Preview:
Maccabi Tel Aviv returned home for the WINNER League MD2 match against Maccabi Haifa and after playing nine matches in all competitions away from home, the return to Bloomfield stadium is marked by one of the fixtures in the Israeli calendar. On the back of Thursday’s elimination from Conference League and with no European season to look forward to, Maccabi will have to put aside the disappointment and focus on the domestic campaign. Kenny Miller’s side will aim to build on last week’s 5-2 victory away to Hapoel Jerusalem on the opening day of the season. But Miller will have to so without goalkeeper Ofek Melika who was sent off and Saied Abu Farchi who is the US and on the verge of leaving the club to the MLS. Roi Mishpati replaced Melika in goal while Noam Ben Harosh replaced Tyrese Asante at right back after the Dutch defender was ill. Miller kept the same midfield with Issouf Sissokho in the anchorman role just behind Ido Shahar and Dor Peretz. The Maccabi skipper who scored a hattrick against Jerusalem and added another against Lugano to take his tally to 7 goals in all competitions this season, led the team out with the captain’s armband. Helio Varela and Osher Davida supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation in support of Ester Sokler who was named upfront.
On the bench, Miller named goalkeeper Shalev Saadya alongside Dan Glazer, Elad Madmon, Shahar Rosen, Itamar Noy, Hisham Layous, Itai Ben Hamo, Lotem Asres and Ilay Ben Simon.
Prior to kickoff, a ceremony was held as a tribute to Eyal Golasa who announced his retirement today. Golasa, spent 8 seasons at Maccabi between 2016-2024, won 10 trophies (3 championships, 1 State Cup, 4 Toto Cups and 2 Super Cups) and scored 13 goals in 240 appearances.
First half:
Against a backdrop of a full Bloomfield stadium three quarters in yellow and blue and a quarter in green, the biggest fixture of the domestic calendar. Seven minutes from the start, Haifa had the ball in the back of the net as Silva Kangani raced clear through and rolled the ball past Roi Mishpati but the Haifa forward was caught offside. Three minutes later, Raz Shlomo picked an early yellow card for fouling Bruninho just inside Maccabi’s half after Osher Davida conceded possession. In the 14th minute the action packed start saw Helio Varela break into the box before he was taken out by Pedrao. Referee Snir Levi didn’t initially award a penalty but VAR intervened called the referee to the screen and pointed at the spot. Dor Peretz stepped up abs buried the penalty past Omri Glazer to put Maccabi infront with his fourth league goal in two matches. Maccabi’s pressure continued as in the 24th minute a Varela shot struck the arm of a Haifa defender. Ido Shahar blasted the free kick past the wall but Glazer managed to punch the ball away. Davida had two shots saved by Glazer before Ethan Azoulay came close on the half hour mark only to volley over.
In the 40th minute Maccabi’s total dominance resulted with a second goal which was scored in spectacular fashion. Ali Camara charged forward through the middle and chipped the ball for Peretz who chested it down before flicking a half volley into the far corner. Inside injury time Maccabi almost increased their lead with a lethal counter attack as Varela released Ester Sokler into the box. The Slovenian striker who has yet to score in the league unselfishly squared to Davida whose left foot powerful drive forced Glazer to stretch himself and save.
Second half:
Miller didn’t make any change while his Haifa counterpart Barak Bachar introduced Ali Mohamad for Yarin Levy. Just like the first half, the second half began with Haifa scoring early on but once again the referee assistant raised his flag and the goal was disallowed. Noam Ben Harosh who set up a goal against Hapoel Jerusalem last week came close to score himself from the exact position on 51 but Glazer pulled a reflex save. Five minutes after the hour mark Miller made a double substitution as Shahar and Sokler bowed out and were replaced by Itamar Noy and Elad Madmon.
In the 72nd minute Maccabi scored the best goal of the game as no one deserved it more that Davida. The winger received a ball from Peretz deep inside Haifa’s half and curled a left foot shot into the top corner beyond the reach of Glazer to make it 3-0. Miller made another double change on 78 as Issouf Sissokho and Varela were given a standing ovation by the majority of the 26,114 fans as they were replaced by Dan Glazer and Hisham Layous. Two minutes later Peretz almost added another assist as a counter attack attack and a square ball gifted Layous an easy tap in but the flag was raised for offside denying Maccabi a fourth.
In the 87th minute a Bruninho free kick struck the arm of Davida as Haifa were awarded a penalty which Ethan Azoulay blasted past Roi Mishpati to cut the deficit at 3-1.
