Pre Match
Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at the Sammy Ofer stadium ranked fourth in the table with 25 points from 15 matches and 10 points behind second place Maccabi Haifa. An extra ordinary statistic of a solitary defeat in the last 33 league encounters between the sides and an unbeaten run of 18 matches in succession – is something Maccabi brought with them. But history was left at the stadium’s gates for one of the biggest matches of the Israeli footballing calendar.
Mladen Krstajic who guided Maccabi as coach to a State Cup victory over Hapoel Marmorek, a 1-1 draw in the league against Bnei Sakhnin followed by a 2-1 victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva last week, was facing his first big match since his appointment at Maccabi last month.
The Serbian coach made a couple of changes from the side which beat Petah Tikva as he stuck with a similar formation naming Enric Saborit, Idan Nachmias and Matan Baltaxa as the three central defenders in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Maor Kandil was handed a rare start as the right wing-back at the expense of Andre Geraldes while Ofir Davidzada was named on the opposite flank. Dan Glazer led the team out with the captain’s armband as the combative midfielder lined-up alongside Eden Shamir in the midfield engine room. Eylon Almog who set-up two goals against Petah Tikva kept his place in the side, as did Matan Hozez and Eduardo Guerrero who led the attack.
Dan Biton who recovered from illness and Osama Khalaila who completed his one-match touchline-ban returned to the squad and were named amongst the substitutes waiting for their chance alongside Andre Geraldes, Brandley Kuwas, Stipe Perica, Tal Ben Chaim, Gabi Kanichowsky, Eyal Golasa and Daniel Tenenbaum.
First Half
The electric atmosphere didn’t seem to faze Maccabi as Mladen Krstajic’s charges who were supported by a vocal 4000 traveling fans, began the match with pressure on Haifa right from the off. Eduardo Guerrero won a corner in the opening minute and as Matan Hozez whipped the ball into the path of Eden Shamir, it came off the head of Dolev Haziza to beat his own keeper and put Maccabi in front. Shamir was the first player to be booked by referee Liran Liani in the 4th minute and Enric Saborit followed eight minutes later as tempers seemed to flair.
In the 15th minute however Shamir didn’t require assistance from any Haifa player as he won the ball on the edge of the opposition’s penalty area, turned and unleashed a thunderbolt that rocketed into the top corner to double Maccabi’s lead.
Haifa began to show their qualities from set pieces as Shaun Goldberg headed an Omer Atzili free kick that beat Daniel Peretz but struck the post in the 20th minute. Matan Baltaxa was then forced to a goalmouth clearance in order to keep out Bogdan Planjic’s rebound and maintain Maccabi’s two goal lead.
With the hosts enjoying most of the possession, Maccabi continued to look dangerous on counter attacks. In the 25th minute a clever Maor Kandil pass released Hozez whose square ball towards Eduardo Guerrero saw the Panamanian forward flick the ball but force Josh Cohen to a spectacular save. Peretz was drawn into the action on the half hour mark as he punched out an Ali Mohamed volley following another Haifa free kick that was initially blocked. Maccabi’s defence marshalled by Idan Nachmias, Matan Bamtaxa and Saborit managed to hang on to their lead despite Haifa’s pressure towards the end of the half.
Second Half
With no changes to either side at the break, both teams emerged after the interval for another action packed 45 minutes. Mohamad Abu Fani blasted a shot that sailed over Peretz’s crossbar on 47 before the Maccabi custodian needed a double save to deny Dein David shortly after.
Eylon Almog limped off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Gabi Kanichowsky in the 55th minute. Haifa had the ball in the back of the net on 63 as David slid the ball past Peretz only to be denied by the offside flag. Krstajic reacted instantly with a double change as Stipe Perica and Tal Ben Chaim replaced Guerrero and Hozez.
Having changed all his forward line, Krstajic was now forced to make changes at the back as Matan Baltaxa was stretchered off in the 73rd minute with an injury and was about to be replaced by Andre Geraldes. But as the Portuguese defender waited on the side-lines for the nod to get in, Ben Chaim was fouled by Ryan Strain and Liani awarded Maccabi a spot kick. VAR intervened and cancelled Liani’s initial decision and awarded Maccabi a free kick on the edge of the area which Kanichowsky fired straight at the keeper.
Boosted by the fact the penalty was cancelled, the Haifaites got back in the game almost instantly. Substitute Godsway Donyoh fed Tjaronn Cherry who sent a low shot past Peretz to cut the deficit on 77. Within two minutes Haifa were back on level terms as Omer Atzili released Donyoh into the area as he shrugged off a Nachmias challenge before scoring Haifa’s second to the delight of the home fans.
In the 87th minute Haifa completed their comeback as Shamir fell injured inside the area before Cherry’s chip released Atzili whose square ball was turned in by David to make it 3-2.
Despite seven minutes of added time, Maccabi couldn’t find a breakthrough as Haifa managed to hang onto their lead until the final whistle ended the encounter and the unbeaten run.
