Michael Zandberg’s side were wishing to build on the 3-1 victory over Ramat Hasharon on the opening day of the season, hosted Hapoel Hadera at Ness Ziona. But Zandberg found his side trailing to an 11th minute Roi Peretz penalty after Michael Merenstein was judged to have fouled Almog Yamaran in the box.
Maccabi came close to go level two minutes later as a Yeuda Balay counter attack reached Agam Hanoon who couldn’t connect onto the cross. Ori Azu tried his luck with a shot from outside the area in the 21st minute as Maccabi continued to look dangerous.
Seven minutes later, Maccabi’s keeper, Barak Eltagar, was shown the red card after fouling an opponent who was clear on goal. Zandberg was forced to make changes replacing a field player with a keeper as Shalev Saadia came on for Lior Mashansky. In the 37th minute Balay crossed to Mermelstein whose shot from inside the area was caught by Hadera’s keeper Shahar Mark.
Zandberg made two more changes after the interval as Mohamad Taha and Yoav Flaishman replaced Azu and Hanoon at the restart.Saied Abu Farchi came close to level the score on 55 as he headed a Balay cross over the crossbar.
In the 90th minute however, Merenstein made amends for causing the penalty as he rose high above Hadera’s defenders to meet Balay’s corner which he headed in off the post to level the score.After returning from the international break, Maccabi’s next match will see them travel to Hapoel Ra’anana on September 19th.Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shachar’: Barak Eltagar (sent off 28), Dor Goldstein (Noam Schwartz 57), Michael Merenstein, Itay Malma, Amit Kredi, Lior Mashansky (Shalev Sea’diya 28), Yeuda Balay, Ido Oli (Sali Fahima 78), Saied Abu Farchi, Ori Azu (Mohamad Taha 46), Agam Hanoon (Yoav Flaishman 46).
