Pre Match
Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the seventh league round against Ashdod in a bid to bounce back from the defeat to Maccabi Netanya and with an aim to build on the 5-0 Conference League victory over HJK Helsinki. Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen made three changes from the side that won in Finland, two of which to his defensive line. Idan Nachmias returned to the heart of defence replacing Luis Hernandez who was serving a one match touchline ban while Ofir Davidzada was named at left-back as Enric Saborit dropped to the bench. Sheran Yeini partnered Nachmias right in front of Daniel Peretz with Andre Geraldes completing the back-four on the right .
Dan Glazer, Eden Shamir and Eyal Golasa were named as the three midfield trio, while the front-line remained unchanged as Stipe Perica led the attack with Brandley Kuwas and Gabi Kanichowsky in the supporting roles on both wings.
First Half
In the opening minutes of the game and against Ashdod’s five-man defence, Maccabi struggled to carve an opening. In the 13th minute Brandley Kuwas exchanged passes with Andre Geraldes down the right flank before the Curaçao International cut inside and rifled a shot that narrowly cleared the crossbar. Seven minutes later Maccabi were reduced to 10 men as Sheran Yeini was shown the red card by referee Daniel Bar Natan following the intervention of VAR.
Stipe Perica’s for a penalty were waved by Bar Natan in the 24th minute after the tall Croatian striker’s solo effort saw him brought down by an Ashdod defender inside the area. In the 28th minute, the visitors exploited their numerical advantage as Naor Sabag charged through the middle before curling a right foot shot that crept into Daniel Peretz’s bottom corner to put Ashdod in front. Trailing by a goal, and with a man short, Van Leeuwen was forced to make a change as he sent-in Shahar Piven for Eden Shamir right on the half hour mark.
Eyal Golasa came close on 42 as his left foot shot from the edge of the area was pushed out for a corner by Ashdod’s keeper Yoav Gerafi. On the stroke of halftime Kuwas was fouled close to the area, but his attempt of a free kick was deflected by an Ashdod player standing in the wall, for another corner that Maccabi couldn’t convert.
Second Half
After the interval Maccabi tried desperately to equalise as Ofir Davidzada, Kanichowsky and Golasa worked tirelessly but couldn’t seem to reach any dangerous chance. In the 72nd minute Kanichowsky was fouled deep inside Ashdod’s half before Kuwas curled his free kick which forced Gerafi to a fingertip save. This was Kuwas’ last contribution on the night as he was replaced shortly after together with Nachmias by Matan Baltaxa and Eduardo Guerrero. In the 83rd minute, Ashdod doubled their lead in the as Muhammad Kna’an charged through the middle before releasing Or Inbrum who beat Peretz from close range to add further misery. Osama Khalaila and Ido Shahar replaced both Golasa and Glazer for the closing stages before Kanichowsky fired against Ashdod’s side netting.
In the last minute of injury time Perica came close to score a consolation goal but his powerful shot rattled the crossbar to sum up a miserable night overall.
