UEFA Europa League Qualifying Round 2
Maccabi Tel Aviv 1 - 0 FT Sheriff Tiraspol
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots on Target
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
29' S. Kone
HT
↓ Mota ↑Sapata 57'
↓ S. Kone ↑V. Nihaev 59'
63' ↓ S. Jehezkel ↑O. Davida
63' ↓ I. Shahar ↑I. Ben Simon
V. Nihaev 71'
↓ D. Forov ↑J. Modelo 76'
↓ A. Pergjoni ↑N. Swen 76'
↓ L. Jaures-Ulrich ↑V. Cozma 77'
79' ↓ H. Varela ↑I. Noy
79' ↓ N. Ben Harush ↑I. Ben Hamo
B. Ciss 90'+3
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Goalkeepers
Ofek Melika
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Noam Ben Harosh
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mohamed Camara
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Raz Shlomo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Roy Revivo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Sagiv Jehezkel
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Dor Peretz
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Issouf Sissokho
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ido Shahar
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Hélio Varela
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Saied Abu Farchi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Idan Trau
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Shalev Saadia
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Noam Schwartz
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Shahar Rosen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Itai Ben Hamo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ilay Ben Simon
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Osher Davida
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Kervin Andrade
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Dan Glazer
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Itamar Noy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Lotem Asres
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ori Azo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Sheriff Tiraspol
Goalkeepers
Emil Tîmbur
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Baye Assane Ciss
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Fomba Bourama
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Rai Lopes
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Miguel Mota
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Dhoraso Moreo Klas
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Arli Pergjoni
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Konan Jaures-Ulrich Loukou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Samba Koné
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Danila Forov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Ivan Dyulgerov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nicolae Cebotari
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Natus Jamel Swen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Soumaila Magassouba
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jair Modelo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Sapata
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Vsevolod Nihaev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Veaceslav Cozma
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mihail Corotcov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Egor Ivanov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/23/2026 | Sheriff Tiraspol | 0 - 5 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | UEFA Europa League | Sheriff Stadium |
07/23/2026
Maccabi Tel Aviv Win
Sheriff Tiraspol Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
A Gruelling Qualifying Grind at Batumi Arena
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 13/100. A scrappy, corner-heavy affair saw set-piece pressure force a crucial error, leaving this knockout tie on a knife-edge.
Early Standoff
The massive Stakes of this 2nd Qualifying Round turned the pitch at the Batumi Arena into a fiercely contested midfield trench. Both teams knew the cost of an early mistake. As a result, the Balance of play was perfectly deadlocked, defined by a rigid, evenly split possession battle. Forget beautiful football; this was a tactical arm wrestle. Maccabi Tel Aviv opted for directness, repeatedly forcing defensive clearances to earn dead-ball situations. Meanwhile, Sheriff Tiraspol parked their block deep, aiming to frustrate the designated hosts. They succeeded in muddying the waters, but offered zero attacking threat, failing to stitch together any meaningful transition play. The stage was set for a grinding, physical encounter where set-pieces would inevitably reign supreme.
The Crucial Mistake
When open play fails, brute force and deliveries into the mixer become the weapon of choice. A staggering 19 total match corners highlighted the sheer Intensity of Maccabi's territorial squeeze. The pivotal breakthrough arrived in the 29th minute, and it was entirely unglamorous. A wicked delivery into a crowded penalty box sparked absolute panic among the Sheriff defenders. Under immense pressure, S. Kone lost his bearings in the chaos. The defender agonizingly deflected the ball into his own net, breaking the stalemate in the worst possible fashion. It was a harsh punishment for a side that had defended resolutely, but it perfectly illustrated the danger of inviting endless deliveries into your own danger zone. Maccabi had their prize without needing a fluid attacking move to get it.
Holding the Line
Trailing by a goal, Sheriff needed to pivot and punch back, but they simply lacked the ammunition. The Moldovan outfit finished the contest without registering a single shot on target, rendering their second-half efforts entirely toothless. Maccabi efficiently managed the remaining time, breaking up the game with tactical fouls to prevent any late momentum swings. Our take is simple: this was a masterclass in ugly efficiency. Survival is the only metric that matters in European knockout football, and Maccabi proved they can win the dirty fights. They carry a slender but massive advantage into the return leg. Sheriff will have to drastically rethink their attacking strategy if they hope to salvage their continental campaign.
Key Questions
What was the deciding moment of the match?
An unfortunate own goal by S. Kone in the 29th minute secured a 1-0 victory for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Hold The Cards In Lopsided Qualifier
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 33/100. A severe talent mismatch makes this a straightforward progression test for the hosts rather than a gripping European spectacle.
The Setup
Heading into the July 30, 2026 clash at the Adjarabet Arena, Maccabi Tel Aviv sit firmly in the driving seat. The data points to a heavy mismatch, with the Balance rating reflecting a massive disparity in quality between the two sides. European qualifiers always carry inherent pressure, but a modest Stakes profile suggests this 2nd Qualifying Round tie lacks the do-or-die drama of the playoff stages. Both teams are fighting for a place in the main competition, yet Sheriff Tiraspol arrive with a dire Form assessment. The visitors face a steep uphill battle to keep their continental dreams alive against an opponent expected to dominate from the opening whistle.
Key Battle
With a notably low Stars rating across the board, this match will be decided by structural solidity and unit cohesion rather than flashy individual brilliance. Maccabi’s midfield engine room, anchored by K. Belić, should easily dictate the tempo and starve the opposition of possession. The visiting attack will struggle to find any operating space against a resolute home backline featuring R. Revivo and T. Asante. Expect Sheriff to rely entirely on isolated counter-attacks, which the Israeli side's defensive shape is perfectly equipped to neutralize.
Our Prediction
Expect a comfortable 2-0 victory for the home side. Maccabi will dominate possession early, pinning Sheriff deep in their own half. The visitors will attempt to survive in a low block, but relentless pressure will eventually break their resistance, leading to a routine win for the hosts.