A first-half strike from Alon Turgeman earned Maccabi Haifa condemned Premier League new boys Norwich City to their first pre-season defeat in a friendly in Kufstein, Austria.
Haifa, who like the Canaries are in Bavaria on a training camp, defended resolutely against a Norwich team containing Nathan Redmond and Sebastien Bassong in what is believed to be the first meeting between Haifa and Norwich’s first team.
Norwich went into the game with three consecutive victories in their pre-season programme but it was a cool finish from Turgeman that ended their run.
WATCH: Maccabi Haifa v Norwich City highlights video
Itay Shechter was the first to test City keeper Declan Rudd before Dekel Keinan flashed a header wide. Norwich’s best chance of the half saw Bradley Johnson fire wide.
Playing with three men up front, Haifa continued to threaten and the breakthrough came on the stroke of half time when Shechter found Turgeman who curled a powerful effort past Rudd from just inside the box.
Norwich made three changes at the interval, with Michael Turner, Vadis Odjidja Ofoe and Ricky van Wolfswinkel replacing Bassong, Redmond and Gary Hooper.
Some heroic last-ditch defending kept Haifa ahead as Andreu’s effort was hacked off the line early in the second half.
Norwich pressed for the equaliser but Haifa held firm, putting bodies on the line in and around their penalty area.
Jacob Murphy and Andreu threatened late on but the Israelis defended resolutely to claim a notable scalp.
Norwich boss Alex Neil said: "Maccabi had more chances than us in the first half but we were totally dominant in the second period so there are many positives to take."
Meanwhile, there was another Anglo-Israel friendly this week, with Cardiff City claiming a 2-0 success over Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona.
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