Pregame
With a record of seven league victories in succession, Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen made seven changes from the side that beat Ashdod at Bloomfield. Daniel Tenenbaum kept his place in goal while in front of him line-up a completely changed defensive line. Eytan Tibi and Matan Baltaxa were the two central defenders with Maor Kandil and Ofir Davidzada as the right and left back respectively.
An unchanged midfield trio of Shahar Piven, Dor Peretz and Eyal Golasa all kept their place while the front-line saw Eylon Almog, Tal Ben Chaim and Nick Blackman lead the charge.
First Half
After a nervous start, Maccabi began taking the initiative as an Eylon Almog cross the winger floated into the danger zone, was headed out for a corner by Ben Wahaba in the ninth minute before Nick Blackman could get a touch. Three minutes later, Almog, sent a shot over the crossbar after Ofir Davidzada won a tackle outside Haifa’s penalty area and Blackman fed-up the winger for a shot.
Maccabi continued to cause a threat from the right flank, as a Blackman rose above Haifa’s keeper Ran Kadosh to head Maor Kandil’s cross over the bar on 17. In the 28th minute and against the run of play, Haifa came close as Hanan Maman slid a through ball into the path of Alon Turgeman. Matan Baltaxa lost his footing allowing Turgeman to race clear through but Tenebaum made his first save to deny the Haifa forward.
A Maccabi free kick in the 33rd minute saw Almog exchange passes with Tal Ben Chaim before his cross was headed over by Eytan Tibi. Tomer Altman, on loan at Hapoel Haifa, had the ball in Tenenbaum’s net but the goal was ruled out for offside. In the 40th minute Eyal Golasa was given the time and space to charge through the middle before his left-foot shot sailed over the crossbar.
In the 44th minute, Ben Chaim was given a chance as the ball fell to him at the far post but his shot hit the side netting. Onnthe stroke of halftime Maccabi reached their best chance as Kandil freed himself of a challenge before sending a pinpoint cross to Dor Peretz who somehow right infront of goal, managed to head wide.
Second Half
At the restart, another loaned midfielder, Ido Shahar, tested Tenenbaum with a long range effort, but Tenenbaum stretched himself to push the ball out for a corner. In the 49th minute, Blackman had the ball in the back of the net as he shouldered in Almog’s cross from the right. Referee Eli Hachmon took his time and waited for approval of the VAR before letting the goal stand and approving Maccabi’s 1-0 lead.
Maccabi were reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute as Shahar Piven got his marching orders for a second bookable offense. Less than a minute later, Shahar blasted a powerful low drive that beat Tenebaum from outside the area. But Haifa’s celebrations were short-lived as the goal was disallowed for offside. Van Leeuwen made a double change as Avi Rikan and Eduardo Guerrero replaced Ben Chaim and Almog right on the hour mark.
Blackman almost doubled his tally on the night as he sent a direct left foot volley in the 70th minute following a Rikan corner, straight at Haifa’s keeper Ran Kadosh. But a minute later, Agada should have leveled the score as he slid to meet a cross but managed to hook the ball wide when it seemed easier to score.
Shahar sent a powerful volley over Tenenbaum’s crossbar in the 74th minute before Matan Hozez replaced Blackman three minutes later. Pertez made amends for his miss in the first half as he doubled Maccabi’s lead on 82 after heading in a pinpoint Guerrero cross.
