Raz Shlomo pulled the save of the season as a goalmouth clearance from a Din David shot deep into the second half helped Maccabi to a 1-1 draw against Maccabi Haifa.

The 25-year-old Israeli international who scored a single league goal was seen celebrating after hooking the ball which was making its way in and denied Maccabi a defeat. “The clearance from Din David’s shot? It is the same feeling as Eran (Zahavi) and Dor (Turgeman) score a goal” he said before explaining. “I saw Din stop the ball with his first touch and fortunately he didn’t shoot it first time, so I simply did what I was supposed to do.”

After Maccabi dropped two points and Hapoel Be’ersheva beat next week’s opponents, Beitar Jerusalem, Zarko Lazetic’s side conceded top spot and dropped to second on goal difference. With six matches left to play, Shlomo remained confident: “There is still a long way to go before the championship is decided, we have a very tough Playoff, and this season has proven that teams will drop points so it will go to the wire. Be’ersheva are an excellent side especially at home which was proven once again as they beat a very good side in Beitar, so we will have to win points in every game we have. We also have a match left against Be’ersheva here at Bloomfield and I have no doubt that it will be tough all the way to the end.”

On conceding top spot and dropping to second, Shlomo added: “As far as I am concerned, I wouldn’t mind being in the second place for the rest of the season, as long as we will finish top on the final day. It has no importance whatsoever at this stage. We arrive at every match in this Playoff ready to win the win the points, because the matches are tough. We will try collect the points against Beitar at Teddy at a match which will be far from easy but still we will have to do what we know.”

Shlomo, who lost his place earlier this season but returned to the heart of defense and is one match away from playing his 40th match in all competitions this season, reflected: “I felt that I wasn’t playing my best football and someone else was given a chance. When things work out there is no reason to change” he added on Maccabi’s recent run of six unbeaten matches: “This may have happened in the past month so maybe I deserved to sit out for a month and in the end I think it only served me well.”

Eran Zahavi scored his 7th league goal of the season but that wasn’t to help Maccabi beat Maccabi Haifa as the match at Bloomfield stadium ended in a 1-1 draw. 28,429 Maccabi fans packed Bloomfield as Zahavi paid tribute after the match: “I must compliment the fans who filled the stadium and created and amazing atmosphere” Zahavi said. “Teams will drop points in the Playoff as all the matches are really tough. We deserved to win yet we didn’t do it” before explaining: “We deserved it for the way in which we played and for the fans so at least we could be optimistic with our form.” The draw saw Maccabi concede top spot to Hapoel Be’ersheva on goal difference still left the veteran skipper adamant: With six matches still left to play, Zahavi insisted: “The journey is still long as we have 6 matches to play and every one of them is a cup final. I believe that in the end we will do what we need to do.”

On the goal he scored, his 202nd in Maccabi’s colors, Zahavi said: “Every goal I score excites me so after a complex spell I had I am just delighted to score – the only shame is that it didn’t give us 3 points like last week. I believe in the team and believe in us. I take the positive things from tonight and the less positive ones I put aside.”

Zahavi who made his 38th appearance this season in all competitions, added: “I am delighted to be on the pitch for as long as I can. We played against a tough opponent who gave us a fight as matches like this are never easy and are very tough. We will try and do our jobs and sum things up at the end of the season.”

On his collaboration with Dor Turgeman upfront, Zahavi added: “We did that on several occasions and we have a good partnership together which we also showed last season. The coach will decide when that will happen. It could have been more successful if we would have scored today but we didn’t and we will move forward”

Preview

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD30 WINNER League match against third place Maccabi Haifa with a two-point-lead at the top of the table. After 29 league matches, Zarko Lazetic’s side scored the same number of goals as their number of points (66) and conceded 29 goals.

Maccabi’s 20th victory of the season, a convincing 4-1 win over Maccabi Netanya, led Lazetic to minimal changes to his starting line-up. Stav Lemkin replaced the suspended Nemanja Stojic to partner Raz Shlomo as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Simon Sluga. Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s back four. Issouf Sissokho kept his place as the anchorman with Joris van Overeem and Dor Peretz completing Maccabi’s midfield trio. Osher Davida who scored a goal and set up one more against Netanya was named on one wing with Weslley Patati on the opposite flank. Eran Zahavi who scored a brace against Netanya kept his place upfront as the 37-year-old marksman who scored six goals this season is seeking to extend his tally.

On the bench Lazetic named, goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Avishay Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Gabi Kanichowsky, Elad Madmon, Ofir Davidzada, Hishm Layous and Ido Shahar.

Prior to kickoff Maccabi held a ceremony to mark the contribution of goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum who made 110 appearances in 8 seasons at the club winning 11 titles (3 championships, 1 State Cup, 4 Toto Cups and 3 Super Cups).

First Half

Boosted by an entire stadium filled with only Maccabi due to the punishment Maccabi Haifa were carrying the hosts began the match with a spring in their step. With less than two minutes on the clock Osher Davida was fouled by a Haifa defender as Weslley  Patati stepped up to whip in a cross which flashed just wide of the post. A Patati free kick in the 11th minute from the opposite flank saw Eran Zahavi rise above Haifa’s defense but guide his header over the crossbar. Maccabi continued to dominate as two minutes later Dor Peretz sent a square ball across the face of goal but Joris van Overeem couldn’t connect. 

Davida tried his luck with a long range left foot effort which narrowly missed the top corner on 23. Roy Revivo carved Haifa’s defense with a perfect pass to release Zahavi but the veteran striker sent his shot wide of the post. Within a minute Peretz teed up Davida but his left foot effort was directed straight at Shareef Keouf. In the 27th minute Maccabi struck the woodwork twice as Revivo’s header bounced off the post before Issouf Sissokho sent a dipping cross which beat Keouf but came off the crossbar.

A slick Maccabi attack ripped through Haifa’s defense on the brink of halftime as Van Overeem released Peretz whose shot was equalled by Keouf. Seconds later Davida fired a shot from inside the area that once again sailed agonisingly wide.

Second Half

Six minutes after the restart the deadlock was finally broken as Zahavi picked the ball near the corner of the area before burying a powerful right foot shot in the bottom far corner. In the 59th minute Bloomfield was silenced as Xander Severina was given the time and space in Maccabi’s penalty area before firing a deadly left foot shot that beat Simon Sluga to level the score. 

Lazetic made a triple substitution in the 69th minute as Idan Nachmias replaced Stav Lemkin, Gabi Kanichowsky came on for Joris van Overeem while Dor Turgeman stepped in for Davida. Kanichowsky could have scored with his first touch as he was released by Revivo but a last gasp tackle by Abdoulaye Seck denied the diminutive midfielder before he could pull the trigger. In the 77th minute a spectacular Raz Shlomo goalmouth clearance denied Din David what seemed like a definite Haifa goal.