Domb gives Tel-Aviv the advantage

An 89th-minute winner from Assi Domb ensured a 2-1 win for Hapoel Tel-Aviv at home against FC Lokomotiv Moscow in their UEFA Cup third round first-leg match.

Cherevtchenko dismissed
Domb finished from close range following a corner to secure another famous victory for the Israeli side, conquerors of Chelsea FC in the last round. To make matters worse for Lokomotiv, they had Igor Cherevtchenko sent off just before the final whistle for a foul on Illan Bachar.

Away goal conceded
Hapoel had to work hard throughout the match but will be disappointed to have conceded an away goal to their visitors. It came eleven minutes into the second half - Marat Izmailov finishing after an excellent Dmitri Loskov through-ball - and cancelled out Milan Osterc's opener for the Israeli team after 42 minutes.

Penalty saved
Both sides had chances to score before Hapoel’s late winner. First Lokomotiv should have scored in the 71st minute but Shavit Elimelech managed to get a hand to Ruslan Pimenov's shot from the right. Hapoel's captain Shimon Gershon then had a penalty saved by Ruslan Nigmatullin in the 77th minute after Osterc was brought down.

Proud of his team
Hapoel coach Dror Kashtan was delighted with his side’s victory. "We have a group of lads that know exactly what they have to do and don't get nervous or excited even when they face tougher and better sides."

'A difficult match'
Yuri Semin, the Lokomotiv coach, said: "It was a difficult match like we expected and we were lacking pace but the result is determined at the end of two matches." He added that the "away goal we scored gives us a bit more hope".