Secound round beckons

Schalke coach Huub Stevens got off to a flying start with the Royal Blues, who won their Group J clash with Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa 3-1.

"That was a good performance by us against a strong team. Haifa were technically accomplished and had quick movement," Stevens said. The Dutch coach, who coached Schalke in the late 1990s, returned to the club after Ralf Rangnick resigned due to burnout syndrome.

The goals for Schalke came from Austrian international Christian Fuchs, who scored twice, and Jose Jurado. "We did very well and I think we deserved the victory. We are now in a good position to reach the knockout stages," Fuchs said.

Hard work

Meanwhile, Hanover 96 labored to a 2-1 victory over Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava in their Group B match.

"It was a deserved win, but it was hard work. It was obvious that Poltava can play football," Hanover coach Mirko Slomka said.

"The first half was solid, we were confident in front of the goal. Bit in the second half it was obvious that we're still lacking international class."

Hanover seemed to have built up a comfortable lead after a goal each by Mohammed Abdellaoue and Christian Pander, who both scored in the second half.

But the Northern German team's dominance evaporated in the second half, and Oleksij Kurilow managed to score for Poltava in the 50th minute. It was mainly down to Hanover's keeper Ron-Robert Zieler that Hanover did not concede any more goals, given the weak defense.

Hanover share the top spot in Group B with Standard Liege, with four points each. Schalke are top of group J with four points.

Author: Nicole Goebel (SID, dpa)
Editor: Mark Rossman