After a two week international break Maccabi returned to league action as they hosted Hapoel Be’ersheva at Bloomfield for the match that opened the top Play-Offs. Having conceded pole position on the final match of the regular season thanks to the 1-1 draw in the Tel Aviv derby, and in view of the top of the table clash with Maccabi Haifa on Tuesday, Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen made several changes to his starting line-up against Be’ersheva.
Eytan Tibi who played in all three matches for Israel was allowed a much needed rest as Matan Baltaxa partnered Luis Hernandez as the two central defenders. Andre Gerlades and Enric Saborit completed the back four on the right and left respectively. Sheran Yeini, continued in his newly re-established role as a holding midfielder as the veteran captain slotted behind Dor Peretz and Eden Kartzev who completed his recovery from a knee injury that sidelined him during the entire second round. Eylon Almog and Tal Ben Chaim were as the two wingers, while Nick Blackman led the attack as Aleksandar Pesic sat out his one match suspension.
Prior to kickoff, a ceremony was held in respect of former club Chairman (1987-1992) Dani Laufer, who passed away at the age of 75 last week.
Five minutes after the start Eden Kartzev came close but missed the target while Dor Peretz continued his run of good form as he tested Ohad Lewita with a long range free kick that was equaled by the keeper. In the 40th minute Daniel Tenenbaum was forced to dive only to follow Tomer Yossefi dangerous left foot shot from the edge of the area that crept wide of the post. But within two minutes the deadlock was finally broken as Kartzev charged forward and found Eylon Almog whose pinpoint cross was met by Nick Blackman’s diving header that beat Lewita and put Maccabi infront.
Peretz could have doubled the lead three minutes after the restart as he was left unmarked at the far post but failed to connect onto Tal Ben Chaim’s free kick that went agonisingly wide. In the 56th minute however, Peretz and Ben Chaim were instrumental in Blackman’s second goal of the game. Luis Hernandez picked the ball on the edge of Maccabi’s penalty area and fed Peretz who released Ben Chaim deep inside Maccabi’s half.
The veteran winger raced forward and exchanged passes with Avi Rikan only to see Lewita block his effort. But Blackman reacted first, tucked in the rebound that was only cleared by a Be’ersheva after the ball had clearly crossed the line for Blackman’s second on the night and third league goal of the season. Rikan must have thought he had scored and took the game beyond Be’ersheva’s reach on 57 as he fired a shot from the penalty spot following a cross by another substite, Matan Hozez, only to be denied by a reflex Lewita save that kept his side in the game.
Sagiv Yehezkel who had an earlier goal disallowed for offside, managed to cut the deficit in controversial manner in the 70th minute. Mariano Barriero latched onto a poor clearance put of defense, before releasing a powerful low drive that Daniel Tenenbaum couldn’t hold onto allowing Yehezkel to blast in the rebound. Maccabi’s protests for a foul by Marcelo Meli on Yeni in the build up for the goal were echoed by the VAR that called referee Aviad Shiloah to walk to the screen, but didn’t convince him enough and the goal was allowed to stand. Shiloah’s full-time whistle however sent Maccabi to the top of the table at the expense of Haifa that dropped points at home against Maccabi Petah Tikva.
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