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JERUSALEM, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- French side RC Strasbourg advanced on Thursday evening to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League despite 1-2 away loss to the Israeli side Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium in the northern city of Haifa.
A week after winning 3-1 in a first-leg match in Strasbourg, the minimal loss was enough for the French to eliminate the Israelis.
French striker Ludovic Ajorque silenced 23,000 local fans as he scored in the 17th minute, but Maccabi Haifa responded with goals by strikers Yarden Shua in the 25th minute and Australian Nikita Rukavytsya on 40 minutes.
Haifa failed to score a third goal, which would send the game to extra time.
