St. Etienne Oust Hapoel Tel-Aviv

CelticKing · Oct 2, 2008

St. Etienne Oust Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Bafé Gomis once again proved his goalscoring potential with an early strike against Hapoel at the Geoffroy-Guichard to ensure that the boys in green head through to the group stage of the UEFA Cup...

St. Etienne 2-1 Hapoel Tel Aviv (3-1 agg.)

Hapoel lacked the class to really give an away challenge to the French side, who were already 2-1 up from the first leg in Israel.

As early as three minutes in Ilan had a shot on goal, and ASSE continued to press forward throughout the first half as the rain added a bit of zip to the pitch.

There was always the risk taht Hapoel would be able to counter given the hosts' audacious formation, but as expeted the first goal fell to Les Verts.

Bafetimbi Gomis did the honours with an acrobatic finish from just inside the area after Payet's header was deflected into his path.

Ilan and Gomis combined brilliantly to leave the visiting defence flat-footed just before the break, but the eventual shot flashed wide.

The Red Demons came out much stronger for the second period, but their ability to take the ball into the final third almost proved their undoing on the hour mark. Substitute Machado spearheaded an attack down the left flank and played a great ball through to Gomis. The forward in turn fed Dernis, but the ball flew past the far post.

Fifteen minutes from time, though, the French outfit sealed the win as Gomis doubled the advantage. A superb pass from Matuidi allowed the French international to stride past the defence and play the ball across Enyeama.

Hapoel, though, may have felt that they deserved a goal for their efforts, and they were duly rewarded on the counter attack in stoppage time. Samuel Yeboah took advantage of some sloppy defending to side-foot past Viviani in what was his side's first and last shot on goal.

AS SAINT-ÉTIENNE 1-0 HAPOEL TEL-AVIV (3-1 agg.)
1-0 Gomis 27'
2-0 Gomis 75'
2-1 Yeboah 90+2'

St. Etienne: Viviani; Perrin, Benalouane, Tavlaridis, Dabo; Payet (Sauget 78), Landrin (Machado 46), Dernis (Varrault 60), Matuidi, Ilan; Gomis.

Hapoel Tel-Aviv: Enyeama; Canada (Srur 65), Da Silva, Topuzakov, Antebi (Shish 78); Natcho, Badir, Telkyiski (Lala 53), Abutbul, Zehav; Yeboah.

Yellow Cards: Antebi 26
Click to expand...

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St. Etienne Oust Hapoel Tel-Aviv

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