After suffering their second league defeat of the season, losing 2-0 at Sammy Ofer, Matan Baltaxa, faced the media and said: “We were not surprised by the pressure Maccabi Haifa placed on us. We played with fire in the opening minutes and paid for it. When you can concede an early goal against Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer you pay for it. We are not looking at our opponents but only focus on ourselves and know we must improve and look better.”

The 28-year-old defender who joined Maccabi during the January transfer window, said: “We spoke about this game in advance and know its’ important, but we didn’t have the best of starts to the match and paid the price.” Answering criticism at such an uncoordinated defense, Baltaxa responded: “To have coordination in defense takes time, but these are all excuses, when you walk onto the pitch one has to forget about everything and aim for a victory – but we didn’t succeed. The points we dropped against Maccabi Haifa are important but if we will manage to do our job in the future we will win the title.”

Two weeks after the Toto Cup Final victory, Maccabi arrived at the Sammy Ofer stadium for another encounter against Maccabi Haifa this time for the MD20 league match. Robbie Keane’s side that suffered their only defeat in the league at home to Haifa last month, have a four-point lead at the top of the table with 46 from 19 matches having won 14 and drawn 4. Haifa on the other hand suffered the second league defeat away to Be’ersheva last week and are second in the table with 42 having won 13, drawn four and losing twice. The two teams are neck and neck in terms of goals as well with both sides conceded 15 so far. In addition to the home advantage, Haifa scored three goals more (43) while Maccabi scored (40) a fact which could be changed at the end of the contest.

After resting several players against Hapoel Jerusalem last week, Keane made a few changes to his side. New signing Raz Shlomo was handed his Maccabi debut as the 24-year-old partnered Derrick Luckassen and Matan Baltaxa as the three central defenders. Avishai Cohen at right wing-back and Roy Revivo at the opposite left flank, completed Maccabi’s defensive line in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Keane returned to the midfield trio that served him so well this season with Joris van Overeem joined by Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz. Dor Turgeman who scored against Hapoel Jerusalem partnered Eran Zahavi who returned to the side after a much-needed rest to lead the line and the team out with the captain’s armband.

On the bench, Keane named another new signing Yonas Malede, as the 24 year-old forward was amongst the substitutes together with Dan Biton, Yonatan Cohen, Ofir Davidzada, Ido Shahar, Kiko Bondoso, Eden Kartzev and Osher Davida.

First Half

Shortly after kickoff, a pyrotechnics display by both sets of fans lit the stadium up but the match couldn’t have started any worse for Maccabi as they found themselves a goal behind after three minutes. Sean Goldberg rose high to meet Kenny Saief’s free kick with a powerful header forcing Roi Mishpati to make a reflex save. But Lorenzo Simic reacted first and flicked the rebound into the roof of the net to put the hosts in front. Four minutes later Dor Peretz found Roy Revivo unmarked in the penalty area before his square ball across the face of goal was directed at Eran Zahavi and Dor Turgeman. But Saief managed to stick his boot and clear from the goalmouth before either forward could reach the cross and tap it home.

Haifa almost doubled their lead in the 15^th minute as a long Shareef Keouf clearance eluded Matan Baltaxa allowing Anan Khalaili a shot on goal. Mishpati charged off his line to save before Derrick Luckassen cleared Gadi Kinda’s attempt to fire in the rebound.

Seven minutes later however, a mix-up in Maccabi’s defense saw Dor Peretz put Luckassen under pressure inside the box before Kinda stole the ball and fed Din David. The Haifa forward managed to round Mishpati before burying the ball in the net for Haifa’s second. Mishpati was the busier keeper of the two as he was forced to full stretch on 25 to keep out Anan Khalaili’s powerful drive. A Revivo free kick three minutes after the half hour mark reached Raz Shlomo inside the penalty area, but his cross landed on the roof of Keouf’s net. Maccabi dominated possession A minute later Zahavi released Turgeman with a clever flick, but Goldberg timed his tackle to perfection and denied the young forward from snapping a shot.

Zahavi had a shot on goal in the 37th minute but his left foot effort from the edge of the area rolled to the wrong side of Keouf’s post. Maccabi continued to press forward as Peretz blasted a right foot shot over the crossbar a minute later. On the stroke of halftime Gabi Kanichowsky fed Turgeman who shrugged off two defenders and pulled the trigger only for his shot to crash against the side netting.

Zahavi had a shot on goal in the 37th minute but his left foot effort from the edge of the area rolled to the wrong side of Keouf’s post. Maccabi continued to press forward as Peretz blasted a right foot shot over the crossbar a minute later. On the stroke of halftime Gabi Kanichowsky fed Turgeman who shrugged off two defenders and pulled the trigger only for his shot to crash against the side netting.

Inside injury time Haifa had the ball in the back of Mishpati’s net for the third time after Khalaili was sent running down the left flank. Khalaili’s cut back was side footed in by David but luckily for Maccabi the goal was disallowed for offside as the halftime whistle sent Keane’s charges into the dressing room trailing by only two goals.

