Pre Match
Boosted by the two successive league victories over Hapoel Be’ersheva (1-0) and Hapoel Jerusalem (3-1) Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium in 3rd place with 31 points from 18 matches. Unbeaten in the last six league matches, Maccabi Netanya climbed to 7th in the table, seven points behind Maccabi that still remember the 4-2 defeat when both teams met earlier this season for what was Benny Lam’s first match in charge.
Injuries and suspensions forced Maccabi’s coach Mladen Krstajic to make changes to the starting line-up. Daniel Peretz kept his place in goal with the defence also unchanged from the side that beat Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy stadium. Idan Nachmias and Matan Baltaxa lined-up as the two central defenders with Andre Geraldes and Ofir Davidzada completing the back-four on the right and left respectively.
Eden Shamir returned from his one-match touchline-ban as he was partnered by Gabi Kanichowsky who scored one of the late goals against Jerusalem. Dan Biton, who scored Maccabi’s opening goal at Teddy also kept his place as the diminutive midfielder was at the top of the midfield trio. Tal Ben Chaim led the team out with the captain’s armband as the veteran forward started on one wing while Eduardo Guerrero stepped-in for the suspended Matan Hozez. Osama Khalaila led the line looking to emulate the winning goal he scored during Maccabi’s last home match against Hapoel Be’ersheva at Bloomfield.
Twelve minutes before kick-off, a ceremony was held marking the 20th anniversary of Menny Levi’s tragic incident which saw the 21 year-old midfielder collapse during a league match against Beitar Jerusalem on January 26th 2002.
Former Maccabi midfielder, Eden Karzev, who joined Netanya in the summer received a framed shirt prior to kick-off – thanking him for his services to the club.
First Half
Maccabi began the match with purpose and intention a fact which saw the hosts create a threat on goal two minutes after the start. Tal Ben Chaim’s square ball reached Gabi Kanichowsky whose shot from the edge of the area forced Dani Amos to a double save. A misplaced Idan Nacmias back-pass at the opposite end a minute later released Igor Zlatanovic through before Daniel Peretz charged off his line to deny Netanya’s forward.
In the 7th minute, Eduardo Guerrero’s claims for a penalty were waved by referee Gal Leibovic after the Panamanian was shoved in the box by a Netanya defender. The dual between Peretz and Zlatanovic continued in the 10th minute as Maccabi’s keeper stretched himself to deny a volley by the Netanya striker.
Five minutes later the deadlock was broken as Parfait Guigon tormented Andre Geraldes down the right side of Maccabi’s defence. The Ivorian, currently on loan at Netanya from Maccabi, cut the ball back for Aviv Avraham who slid his shot between Peretz and the near post to put the visitors in-front.
A Guerrero cross in the 21st minute reached Ben Chaim in the middle of the box but the 32-year-old forward who leaped high to meet the cross, couldn’t direct his header on target.
In the 26th minute Netanya came close to double their lead as Perez pulled a stunning save to keep out Karem Jaber but from the counter attack at the opposite end Maccabi were back on level terms. Ofir Davidzada began the charge which saw Guerrero slide the ball into the path of Kanichowsky who beat Amos with a low powerful drive that found the bottom corner.
Three minutes after the half hour mark Maccabi almost completed their comeback as Kanichowsky had his initial shot blocked by Zlatan Sehovic before Ben Chaim blasted the rebound high over the crossbar.
Guigon limped off with a hamstring injury and was replaced in the 39th minute by Ihab Abu Alshech. Two minutes later Osama Khalaila teed-up Ben Chaim who sent his shot over, and within a minute repeated the feat after being put through once again, this time by Kanichowsky.
Amos dived to his right and save a Kanichowsky shot in the 44th minute, but inside injury time a mistake by the Netanya keeper gifted Guerrero a goal. The Panamanian intercepted a poor Amos pass and with the keeper outside his goal, fired the ball home to send Maccabi with a 2-1 lead into the dressing room.
Second Half
Two minutes after the restart, Netanya were back on level terms as a corner deflected off Davidzada for an own goal that levelled that score at 2-2.
Netanya had the ball in the back of the net on 50 after Omri Gendelman rose high to send a looping header that beat Peretz but the goal was disallowed for offside. Mladen Krstajic reacted with a double change five minutes later as Dan Glazer and Brandley Kuwas replaced Biton and Khalaila. Krstajic made his third substitution in the 67th minute as Eylon Almog replaced Ben Chaim. Avi Rikan and Eyal Golasa came in for Eden Shamir and Guerrero on 83 as Krstajic made his final two changes for the closing stages of the game.
Kuwas curled a corner in the 89th minute but Amos managed to push the ball over the crossbar to deny the Curaçao international. A minute later Kuwas sent a cross into the path of Kanichowsky whose volley was caught by Amos. The final whistle saw both teams share the points as Maccabi slid to fourth in the table and now face a tough trip to Ashdod next week.
