JERUSALEM, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa achieved an impressive 4-0 home win against Cypriot champions Apollon Limassol in the third round of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers on Wednesday evening.
The second-leg match will be played on Tuesday next week in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, with the winner on aggregate advancing to the qualifying playoffs against Serbia's Red Star Belgrade or Armenia's Pyunik Yerevan.
A full house of 30,000 fans at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in the northern city of Haifa saw the home team's striker Dean David find the net in the 19th minute, but the goal was called off for offside through VAR.
The home team got on the scoreboard with an own goal by Apollon's French defender Mathieu Peybernes in the 37th minute, after a shot by Haifa midfielder Dolev Haziza.
Midfielder Ali Mohamed of Niger doubled the lead in the 54th minute, after a pass by Frantzdy Pierrot.
The visitors were left with 10 players in the 60th minute, after Serbian defender Vukasin Jovanovic fouled on Tjaronn Chery and saw the second yellow card.
Just after two minutes, Mohamed completed a brace, after an accurate cross by David.
Pierrot sealed the score with a header in the 79th minute with a cross from Haziza. Enditem
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