Pre Match
Three days after the 1-0 defeat to PSV in Eindhoven and four days before the return leg at Bloomfield Stadium, Maccabi put aside their Conference League ambitions and returned to league action for a tough match against Hapoel Haifa.
Ranked third in the table with 41 points from 22 matches, Mladen Maccabi are aiming to narrow the seven point gap from second place Hapoel Be’ersheva that were held to a 0-0 draw by Kiryat Shmona at the weekend. Mladen Krstajic made three changes from the side that played in the Conference League on Thursday as Portuguese central defender Josue Sa was handed his Maccabi debut filling in for Enric Saborit as the partner of Idan Nachmias at the heart of defence.
Ofir Davidzada returned to the starting line-up replacing Matan Baltaxa at left-back while Andre Geraldes completed the back-four on the right. Dan Glazer led the team out wearing the captain’s armband in the midfield anchor-man role, while Matan Hozez was also named in the starting line-up replacing Eden Shamir. Gabi Kanichowsky and Dan Biton completed the four-man midfield in support of Djordje Jovanovic and Stipe Perica who spearheaded the attack.
First Half
Against a side fighting for a place in the top Playoff, Maccabi found themselves on the back foot in the opening stages as Hapoel Haifa seemed dangerous right from the start. Dan Biton lost possession inside the center circle before Alen Ozbolt was sent clear through only to fire his shot over the crossbar after 120 seconds.
Three minutes later, the Haifaites were at it again as Hanan Mamman struck the post but his effort wouldn’t have counted anyway as the linesman raised his flag for offside. Maccabi eventually came close to carve an opening as Andre Geraldes released Djorje Jovanovic with a clever through ball but the Serbian striker flashed his shot across the face of Ohad Levita’s goal. Mamman continued to look dangerous as a long range shot in the 12th minute struck the side netting.
While Maccabi enjoyed the majority of the possession, in the 20th minute Haifa had the ball in the back of Daniel Peretz’ net but once again the linesman’s flag kept the score sheet blank. The end to end stuff continued, as three minutes later Geraldes sent a pinpoint cross which was headed by Jovanovic goal-bound only for Levita to punch and clear the danger before Stipe Perica could convert. Maccabi continued to look dangerous as Matan Hozez forced Levita to dive and save his left foot powerful drive in the 26th minute.
A Gabi Kanichowsky powerful shot in the 36th minute was blocked by Haifa’s defence for a corner, while a minute later the diminutive midfielder teed-up Perica on the edge of the area, but the tall Croat fired high over the cross bar. Peretz saved with his feet an Alon Turgeman shot in the 42nd minute and on the stroke of halftime Peretz came to the rescue once again with a dive at Turgeman’s feet feet to keep his goal locked.
Ssecond Half
Mladen Krstajic made three substitutions for the restart as Matan Baltaxa replaced Idan Nachmias who picked an injury before the interval, while Brandley Kuwas came in for Biton and Tal Ben Chaim replaced Hozez.
The substitution made an immediate impact as a Kuwas free kick in the 52nd minute was headed by Baltaxa who was bundled down by a Haifa defender before referee Roei Reinshreiberb awarded a penalty. Perica stepped-up kept his calm and successfully converted the spot kick past Levita to put Maccabi infront.
Peretz pulled a stunning save in the 59th minute as Maccabi’s keeper was at full stretch to push out Dor Malul’s glancing header. Krstajic made his fourth change on the night as Eyal Golasa was introduced in the 64th minute for Jovanovic.
The same move which led to the opening goal was emulated in the 71st minute as Maccabi doubled their lead. A Kuwas pinpoint cross resulted with a Baltaxa looping header that went in off the crossbar to beat Levita and set the score at 2-0.
Josue Sa bowed out to a standing ovation in the 77th minute as he was replaced by Sheran Yeini for the closing stages. Kuwas curled a shot that caught Levita off guard on 78 but crept agonisingly wide of the target. The Curaçao international forced Levita to make another reflex save in the 80th minute this time to keep out his powerful low drive from the edge of the area.
With a comfortable two-goal cushion, Maccabi began toying with their opponents as Eyal Golasa came close to add his name to the scoresheet but blasted a shot over the bar on 85.
