Pre Match
Maccabi arrived at Haifa’s Sammy Ofer stadium for the top of the table clash against Maccabi Haifa with a one point advantage over the local side currently second.
Head Coach Patrick van Leeuwen made three changes from the side that beat Hapoel Be’ersheva 2-1 at Bloomfield on Saturday that helped Maccabi capture top spot. Eytan Tibi stepped back into the heart of defense replacing Matan Baltaxa as the second central defender alongside Luis Hernandez. Sheran Yeini led the players out with the captain’s armband as he kept his place at the heart of midfield alongside Dor Peretz while Avi Rikan completed the midfield trio as he replaced Eden Kartzev who dropped to the bench.
Matan Hozez who won an injury time penalty when both teams last met at Bloomfield stadium, returned to the side and was named on the opposite wing to Tal Ben Chaim – with Eylon Almog waiting for his chance to make an impact amongst the substitutes. Nick Blackman whose brace of goals beat Be’ersheva led the attack from his striker’s role with the number nine shirt.
First Half
After an aggressive start which saw Omer Atzili tackle Enric Saborit but avoid a caution from referee Roei Reinshriber, it was Maccabi that threatened to score first. In the fourth minute Nick Blackman picked a loose ball just inside Haifa’s half before shrugging off three defenders and releasing Matan Hozez whose shot cleared the crossbar. Two minutes later Hozez saved a cross which threatened to go out before squaring to Avi Rikan who flashed his shot across the face of Haifa’s goal.
Andre Gerlades was the first player to go into the referee’s book for a tackle on Dolev Haziza in the 12th minute before Haifa’s winger tested Daniel Tenebaum with a right foot shot seconds later.
In the 31st minute Nick Blackman was handed a good chance to level the score as Maccabi were a warded a direct free kick on the edge of the Haifa area. But the English born striker was let down by his touch as his free kick sailed over Josh Cohen’s crossbar.
Tjaron Chery hit Tenenbaum’s side netting with a close range effort two minutes later before Maccabi came close once again at the opposite end. Haifa’s defense struggled to deal with a long range Louis Hernandez throw-in which fell to Rikan whose attempt of bicycle kick reached Dor Peretz who missed his shot.
Second Half
Van Leeuwen made his first change after the restart as Eduardo Gurrero replaced Hozez at the restart.
Three minutes later, a mix up in Haifa’s defense caught Cohen off guard before Rikan’s shot was cleared off the line by Ofri Arad. In the 51st minute however Gurrero leveled the score with a lightning quick counter attack. Peretz ran more than half the length of the pitch to carve Haifa’s midfield and defense before releasing the Panamanian forward who slotted home to make it 1-1.
Eden Kartzev came in for Ben Chaim right on the hour mark as Van Leeuwen made his second change of the game. Within a minute of his introduction, Kartzev blasted a right foot volley that was kept out by Cohen who also saw a Peretz volley go wide.
Van Leeuwen made a double change as Dan Glazer and Maor Kandil replaced Yeni and Geraldes on 71. Maccabi were left with 10 men for the final 16 minutes as Blackman received two yellow cards in the space of 3 minutes.
In the 80th minute Godsway Donyho found himself unmarked inside the area only to head Ernst Mbouka’s cross over Tenebaum’s crossbar
