The Yellow & Blue wrapped up a tidy 2:1 win to take the 3-points against Kiryat Shemona at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday 15 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al. Vidar Kjartansson scored in the first half while Nick Blackman headed home a second half winner after Ahmed Abed had helped the visitors draw even in the 45’.
Head Coach Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajikovic, Eli Dasa, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Eitan Tibi, Sheran Yeini, Dor Micha, Dor Peretz, Cristian Battocchio, Avi Rikan, Nick Blackman and Vidar Kjartansson. On the bench were Daniel Tenenbaum, Jose Rodriguez, Barak Itzhaki, Eliran Atar, Aaron Schoenfeld, Tal Ben Haim and Ofir Davidzada.
First Half
Kiryat Shemona had the contest’s opening chance in the 5’ when Ahmed Abed took a through ball and went one on one against Rajikovic, but the Serbian shot stopper made a terrific foot save to keep the match goalless early on. Maccabi had their first attempt two minutes later when Rikan sent the ball to Vidar who tried to get a quality shot off but couldn’t, however Peretz launched a scorcher that went off the right post which was then cleared by the defense.
Maccabi’s pressure paid off in the 19’ when Blackman sent a pass to Dasa down the right side which the defensive back fed to Kjartansson who put the ball behind the Kiryat Shemona keeper Itamar Nitzan for a 1:0 lead. In the 27’ the Yellow & Blue almost found their second when Dasa crossed the ball to Micha who in turn sent it to Rikan, but his attempt just went wide off the right post.
Ten minutes later, Vidar left the ball for Battocchio but his laser beam was stopped cold by Nitzan while in the 41’ Vidar turned in the box and launched a curler that Abu Abid was able to clear with his head. However, just as the half was about to come to a close, Ahmed Abed made his way by Babin and scored to draw Kiryat Shemona even at 1:1.
Second Half
Maccabi looked to take the lead early on in half number two and that’s what they did in the 53’ when Micha crossed a beauty of a ball to Blackman in the box who headed it behind Nitzan for a 2:1 advantage. However, two minutes later Kiryat Shemona almost evened up the contest when Dasa’s header to clear a Rian cross had to be caught by an alert Rajikovic.
Ofir Davidzada was introduced for Avi Rikan in the 61’ while 4 minutes later Didier Brusso picked up a 2nd yellow and a red card for stomping on Dor Peretz which left Kiryat Shemona with ten players for the balance of the match. Davidzada passed the ball to Micha in the 70’ and crossed it to Blackman in the box, but his header went over the goal and two minutes later Cruyff made his second substitution when he inserted Eliran Atar in favor of Sheran Yeini.
The Yellow & Blue’s third substitution came in the 81’ when Jose Rodriguez came on for Cristian Battocchio. Maccabi had a chance to score their third but Vidar put the ball right into Nitzan as the match ended in a 2:1 win for the Yellow & Blue.
