BySimon Griver, Simon Griver
Maccabi Tel Aviv slumped to a shock 2-1 away defeat to Maltese minnows Hibernians in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round on Tuesday night.
The Israelis took the lead in the 22nd minute as Nigerian international Nosa Igiebor scored from close range.
Maccabi sat back in the second half and were stunned as the Maltese champions grabbed two goals in the final 20 minutes through Jorge da Silva Pereira and Jackson Lima. Both goals were from headers.
The result was humiliating for Maccabi manager Slavisa Jokanovic who led Watford to Premier League promotion last season.
Before the game Jokanovic had lamented the lack of summer signings with five players leaving including captain Sheran Yeini and only Tal Ben Haim joining from Charlton. But he made no excuses for the result.
He said: "Hibernians played better than us with more passion and ambition and deserved to win. We have to make a major change in our attitude before next week because without passion you cannot win games.
"Maccabi has some great players but they need to show it. They talk a lot about last season's treble but the past is not important."
Maccabi hosts Hibernians in the second leg in Tel Aviv next Tuesday.