Preview
Maccabi traveled to Sammy Ofer stadium for the MD26 ONE ZERO League match against Hapoel Haifa aiming to bounce back from last week’s 2-1 defeat to Hapoel Jerusalem at Bloomfield. The defeat meant that Maccabi will end the regular season in third spot and will not be able to improve their position in the standings regardless of the result in the early Saturday kick-off match against the Haifaites’. Roni Levy’s side are 8th in the table with 29 points and are winless in their last three matches. But since losing to Maccabi in the corresponding fixture Hapoel Haifa only lost three matches to Hapoel Be’ersheva, Maccabi Netanya and Maccabi Haifa.
Maccabi’s coach Aitor Karanka made two changes from last week’s starting line-up as Ofir Davidzada who recovered from his injury returned to the side at left-back with Enric Saborit pushing into the heart of defence. Nir Bitton partnered Saborit as the two central defenders with Andre Geraldes completing the defensive line in-front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Eyal Golasa and Dor Peretz were named by Karanka in the midfield engine room with Gabi Kanichowsky and Parfait Guiagon in wider roles of a four-man midfield. Eran Zahavi led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the veteran marksman partnered Djordje Jovanovic upfront.
On the bench, Karanka, named Or Yitzhak, Dan Glazer, Rares Ilie, Avi Rikan, Yonatan Cohen, Maor Kandil, Shahar Piven and Dor Turgeman.
First Half
Maccabi began the match with pressure on Hapoel Haifa right from the start and came close to score as early as the fourth minute. Parfait Guiagon slid the ball to Djordje Jovanovic whose attempt to lift the ball over Ohad Levita forced the keeper to stretch himself and push the ball out for corner. In the 12th minute Ofir Davidzada’s cross from the left found Gabi Kanichowsky at the far post but the diminutive midfielder couldn’t keep his volley down.
In the 21st minute Maccabi had the ball in the back of the net after Nir Bitton headed Kanichowsky’s corner towards the far post before Jovanovic sent a powerful volley home. But the goal was disallowed after the linesman spotted the Serbian forward in an offside position, a decision which was confirmed by VAR as well. A last gasp Enric Saborit tackle four minutes later prevented Alon Turgeman from breaking into the area after being put through by Hanan Mamman.
Right on the half hour mark Eran Zahavi made his first threat on goal as he received the ball from Davidzada inside the area, turned his defender and snapped a shot which was saved by Levita. Three minutes later Maccabi took the lead as Bitton rose high to meet Kanichowsky’s corner and headed the ball home for his first goal in Maccabi’s colors.
In the 40th minute Haifa’s defence struggled to clear a Jovanovic chip which was aimed at Kanichowsky near the goalmouth, but as the ball fell to Dor Peretz his attempt of a volley sailed high. Muhammad Kamara was the first player to be shown a yellow card by referee Aviad Shiloah while Liran Sardal entered his book for a foul on Eyal Golasa shortly after.
On the stroke of halftime, Haifa came close to level the score as Guy Mizrahi sent a dangerous cross from the right but Bitton blocked Turgeman’s volley for a corner before Daniel Peretz would be required to make a save.
Second Half
With no changes to personnel, the second half began where the first one left off as Maccabi tried scoring a second. In the opening minutes, Jovanovic teed-up Zahavi who sent his effort over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Guiagon, dribbled into the area from the left leaving two defenders behind him before the Ivorian fired his effort against the side netting.
Maccabi were reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute after Bitton was shown a straight red card for a high tackle on Kamara leaving to team with a man down for the reminder of the match. Aitor Karanka reacted instantly as Shahar Piven was introduced for Kanichowsky joining Saborit at the heart of defence.
In the 64th minute Haifa exploited their numerical advantage as two of their substitutes which were introduced moments earlier combined for the equalizer. Tomer Yossefi picked Eliel Peretz near the edge of the area before the former Maccabi midfielder sent an accurate low drive which bounced beyond the reach of Peretz to level the score.
Maccabi’s custodian was positioned well to deny another Haifa substitute, Camejy Antoine from heading the hosts into the lead in the 69th minute. Two minutes later Karanka made a double substitution as Maor Kandil came in for Andre Geraldes sat right back while Zahavi bowed out and was replaced by Yonatan Cohen.
Guiagon flashed a shot which deflected out for a corner while at the opposite end Kamara blasted his effort which narrowly cleared Peretz’ crossbar.
Karanka made his two final changes on 83 minute as Golasa and Jovanovic were replaced by Dan Biton and Dor Turgeman for the closing stages.
The impact of Karanka’s substitutes was almost instant as Turgeman was fouled near the touchline before Biton whipped in the free kick. Saborit rose high above Haifa’s defence to meet Biton’s cross but the Spanish defender guided his header wide. Maccabi tried desperately to grab a late winner as Turgeman kept on looking dangerous going forward, but Haifa managed to hang on and salvage the point.
With Be’ersheva hosting Kiryat Shmona on Sunday and Maccabi Haifa playing Hapoel Tel Aviv at Bloomfield on Monday – Maccabi will be hoping that results will go in there favor in order not to lose touch with the leading duo.
