Preview
Thirty-six days of an imposed break due to the war with Iran came to an end as Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to league action for the WINNER League MD25 match away to Hapoel Haifa.
Ronny Deila’s charges that are currently third in the table with 46 points, arrived as Sammy Ofer stadium to play the match which was rescheduled from February 28th. On the penultimate match of the regular season, Maccabi’s task is clear – beating Hapoel Haifa and narrowing the gap from second place Beitar Jerusalem and leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva that arrive at Bloomfield next week.
Ofek Melika who kept two clean sheets with Israel’s U-21’s during the international break made his 20th appearance in goal. Ali Camara and Tyrese Asante lined-up as the two central defenders in front of Melika with Roy Revivo named at left back. Noam Ben Harush on the right completed Maccabi’s defensive line as he and Itamar Noy faced their former club and were honored by the host club before kickoff. Maccabi’s top goal scorers Ido Shahar (9) and Dor Peretz (10), completed Maccabi’s midfield trio. Osher Davida on one wing and Helio Varela on the other supplied the width to Deila’s team with Saied Abu Farchi leading the line.
Deila, who was missing Emir Sahiti, Heitor dos Santos, Kervin Andrade and Kristijan Belic, named Roi Mishpati, Sagiv Jehezkel, Raz Shlomo, Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon, Ben Lederman, Itai Ben Hemo, Lotem Asres and Ilay Ben Simon on the substitutes bench.
First Half
Infront of an empty stadium and with only 150 people present including both teams, the hosts came close to to draw first blood in the opening minute after Alon Turgeman exploited a mistake by Tyrese Asante to charge forward but Maccabi’s defense recovered in time.
In the the sixth minute. Maccabi came even closer to score as Noam Ben Harush’s cross from the right found Saied Abu Farchi whose powerful header was saved by Yoav Gerafi. Heio Varela pounced on the rebound and sent a half volley towards goal which Gerafi punched away once again.
The hosts enjoyed a decent spell yet were unable to create any clear chances, but in the 24th minute Gerafi rescued them from conceding. Ido Shahar carved Haifa’s defense open as he released Dor Peretz into the box before Maccabi’s captain burst forward but was equaled by Gerafi before Varela curled the ball wide. Two minutes later the deadlock was finally broken as Ivan Kricak just managed to clear from the goalmouth. before Ali Camara could nod home. Haifa’s defense struggled to clear the danger before Osher Davida’s effort was initially saved by Gerafi who could do nothing to keep out Peretz from sweeping the rebound home.
Peretz continued to look dangerous as six minutes after the half hour mark Peretz almost doubled Maccabi’s lead as his shot from the edge of the area struck the base of the post. Two minutes later Maccabi’s other top scorer got his name on the scoresheet as Roy Revivo curled a pinpoint cross into the path of Shahar. The diminutive 24-year-old midfielder then flicked with his head to score his 10th league goal and 14 in all competitions.
Seconds after the fourth official raised his sign for two minutes of added time, Maccabi increased their lead to three with a clinical counter attack. Itamar Noy released the ball out of defense with a pass to Saied Abu Farchi who was in the center circle. Abu Farchi released Shahar who burst forward and passed to Peretz who released Davida. The pacey winger curled a left foot shot which Gerafi couldn’t keep out.
Second Half
Maccabi began the second half where they left off and almost increase their lead on 52. Shahar burst through the middle and saw his shot struck the post and hit Gerafi who managed to save Davida’s headed rebound. Two minutes later however Haifa cut the deficit as Turgeman was released before squeezing a low drive which beat Ofek Melika at the near post to make it 3-1. Revivo tried his luck with a thunderbolt from the edge of the area in the 63rd minute which was punched away by Gerafi who also managed to deny Varela three minutes later.
Deila made a double substitution in the 77th minute as Raz Shlomo replaced Ben Harush while Sagiv Jehezkel came on for Davida. Shlomo partnered Camara at the heart of defense with Tyrese Asante moving to the right back role. In the 83rd minute, Jehezkel who received the ball from Shahar cut the ball back for Varela who turned and fired a right foot shot into the top corner for the fourth. This was Varela’s final contribution on the night as Deila made three more changes a minute later with Varela, Noy, and Abu Farchi bowing out as Ben Lederman, Elad Madmon and Yonas Malede coming on for the closing stages.
Yoav Mizrahi’s full time whistle ended the contest as Maccabi now have a week before hosting Be’ersheva at Bloomfield.
