[Jager]

UEFA Cup, Group A - 29/11/06

Livorno 1 - 1 Maccabi Haifa
Lucarelli 17 (L), Colautti 92 (M)
Stadio Picchi

Livorno's UEFA Cup dreams were shattered in stoppages with a 1-1 draw against Maccabi Haifa.

The Amaranto knew they absolutely needed a victory to keep their slim European hopes alive and so Coach Daniele Arrigoni fielded a strong starting 11 rather than the usual squad rotation system adopted for this competition.

Marco Amelia had an early scare when David Balleri miscued his clearance, then Italian-Argentine-Israeli Maccabi man Roberto Colautti was unlucky to thump the upright with a splendid curling strike from the edge of the area.

Cristiano Lucarelli is still looking for his best form after a thigh injury and his header forced a corner. Two minutes later he gave Livorno the lead, capturing a Dario Passoni free kick and smashing it into the net from the penalty spot.

A Sami Kuffour header from another corner kick was also deflected out and Alessandro Grandoni's attempt was off target. Israeli club side Maccabi went close before the break with Bokoli firing just wide.

Tomas Danilevicius was livelier in the second half, setting up a chance for Lucarelli before timid penalty appeals were waved away. The Lithuanian's header was parried and the resulting corner went closer than ever before, as Antonio Filippini's piledriver was deflected off Danilevicius and only a goalline clearance saved Maccabi.

Livorno were piling on the pressure with another Passoni strike pushed away by the goalkeeper.

Ibrahima Bakayoko replaced Danilevicius and had a fantastic opportunity to secure victory when his splendid volley cannoned off the crossbar.

It seemed to be a game in the bag for the Amaranto, but in stoppages it was Colautti who gave Maccabi Haifa a point at the Stadio Picchi. He rose above the crowd to nod in the late equaliser and end Livorno's UEFA Cup adventure.

Livorno: Amelia; Grandoni, Kuffour, Galante; Balleri (Pfertzel 83), Morrone, Passoni, Filippini, Pasquale; Danilevicius (Bakayoko 64), Lucarelli

Maccabi Haifa: Davidovich; Harazi (Meshumar 67), Olarra, Keinan, Keise, Boccoli, Rafaelov (Arbeitman 72), Anderson, Masudi (Melikson 59), Katan, Colautti

Ref: Vink (Hol)

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...s/liv-mac.html