Second Half

With no changes at the restart, Keane made his first substitution just before the hour mark as he shuffled his side by introducing Dan Biton and Osher Davida for Joris van Overeem and Avishai Cohen. Within two minutes of his introduction Biton carried the ball for a counter-attack before being fouled by Saief who was consequently booked. Biton curled the free kick into the box, but Turgeman and the rest of the Maccabi players could not get a touch allowing Keouf to catch the ball on his line.

Matan Balta saw yellow for a tackle on Saief on 75 while three minutes later Maccabi reached their best chance to cut the deficit. Davida charged down the right and picked Turgeman in the middle of the area, but the young forward dragged his shot wide. Keane made a third change as Yonas Malede replaced Baltaxa to make his Maccabi debut for the final 9 minutes. Davida came close as he tried his luck with a curling left foot shot on 88 but Keouf managed to push the dangerous effort out. Despite six minutes of added time Maccabi couldn’t find an opening as the final whistle confirmed it wasn’t going to be their day.

 

Gabi Kanichowsky is enjoying a good run of form on the pitch which allows him to put aside the personal tragedy he encountered following the loss of his two close friends who were both killed in action last month.

Ahead of the top of the table clash against Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer, Kanichowsky, faced the media and said: “There is always excitement when we get to this stadium especially with such a big rivalry at stake. One has to remember that this is just another match on our way to the target.”

Kanichowsky, who scored the winning goal in Maccabi’s victory over Hapoel Jerusalem last week, remained with his feet on the ground as he admitted: “The match against Hapoel Jeruasem was played for the same three point, which is exactly the situation now. Obviously there is a rivalry between the two clubs as we are fighting with them for the league title. There is pressure and excitement maybe more than any other game. But at the same time, we are playing for the same three points.”

On how he has been dealing with his personal loss, Kanichowsky, revealed: “It is a not an easy period of time for so many: Everyone in this country is encountering difficult times and many challenges right now. I devoted this goal to my friends who were like brothers to me and I am playing mostly for their families and myself. When I walk on the pitch I tend to focus on the reason why we are actually playing. My wife told me before the last game to try and use these 90 minutes as some sort of a break – to detach myself and do something I love. At the end of the day when I walk on the pitch it is like the best therapy for me and the most natural place for every footballer. Every player would like to be on the pitch and I am delighted that at the moment I am doing it pretty well.”

Monday’s league encounter at Sammy Ofer will be the 177^th league match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa in what has become the most played league fixture in the Israeli top-flight.

Maccabi won 72 of these matches, Haifa won 52, while 52 other matches ended in a draw while the total goal tally currently stands on 255-220.

Since Haifa switched from Kiryat Eliezer to Sammy Ofer both sides met each other in the league on 17 occasions. Maccabi won 8, lost 3 and 6 other matches were drawn with a goal tally of 29-21.

Maccabi won 8 of the last 10 league matches which were played in the second league round while the other two ended in a draw and a defeat.

Amongst those second-round matches, are the memorable:

Last season’s 3-0 win at Bloomfield: Eran Zahavi (2), Parfait Guiagon.

The dramatic 4-3 victory in the 2019/20 season at Sammy Ofer.

The 3-1 victory in the 2017/18 season when Vidar Kjaratansson scoring after 13 seconds.

The first encounter between the sides at Sammy Ofer in 2014/15 with Eran Zahavi scoring the only goal of the game.

Monday’s match will be the first time in history Maccabi faces Haifa three times in less than a month (26 days). In the 2015/16 season Maccabi played Haifa three times in the space of 37 days – a 0-0 draw at Haifa in the Playoff, a 6-0 win in the corresponding fixture at Bloomfield which was followed by a 0-1 defeat in the Stated Cup Final at Teddy stadium.

Maccabi played the same opponent three times in less than a month on 16 occasions. In 2015 Maccabi played Ironi Kiryat Shmona three times in the space 16 days. A 0-0 draw in the league was followed by the 1^st leg of the State Cup Quarter Final (1-1) while seven days later Maccabi won the return leg 3-0 on the way to winning the Cup in the historic treble season.

After a busy month that began with a goal and an assist in the 4-1 victory away to Ashdod, ended with a winning goal against Hapoel Jerusalem at Bloomfield, you voted for Gabi Kanichowsky as the KOPELL Group sponsored Maccabi Player of the Month of January.

The diminutive midfielder received most of your votes but was facing tough competition from Dor Turgeman who impressed with five goals to his name including a Tel Aviv derby brace.

Voted for Kanichowsky? Now comes the part you have been waiting for!

At 17:00 on Sunday (Today) whoever voted for Kanichowsky should receive a text message containing the prize question. The first person to send a correct answer will receive a signed shirt by Maccabi’s Player of the Month, Gabi Kanichowsky, as well as an official Maccabi scarf.