Tag: Maccabi Haifa

Weston McKennie goal not enough as Juventus crash out of Champions League

Good for McKennie, bad for Juventus

A rough start to the 2022-23 season just got worse for Juventus.

Juve were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday, after a 4-3 loss at Benfica ended their last hopes of escaping from Group H. Weston McKennie’s late goal was not enough to spark a comeback that Juve needed to have any chance at the knockout round heading into the final round of group stage games.

The Italian powerhouse had to win, but fell behind on António Silva’s 17th minute goal, and even Moise Kean’s 21st minute equalizer only delayed the bad news. By the 50th minute, it was 4-1 in favor of Benfica after a penalty from João Mário and Rafa Silva’s brace.

Arek Milik’s 77th minute goal saved some face for Juventus, and two minutes later McKennie popped up amid a mad scramble to fire home after Samuel Iling-Junior’s cross was pushed into the goalmouth by Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.

The goal is the second this week for McKennie, as he also headed home a corner kick against Empoli this past weekend in Serie A. It’s also his second Champions League goal of the campaign, as he also got on the scoresheet against Paris Saint-Germain back in September.

Two goals in less than three minutes was just what Juventus needed in the moment. It’s just that realistically, falling behind by three goals in a game you have to win is not a recipe for success. Benfica held on for the win, and now Juventus — in the latest chapter of a massively disappointing start to the season — will bow out of the Champions League at the first hurdle.

Believe it or not, things could even get worse. On three points, Juve have PSG coming to town in next week’s final matchday, while Maccabi Haifa (who also have three points) will host Benfica. While Juventus has a six-goal edge on goal difference, a loss to PSG would open the door to the further humiliation of not even getting a Europa League spot as a consolation prize.

Watch McKennie’s late goal for Juventus

Neymar after yellow card: Football is getting boring and we can’t celebrate

The PSG star was given a questionable yellow for celebrating his goal on Wednesday

Even though PSG won on Wednesday, Neymar was not exactly in a great mood after the game.

The Brazilian star scored his side’s third goal in a 3-1 Champions League win at Maccabi Haifa, wrapping up the three points with an 88th-minute strike.

But after Neymar did his most recent signature celebration — in which he places his hands on either side of his head while sticking out his tongue — referee Daniel Siebert gave him a yellow card.

It was a strange decision, given Neymar did not leave the field of play and kept his shirt on. After the game, Neymar said the referee actually apologized to him, but the 30-year-old still voiced his frustration with the decision.

“I just met the referee and talked to him. He apologized. But now I already have the yellow card,” Neymar said in the mixed zone.

“This is a complete lack of respect for the players. The referees have to be there to protect us. What happened to me today is very sad. Football is getting boring and we can’t celebrate. This is a lack of respect not only for me, but for football.”

The Brazilian also took to social media to complain, posting a picture on Twitter of his celebration with a Portuguese hashtag that, in English, translated to “free the celebration Daniel Siebert” and a caption that read: “I’m asking now, OK?”

Neymar is off to an incredible start this season, scoring 11 goals and adding seven assists in just 10 games so far.

[lawrence-related id=7279,6951]

Who is Josh Cohen? Unheralded American goalkeeper set for Champions League spotlight

The California native is one of the least likely Americans to ever reach the Champions League group stage

The list of American players featuring in the Champions League group stage usually reads like a who’s who of the country’s best-known stars.

This year is no different: Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Giovanni Reyna are just a few of the USMNT players set to feature.

But then, there’s Josh Cohen.

Wait, who?

If you haven’t heard of the 30-year-old goalkeeper, you aren’t alone. Cohen’s path to the game’s biggest stage was as circuitous as they come, taking him on a tour of the American lower leagues before a move to Israeli side Maccabi Haifa gave him his big break.

Cohen’s journey in the U.S.

After playing at Division II UC San Diego, Cohen’s pro journey began with the Burlingame Dragons of the semi-pro PDL.

From there he moved on to the Orange County Blues and then to Phoenix Rising, where he became a starter in the USL. He then returned to his home state of California with Sacramento Republic FC.

Cohen really broke through with Sacramento, establishing himself as one of the USL’s best goalkeepers. Still, a move to MLS never seemed like it would happen.

“As I got further along in my USL career, I learned more about how professional soccer works in the U.S.,” Cohen told The Athletic in 2020.

“I was very naive when I first got into it. MLS has their way of thinking and the coaches, the GMs and decision makers, they view American players in a certain way. Once you have been profiled as an American USL player, it’s very hard to break out of that stigma.”

Cohen moves to Israel

With his path to MLS seemingly blocked, Cohen looked abroad for his next move. By virtue of being Jewish, he was able to join Israeli outfit Maccabi Haifa without occupying an international slot.

In Haifa, Cohen has taken his game to the next level and experienced success beyond any reasonable expectations.

Case in point: the 2020-21 season. Not only did Maccabi Haifi win the Israeli Premier League title, but Cohen was named the league’s player of the season — a rare honor for a goalkeeper.

Haifi won the title again last season, reaching this year’s Champions League qualifying rounds. But unlike last season, the Israeli club successfully navigated the gauntlet of the qualifying rounds by getting past Olympiacos, Apollon Limassol, and finally Red Star Belgrade to reach the coveted group stage.

That means six high-profile matches against some of Europe’s biggest sides — not bad for a player who never played Division 1 college soccer or in MLS. The road to success has been winding for Cohen, but he’s reached a level that most American players will only ever dream about.

[listicle id=6406]

UEFA Champions League playoffs: Maccabi Haifa, Benfica, Viktoria Plzen qualify

Follow all the UEFA Champions League playoffs as the final teams qualify for this year’s competition.

The final playoffs for the UEFA Champions League are playing out, with the final six spots in this year’s group stage up for grabs. Follow along as the second leg of every playoff is settled, and the Champions League picture clarifies.