JERUSALEM, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a 3-2 home victory over Iceland's Breidablik during Matchday 1 of Group B in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday night.
A crowd of 18,558 supporters at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv-Yafo saw Maccabi take the lead in the 11th minute. French defender Yvann Macon unleashed a long-range shot following an assist by Enric Saborit. Striker Eran Zahavi extended the lead in the 24th minute, capitalizing on a pass from Joris van Overeem. Eight minutes later, midfielder Dan Biton added a third, converting a clever cross from Dor Peretz.
Breidablik, marking their debut as the first Icelandic team in a UEFA group stage, responded in the 44th minute. Faroese striker Klaemint Olsen found the net after a precise cross from Jason Svanthorsson. Olsen struck again in the 55th minute with a header, following a corner by Hoskuldur Gunnlaugsson and a mishap by Maccabi's goalkeeper, Roei Mashpati.
For Matchday 2 on October 5, Maccabi will face off against Gent in Belgium, who settled for a 1-1 draw with Ukraine's Zorya Luhansk. Meanwhile, Breidablik will play host to Zorya. ■
