Preview
After an indifferent start to the Playoffs which saw Maccabi Tel Aviv fail to register a victory in the opening two matches against Bnei Sakhnin and Maccabi Netanya, the Yellows could not have asked for a bigger fixture to return to winning ways. Currently ranked third in the table with 55 points from 28 matches, Maccabi’s unbeaten run in the league stretches for 12 matches since the 3-2 defeat against Maccabi Haifa on January 3rd. That defeat ended a long run of unbeaten league matches against Haifa that was stretched from October 2016, but at Bloomfield, Maccabi are still unbeaten by the Haifaites since May 2011.
A victory could not just help Maccabi restore some pride, but also see them edge a bit closer to the leaders whose six point gap from Hapoel Be’ersheva places them in pole position for the title race. Three points will see Maccabi move within a point from Be’ersheva on the eve of next week’s double header against the Southerners’ in the league at Turner on Sunday followed by the State Cup Semi Final at Bloomfield on Wednesday (20.4).
Mladen Krstajic made three changes from the side that was held to a 1-1 draw by Netanya last week as Portuguese central defender Josue Sa made his second league appearance for Maccabi. Sa, who joined Maccabi in January, partnered Enric Saborit at the heart of defence right in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Shahar Piven who started against Netanya at right-back kept his place, as did Ofir Davidzada who completed the four-man defensive line on the left.
Dan Glazer led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the midfield anchorman, with Eden Shamir who scored a stunning goal in the 3-2 defeat at Haifa also keeping his place. Gabi Kanichowsky, who scored 3 league goals, was the third member of Krstajic’s diamond shaped midfield. Oscar Gloukh, who made two appearances for the senior side this season in the Toto Cup (Hapoel Jerusalem) and State Cup (Maccabi Jaffa), made his senior league debut two months after celebrating his 18th birthday. The diminutive talented play-maker was drafted at the top of the midfield and right behind striking duo Djordje Jovanovic and Stipe Perica who would both try and add to their respective 6 and 11 league goals this season.
First Half
Prior to kick-off a minute of applause was observed by both sets of fans in memory of the 14 Israelis murdered over the past fortnight in terrorist attacks across the country. In what has almost become a tradition, kickoff was delayed for several minutes due to dozens of flares lit at the away section. When the smoke finally cleared from the pitch at an almost sell-out Bloomfield stadium, it was the visitors who had the first chance as Daniel Peretz was forced to make a save in the seventh minute.
Omer Atzili was the first player to be booked by referee Daniel Bar Natan for a tackle on Gabi Kanichowsky in the 20th minute that stopped a Maccabi counter attack. Oscar Gloukh making his senior league debut looked lively as he seemed to form a good partnership with Kanichowsky. With most of the first period being played in midfield, it took Maccabi 26 minutes to launch the first serious threat on goal. Eden Shamir sent a powerful low drive from outside the area which Josh Cohen pushed out for a corner. Gloukh crossed the resulting corner before Djordje Jovanovic rose high but directed his shot over the crossbar.
Two minutes later however, the diminutive midfielder enjoyed his moment of glory. Enric Saborit picked Stipe Perica on the end of the area before the Croatian striker teed-up Gloukh who skipped past Mohamad Abu Fani and unleashed a deadly shot. The ball deflected off Sean Goldberg’s hand to beat Cohen put Maccabi infront and ignite Bloomfield stadium. Maccabi came close to double the score four minutes after the half hour mark as Shahar Piven sent a square ball to Jovanovic whose right foot shot was pushed over by Cohen. Two minutes later Haifa’s American born keeper was beaten by a Perica looping header which hit the base of the post. But Jovanovic who pounced on the rebound managed to hook the ball over from point blank range.
Boosted by the goal, Maccabi kept dominating as Jovanovic sent a header high and wide following an Ofir Davidzada cross on 41. Shortly before the halftime whistle was heard, Abu Fani flashed a shot wide of Peretz’s post and with no further threats on goal to either side the break sent both teams to regroup in the dressing rooms.
Second Half
Two minutes after the restart, Bar Natan awarded Haifa a controversial penalty after mistakenly ruling that Saborit fouled Atzili inside the area. Luckily for Maccabi and Bar Natan, VAR spotted that it was the Haifa forward who committed the foul, cancelled the initial decision and didn’t award the penalty after all.
Mladen Krstajic made his first change right on the hour mark as Sheran Yeini and Tal Ben Chaim came on for Eden Shamir and Kanichowsky. Guy Zarfati, standing-in for Barak Bachar, made a double change for Haifa as Mavis Tchibota and Godsway Donyoh replaced Atzili and Mickael Alphonse.
Jouse Sa, who turned a solid performance at center-back alongside Saborit, threw his body across to make a double block to deny Tjaronn Cherry in the 71st minute.
An amazing piece of skill by Saborit saw the Spanish defender release himself from three Haifa forwards before picking Perica. With only the keeper to beat, the Croatian striker tried sliding his shot which was equaled and caught by Cohen. Haifa enjoyed some good moments as Piven needed a last gasp tackle to clear a cross by Tchibota before Donyoh could reach the ball. Krstajic made another double change as Gloukh bowed out to a standing ovation. The youngster was replaced by Matan Hozez while Matan Baltaxa came in for Perica as Krstajic bolstered the defence.
Jovanovic who worked tirelessly throughout the match, received a standing ovation himself as he was replaced by Avi Rikan for the closing stages. Seconds after the fourth official indicated six minutes of added time, Ofir Davidzada needed a last gasp header to clear Tchibota’s cross off the line. But as the ball fell to substitute Sun Menachem he was fouled on the edge of the area by Dan Glazer. Cherry stepped-up and blasted the free kick past Peretz to level the score and ensure the points will be shared.
