Maccabi Tel Aviv fell at Lugano 2-1 as the Swiss side was just that much better with goals by Kevin Behrens and Anto Grgic while Ido Shahar scored for the yelow-and-blue. The seconed game will be played in Batumi, Goergia which is Maccabi’s home away from home until the games return to the Holy Land.

Lugano came away with a goal in the first half when a poor clearance by keeper Ofek Meilika resulted in the hosts going on the attack as Kevin Behrens nodded the ball into the back of the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute. However, just minutes into the second half, Roy Revivo sent Ido Shahar a magnificent cross as he slotted the ball home to draw even at 1-1 in the 47th minute.

The equalizer didn’t hold up for long as Tyrese Asante committed a foul on Yanis Cimignani resulting in a penalty that Anto Grgic easily converted for a 2-1 advantage. Shahar, Dor Peretz and Revivo all had opportunities to draw Kenny Miller’s team even but came up short as Lugano hold a one goal advantage ahead of the second leg of the two legged tie.