Preview:
After a three-week-long international break Maccabi returned to action for the MD6 WINNER League home match against Bnei Sakhnin. With five victories from the opening five matches, Maccabi that leads the table by three points, will aim to extend their 100% record against Sakhnin that are currently 10th.
Miller made two changes from the side that beat Maccabi Netanya before the international break as Ali Camara who withdrew before the match, recovered and returned to the heart of defense. Raz Shlomo partnered Camara as the second central defender in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika with James Tavernier and Noam Ben Harosh completing the back four on the right and left, respectively.
Issouf Sissohko was joined in the engine room by Gabi Kanichowsky while Dor Peretz completed the midfield trio. The 31-year-old captain who scored nine goals in the last six outings, will aim to extend his goalscoring run of nine league goals and 12 in all competitions this season. After making a second half substitute appearance in Netanya, Sagiv Jehezekel, made his first start since suffering an injury against Sheriff Tiraspol on July 30th. Jehezkel stepped into the side replacing Helio Varela who recovered from an injury he sustained in Netanya and was named amongst the substitutes. Ester Sokler led the line as the Slovenian who scored all three of his goals away from home is still seeking his first goal at Bloomfield.
On the bench, Miller named alongside goalkeeper Roi Mishpati and Varela, also Tyrese Asante, Dan Glazer, Elad Madmon, Itamar Noy, Hisham Layous, Ido Shahar and Itai Ben Hamo.
Prior to kick-off the fans paid tribute to former captain Sheran Yeini with a display which was acknowledged by the 39-year-old on the pitch.
First Half
Maccabi started the match on the front foot, buoyed by the support of an almost packed Bloomfield stadium. Kenny Miller’s side pressed from the opening whistle, pinning Sakhnin back inside their own half as they searched for an early breakthrough. Sagiv Jehezkel’s cross in the opening minute was punched away by the Sakhnin goalkeeper Raul Balbarau. Maccabi continued to apply pressure, as a James Tavernier dangerous cross couldn’t find Sokler in the box. In the seventh minute, Osher Davida flashed a left-footed shot from the edge of the area wide of the post before a Tavernier free kick narrowly missed the target.
Maccabi’s best chance came in the 20th minute, as Noam Ben Harush’s cross was pushed away by the Sakhnin goalkeeper before Osher Davida squared the ball to Sokler. The Slovenian striker teed up Dor Peretz, whose shot deflected off a defender before Sakhnin’s captain Maroun Gantous headed the ball off the line and out for a corner.
Maccabi continued to press and almost scored once again within two minutes as Raz Shlomo played Ben Harush through. But with only the keeper to beat, Ben Harosh’s right-footed shot was saved by Balbarau before Sakhnin’s defense managed to clear. A foul by Ahmed Taha on Gabi Kanichowsky inside Sakhnin’s half stopped a Maccabi counterattack and earned the visiting midfielder a yellow card, while captain Gantous was also booked for dissent. A minute later, Sana Gomes became the third Sakhnin player to enter the referee’s notebook following a foul on Osher Davida.
Kanichowsky carved Sakhnin’s defense open to release Jehezkel who raced through on goal but was blocked by Balbarau’s feet. Sokler managed to make contact with a Ben Harosh cross but could only guide his header over on 39.
Second half
With neither side making any changes at the interval, the second half began much like the first, as Maccabi pushed for an early breakthrough. Two minutes after the restart, Balbarau produced a reflex save to deny Peretz’s shot and keep the scores level. In the 51st minute, Sakhnin’s keeper was called into action once again, this time turning away Davida’s fierce left-footed drive after the winger was played through by Issouf Sissokho. Maccabi kept on trying to break the deadlock as Raz Shlomo rose high in the 59th minute to meet Davida’s corner but saw his header rattle the crossbar. Four minutes after the hour mark, Miller made his first substitution on the night, as Davida limped off and made way for Hisham Layous. A minute later, Kanichowsky unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from outside the area that narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Tavernier whose first half free kick missed the target, came closer on 67 but his curled effort struck the side netting. Miller made a double substitution in the 73rd minute, introducing Helio Varela and Elad Madmon in place of Jehezkel and Sokler.
The two substitutes combined within a minute of coming on, as Varela dispossessed Gantous, burst into the area and cut the ball back for Madmon. But the 22-year-old forward fired his shot high over the crossbar before sending a header wide a minute later. Peretz blasted a right foot shot over on 78 as the clock continued to tick while Maccabi couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Madmon sent a snapshot on the turn in the 88th minute but once again his effort sailed wide of the crossbar. The fourth official indicated six minutes of added time as Maccabi continued to press forward in search of a late winner. But Sakhnin managed to hang on and celebrate the point they won at the final whistle.
