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But Harry Kewell scored his fourth goal of the season just eight minutes from time to give United a 1-0 win.
Venables said: "That was a fair result.
"In the first half they [Hapoel] showed what they are capable of. They were very smart up front; they have technically very good forwards and midfielders.
"But I thought we snuffed them out in the second half and moved the ball a lot more quickly.
"We didn't give them a lot of space in that second period, but with their ability they still threatened our goal.
"We hit the woodwork three times, which I think is a measure of how we were trying to find the target, and ultimately we got what we deserved.
"I did think it was going to be another one of those nights when we struck the woodwork for that third time. I thought we were never going to score.
"But in the closing stages I noticed they were getting tired, and I thought that maybe we would have a chance to score.
"In the end we could have had a couple. Obviously I would have liked a second goal, but we will have to be satisfied with just the one."
Venables is refusing to get carried away over the second leg and he added: "We know it's going to be difficult because we saw just what they can do in the first half.
"If you look at what Maccabi Haifa did to Manchester United this week - and this team is on a level with them - that speaks for itself."
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