In landmark upset, Maccabi Haifa beats Manchester United By Ori Lewis Ha'aretz October 30, 2002 NICOSIA, Cyprus - Maccabi Haifa recorded perhaps the greatest-ever result by an Israeli team in European competition, by beating the mighty Manchester United 3-0 in the Champions League at a Haifa home game played in Cyprus Tuesday night. Having already assured themselves of winning the group, United fielded a depleted lineup still hoping to maintain their unbeaten record, but they came unstuck against a Haifa side that played with passion and commitment and was fully deserving of the win. Haifa, who were thrashed 5-2 by United in their first meeting at Old Trafford in September, gave their traveling army of supporters, an estimated 10,000 fans who flew and boated into Cyprus, plenty to cheer about. If their debut in the Champions League at Old Trafford was hailed at the time as an historic chapter in the annals of Israeli soccer, the performance last night made the joy complete and made worthwhile the expense of travel to Cyprus for home matches because Israel is prevented from hosting international matches due to the security situation in the country. Haifa looked much the better team for the entire match while United appeared to slow the pace sometimes looking as if they playing a practice match. The first half was played with Haifa giving all it had against a team that was a pale imitation of the one that 12,000 United fans (almost all from Cyprus) had come to see in all its glory, even if the club's superstars were missing on their big night out. Haifa held the majority of the possession and threatened more than their opponents, but it was United who had the first credible attempt at goal, when Paul Scholes shot from outside the area, forcing Dudu Awate to parry the ball for a corner. While other flawed attempts by the United players either ended up with a weak or a wide shot, Haifa tried to build moves, mainly through Giovanni Rosso, who created several dangerous situations that lacked a finishing touch. But Haifa finally got their just reward when after a scramble in the area, the ball fell loose for Yaniv Katan, who shook off John O'Shea and shot from 20 meters, high into the back of Ricardo's net. The second half started tamely, although Haifa, knowing that one goal would surely not be enough, continued to pressure United all over the pitch. It paid dividends when defensive midfielder Raimondas Zutautas blasted a 25-meter shot from in front of the goal, giving goalie Ricardo no chance. It was almost a repeat of Katan's goal but from even longer range. The third goal, which completed the rout, came from an Yakoubu Ayegbeni penalty in the 77th minute after Zutautas had been brought down by Ricardo. After the game, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that Haifa were worthy winners. "Two tremendous strikes that came out of nowhere, and they won it. After their second, they sat back behind the ball, played the counter-attack and made it very difficult for us."