingly, in the neutrality of Kiev last night. The 2005 winners can breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Their chief executive Rick Parry, watching in the directors' box here in the Ukrainian capital, had most reason to smile by the end. Some £12 million has been guaranteed by this aggregate success, money to offset against the £25 million spent in the transfer market this summer. Liverpool remain rusty, early-season toils blunting their threat in front of goal, but an awkward obstacle has been hurdled.
Such was the tension surrounding the build-up to this fixture, with the Israelis virtually accusing Liverpool of cowardice in lobbying Uefa for the switch to neutral Ukraine, that this was always likely to prove a furious occasion. The undercurrent of bitterness duly spilled over, the contest sparking early with Yaniv Katan and Daniel Agger clashing off the ball and exchanging words. Yet the real pressure had been generated by the precariousness of the Premiership club's lead in the tie.
Maccabi may have been playing away from home here, but they had already chalked up a goal at Anfield with which they could prompt panic, with the clever flicks and spins of Katan a source of alarm while the Israeli team's defence stood firm. So elusive was the former West Ham striker that Xabi Alonso had been booked for crunching him illegally before the break; by then, Katan might have edged his side level in the tie.
For almost 60 seconds the electronic scoreboard at one end of this bowl of an arena declared that the evening's nominal hosts were ahead. Katan had been fouled by Stephen Warnock - who would not see out the half-hour before limping off - and his free-kick was flicked on by Gustavo Boccoli and goalwards by Xavier Anderson at the far post. In the scramble that ensued, Xavier Dirceo eventually thrashed the loose ball into the empty net. The smattering of Israeli support erupted, only to have their celebrations choked by an offside flag.
Liverpool breathed again.
In truth, they should have eased their nerves by the interval though a combination of profligacy and the excellent Maccabi goalkeeper Nir Davidovitch undermined their efforts. With Steven Gerrard marooned on the bench, upset by a stomach bug, Alonso was this side's driving force with the Spaniard swerving a shot wide before the quarter-hour mark.
For too long this was a Liverpool performance that simmered with menace, but lacked finesse in front of goal. Mark Gonzalez' corner, headed back across goal by Peter Crouch, should have been converted by Luis Garcia only for Davidovitch to conjure a marvellous save.
Relief should have been chiselled from the opening exchanges of the second period. Alonso had already curled a vicious free-kick marginally wide when Jermain Pennant, eking out rare space and momentum, wriggled away from Hain Magralishvili to the byline. The winger's cross was pinpoint and perfect, Crouch veering away from Dekel Keinan to nod beyond Davidovitch at his near-post.
Yet Maccabi's riposte was ruthless, Anderson exchanging neat passes with Katan on the edge of the area before forcing Jose Reina to push away his shot, and Roberto Colautti sliding the rebound into the empty net. That left Liverpool a concession away from extra-time, with Agger doing well to scramble clear as Maor Melikson wriggled through and Reina reacting superbly to turn away Colautti's shot. The jitters remained even with Gerrard introduced, the midfielder spearing a glorious opportunity wide. Fortunately for the Merseysiders, he was not made to pay.
Crouch admitted afterwards his team had to dig deep for the right result: "It was a difficult game, they were no mugs at all . . . It's not the prettiest of wins but it's got us through." Crouch will have Dirk Kuyt as competition when the group stages gets under way, but he is enjoying a run in the team with wingers Gonzalez and Pennant providing the crosses. "It's good for someone like myself to have two wingers and it's a case of getting in the box," he added. "There's going to be competition at a big club, hopefully I can thrive on that."
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Warnock (Aurelio, 28 mins), Hyypia, Agger, Finnan, Gonzalez, Alonso, Sissoko (Gerrard, 67 mins) Pennant (capt, Bellamy 86 mins)), Garcia, Crouch. Subs not used: Dudek, Kromkamp, Fowler, Zenden. Goal: Crouch (54 mins). Booked: Alonso (31 mins), Hyypia (73 mins), Finnan (90 mns).
MACCABI HAIFA: Davidovich, Keinan (Meshumar, 65 mins) Magrashvili, Olarra, Harazi, Masudi (Arbeitman, 80 mins) Xavir, Boccoli, Anderson (Melikson, 71 mins) Colautti, Katan. Subs not used: Al Madon, Kanan, Swan, Gazal. Goal: Colautti (63 mins). Booked Keinan (43 mins), Anderson (44 mins), Meshumar (90 mins).
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).
