Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-2 Stoke: Potters close in on last 32
Published 20:35 03/11/11 By Lee West
Stoke manager Tony Pulis hailed a “brilliant” display which put Stoke on the verge of the last 32.
A point against Dynamo Kiev at the Britannia on December 1 will be enough to send them through to the knockout stages.
Goals by Dean Whitehead and Peter Crouch did the trick and Pulis said: “I thought the lads were brilliant. The balance looked good. Our three centre-halves were very solid. There was a bit of a lapse at the end but that’s a little bit of tiredness I think.
“I’m very pleased. They huffed and puffed a little bit but I thought we coped with it smashing.
“Kiev at the Britannia now is a cup final. If we win the game, we’ll win the group, and if we don’t get beaten, we’ll go through, it’s as simple as that.
“It’s a massive game for us and I’m sure it’ll be a great night because they are a good side.”
Stoke’s victory extended their unbeaten European run to 10 games, while Maccabi lost at home in Europe for the first time in 13 matches.
The Potters had much the better of the first half, but had to wait until six minutes after the break when Whitehead completed a neat finish from a tight angle before substitute Crouch tucked away the midfielder’s cross 13 minutes later.
Roberto Colautti’s late header was just a consolation for the hosts.
Crouch said : “It’s been going well in this competition. You strive to get into Europe so you can’t then complain with the games when you get there. It’s a difficult place to come; we knew that before we came so it’s a great result that puts us top of the group.”
Maccabi’s 18-year-old goalkeeper Barak Levy was immediately under pressure when Huth rose alone to head a Whitehead corner towards goal, but placed it over the bar.
Thomas Sorensen was called into action for the first time in the 29th minute when a free-kick allowed Moshe Logasi to fire in a shot, but the 22-yard effort lacked pace.
Stoke had two great chances to go ahead, the first in the 32nd minute when a shot from Ryan Shotton deflected off Kenwyne Jones.
Levy thought it was going wide and was grateful to see the ball bounce off the inside of the post and into his arms.
Two minutes later, a Jon Walters header from a Whitehead free-kick drew an acrobatic save from Levy, with Shotton unable to convert the rebound.
The visitors took the lead when Salif Diao lofted a ball into the penalty area and, although Walters was unable to collect it under pressure, it ran nicely for Whitehead to run on to and slide the ball beneath Levy from a tight angle.
It was the midfielder’s first goal since January and only his fourth in 97 appearances for Stoke.
Crouch netted Stoke’s second after 64 minutes, turning in a Whitehead cross three minutes after replacing Walters.
The striker almost doubled his tally five minutes later with a smart turn and volley from the edge of the area that whistled past the post, while at the other end Konate shot straight at Sorensen.
Substitute Colautti pulled a goal back in injury time with a header, but Stoke saw out the final moments to take their European record this season to seven wins and one draw.
There is still work to be done, though, thanks to Besiktas’ win over Dynamo Kiev, although a point against the Ukrainians at the Britannia Stadium on December 1 will be enough.
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HOW THE GROUP STANDS
P W D L F A Pts
Stoke 4 3 1 0 8 3 10
Besiktas 4 2 0 2 7 4 6
Dynamo Kiev 4 1 2 1 3 3 5
Maccabi Tel Aviv 4 0 1 3 3 11 1
