Maccabi Tel Aviv

Beitar Jerusalem came up short against Austria Wien 2-1 in the first leg of their Conference League third-round qualifying tie, while Maccabi Tel Aviv suffered a 3-0 defeat to CSKA Sofia.

Zahi Ahmed scored the only goal of the match to give the Southern Reds hope heading into the return leg next week in Serbia to advance to the playoff round.

Ben Lederman, who was born in Los Angeles to Israeli expatriates of Polish-Jewish descent, is proof that, in soccer, the most improbable stories sometimes become reality.

Maccabi Tel Aviv cruises past Sheriff Tiraspol, Beitar Jerusalem survives a dramatic penalty shootout vs Larnaca, and Hapoel Tel Aviv advances past Ludogorets into the 3rd round.

Beitar Jerusalem, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv won their European qualifying openers, while Hapoel Beersheba suffered a 2,1 defeat in Iceland.

The yellow-and-blue have featured in the Europa League in each of the past two seasons and will look to make it three years in a row in the continent’s second-tier competition.

The Super Cup was presented by the League Administration Chairman Erez Kalfon, together with Eldad Maman, a Maccabi Tel Aviv supporter.

The 25-year-old point guard (1.90m), who grew up supporting Maccabi, joins the Israeli League and State Cup champion under head coach Oded Katash.

Following an outstanding career at the University of Houston, Emanuel joins a growing list of Israeli basketball talent to reach the NBA.

“I owed a lot to my team after the last game and a half,” Sorkin said. “I was too focused on myself, and that’s part of the old me. I can’t be like that anymore. People here count on me