Preview
Maccabi arrived at Sammy Ofer stadium on the back of two winless matches aiming to get their title race back on track as they face Hapoel Haifa on MD32 of the WINNER League.
The 1-1 draw against Maccabi Haifa at Bloomfield which was followed by the 3-1 defeat to Beitar Jerusalem at Teddy, left Maccabi with 67 points, three behind leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva. With five matches still left to play, Zarko Lazetic’s side will aim to return to winning ways and increase the pressure on Be’ersheva that play at Netanya before traveling to Bloomfield a week later.
The Serbian coach made several changes to the side that lost to Beitar as Idan Nachmias and Stav Lemkin replaced Tyrese Asante and Raz Shlomo at right-back and center-back respectively. Gabi Kanichowsky returned to the engine room at the expense of Issouf Sissokho to join Joris van Overeem and Dor Peretz as Maccabi’s midfield trio. Osher Davida, who scored Maccabi’s consolation goal minutes after coming off the bench at Teddy, also returned to the starting line-up and started on the wing with Weslley Patati on the opposite flank. Dor Turgeman, returned to his role as a striker where he scored 13 league goals and 17 in all competitions.
On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Tyrese Asante, Eran Zahavi, Raz Shlomo, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada, Issouf Sissokho and Ido Shahar.
First Half
Backed by around 5000 travelling fans who made the way to Sammy Ofer and gave their vocal support, Maccabi began the match with the intention of scoring an early goal. Three minutes after the start Maccabi could have done exactly that as Dor Malul’s attempt of a clearance was intercepted by Joris van Overeem deep inside Haifa territory as he fed Dor Peretz. The Maccabi captain on the night, fired a low drive which beat Haifa’s keeper Niv Antman but struck the base of the post. At the opposite end two minutes later, Dor Hugi forced Simon Sluga to punch his initial shot before saving the rebound as well. In the 9th minute however Itamar Noy picked Noam Ben Harush unmarked down the left of Maccabi’s penalty box. The left back sent a shot come cross which was parried by Sluga only for Hugi to react first and poke the ball home to put the hosts in front.
Four minutes later van Overeem fed Dor Turgeman on the edge of the area, but the 21-year-old striker sent his snap-shot wide of the target.
It took Maccabi 13 minutes from the moment they conceded to get back on level terms. Peretz found Osher Davida down the right before the winger slipped a clever pass to Gabi Kanichowsky. The diminutive midfielder flicked the ball with one touch towards goal, but Antman managed to save yet could do nothing to prevent Weslley Patati from tapping in the equalizer from point blank range. Maccabi were denied a penalty on 25 as Patati sent Dor Turgeman racing into the box before the striker took the ball around Antman. Turgeman went down as his foot got caught under Antman’s attempt of a save but with no reaction from referee David Fuxman. On the brink of halftime Hugi found himself behind Maccabi’s defense with only Sluga to beat, but Maccabi’s Croatian keeper charged off his line to block. A minute later Davida was sent racing with Fernand Mayembo as the pacey winger managed to strip the Haifa defender of the ball before his effort was blocked. Nemanja Stojic blocked another Hugi shot before Fuxman blew his whistle for halftime.
Second Half
With no changes to either side at halftime the second half began just like the first one as Hugi came close to restore Haifa’s lead but sent his shot wide of the post. Orel Dgani pulled Turgeman down inside the center circle when the Maccabi forward was clear through but once again Fuxman’s whistle remained silent.=
A minute after the hour mark Maccabi completed the comeback. Haifa’s defense struggled to clear a corner as the ball fell to Kanichowsky who broke into the area and cut the ball for Peretz. The 29-year-old captain side footed home to give Maccabi a 2-1 lead. Maccabi’s blitz continued as two minutes later Idan Nachmias was given the time and space down the right to curl in a pinpoint cross into the area. Nachmias’ cross picked Peretz who rose high and sent his header past Antman for his second and Maccabi’s third. VAR inspected a potential offside but a nervous two minutes ended with the goal approved and a 3-1 lead confirmed. In the 73rd minute Lazetic made a double substitution as Peretz was given a standing ovation as he was replaced by Issouf Sissokho while Eran Zahavi came on for Turgeman.
Ten minutes later a Davida corner reached Patati who skipped past his man and curled a dipping shot which landed on the roof of the net. This was the final contribution of the duo as Lazetic made two more changes introducing Henry Addo and Elad Madmon for the final seven minutes. Nachmias got his standing ovation as he was replaced by Tyrese Asante in the 90th minute. Seconds later Roy Revivo came close to increase Maccabi’s lead even further as he was teed-up by Madmon but managed to guide his snap-shot wide of the post. Inside injury time Maccabi came close again as Madmon set up Zahavi with a pinpoint cross only for Antman to stretch himself and deny the veteran marksman. The full-time whistle confirmed Maccabi’s 21st victory as Be’ersheva’s three-point-lead was temporarily erased at least for 24 hours as they face Maccabi Netanya. Maccabi will now have nine days to prepare for the top of the table clash at Bloomfield.
