Preview
Maccabi arrived at Doha stadium for the MD5 Winner League match against Bnei Sakhnin aiming to maintain their 100% league record. Having won all four league matches, Zarko Lazetic will try and guide his charges to their fifth victory in succession something which wasn’t achieved since the 93/94 season.
Boosted by Thursday’s 0-0 draw away to PAOK in the Europa League, Maccabi’s coach made several changes to his side. Roi Mishpati, whose man of the match performance at the Toumba stadium helped Maccabi ear a point, kept his place in goal. Heitor returned to the starting line up to partner Ali Camara as the two central defenders in front of Mishpati. Tyrese Asante shook off the shoulder injury he picked in Thessaloniki to keep his place on the right while Denny Gropper replaced the suspended Roy Revivo at left back.
Kristijan Belic was named by Lazetic in the anchorman role with Ido Shahar joining the Belgian born Serbian midfielder in the engine room. Elad Madmon completed the Maccabi midfield trio ahead of Shahar and Belic in a more attacking role. Helio Varela made his debut Maccabi start on the left with Sagiv Jehezkel on the opposite right flank. Dor Peretz, who scored five league goals and seven in all competitions, led the team out with the captain’s armband as well as the spearheading the attack.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Yoav Gerafi, L:azetic named Kervin Andrade, Raz Shlomo, Noam Ben Harosh, Ben Lederman, Issouf Sissokho, Itamar Noy, Saied Abu Farchi and Osher Davida all waiting for their chance to make an impact.
First Half
Backed by 1200 travelling fans, Maccabi started the match determined to score an early goal. Five minutes from the start Elad Madmon spun in the box to lose his defender before unleashing a thunderous shot which rattled the crossbar. Maccabi continued to dominate as a rough Glid Otanga tackle on Ido Shahar just inside Maccabi’s half in the 15th minute earned the Sakhnin midfielder a yellow card. Referee Ohad Asulin was then called by the VAR to the screen before changing his initial decision to cancel the booking and send Otanga off with a red card. Maccabi came close to exploit their numerical advantage as three minutes later Sakhnin’s defense cleared the ball into the path of Helio Varela whose volley from the edge of the area was punched away by goalkeeper Mohamad Abu Nil. A well drilled free kick shortly after almost caught Sakhnin’s defense by surprise as Kristijan Belic received the ball in the box but his shot was blocked by a defender near the goalmouth.
Just before the half hour mark as Maccabi tried furrociosuly to score, Sakhnin survived three threats on goal in one attack. First it was an Ido Shahar shot which struck the post, then Varela had an effort blocked before Heitor’s close range header was saved by Abu Nil’s feet for a corner. A Maccabi counter attack on 34 saw Madmon slip the ball to Varela who cut onto his right but had his effort blocked once again.
Second Half
Lazetic made one change at the restart as he introduced Kervin Andrade for Denny Gropper pushing Varela to left back. As Maccabi didn’t cause any threat on Sakhnin’s goal, Lazetic made his second substitution a minute after the hour mark as Varela was replaced by Osher Davida.
In the 69th minute Roi Mishpati was called into action as Maccabi’s keeper needed to dive and catch Jubayer Bushnak’s half volley. Lazetic was ready to make another double change and introduce Itamar Noy and Saied Abu Farchi for Shahar and Madmon. But a foul of Andrade on Sakhnin’s Ibrahima Drami saw Asulin reach out for his back pocket and pull out the red card. But once again Asulin was called to the screen, reversed his decision and changed Andrade’s red card with a yellow.
Maccabi placed Sakhnin’s goal under siege but none of their efforts actually troubled Abu Nil until deep inside injury time Sagiv Jehezkel sent a cross into the back post. Tyrese Asnate rose high to head the ball but was taken out by the keeper as Asulin didn’t hesitate and awarded a penalty. Abu Nil who was booked earlier for time wasting was shown a yellow card and received his marching orders. With no more substitutions left Iad Abu Abid picked the keepers jersey and stood in goal. But Jehezkel saw his spot kick strike the base of the post to add further drama to thus match.
