The 34-year-old former Beitar forward, said: “It is going to be a super-tough match against one of the most technically gifted sides in the division” Shechter said. “We must be focused, continue with our way of working hard and remaining humble. This is what should bring us to where we would like to be. We mustn’t look too far ahead, as we all know what club we are at. We would like to win in every game, but if we remain humble and respect our opponent – I am certain that we would achieve our targets”.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s midfielder, Eyal Golasa, reached an important landmark during the 2-0 victory over Hapoel Haifa at Sammy Ofer on Thursday. The 29-year-old who has a total of 145 appearances for Maccabi in all competitions, made his 100th league appearance in Yellow and Blue.

Golasa, who earlier this week scored one of the goals during the 3-1 victory over Ashdod at Bloomfield, has a total of 9 league goals and 15 assists in the 100 league appearances he made so far.

When we informed Golasa that he had reached this landmark, he replied: “Wow, I wasn’t aware of that. It is a real exciting and pleasing fact for me. In the years that I had been here, I really connected to the club. Maccabi became an integral and an important part of my career and I am delighted to reach this landmark at the place I enjoy most in the world. The most important thing for us now is to continue in this way. We have many targets to achieve, we would like to win more titles and make our fans happy”.

Aren’t you ever tired?

“I get tired of course. I am human but in those minutes I see the chance to score another goal, and maybe end up maybe with two goals, so I am doing everything I possibly can. This is a very important victory which is the main thing”.

On the character his teammates showed on the night: “In these type of matches when you kickoff they are already tough, but with the circumstances they become even tougher. We were under pressure but I think that we are focused on ourselves, arrive at every game ready to get the results – and that gives us a certain peace of mind. We are delighted with the result but also with our performance and the character we showed”.

 

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.

Maccabi held 23 league matches so far at Sammy Ofer stadium that will stage the match. The record currently stands on 62.3%: 11 victories, 10 draws and 2 defeats.

Maccabi is the team with the best success rate at the Haifa stadium even better than the two clubs that host their home league matches at the venue (Maccabi Haifa 56%) and (Hapoel Haifa 41.7%).

In the last seven seasons, Hapoel Haifa scored the largest number of goals against Maccabi from the 90^th minute onwards.

Since the 2014/15 season Hapoel Haifa scored 5 injury time goals, 2 of which didn’t influence the outcome of the game. Two injury time goals led to draws, while one goal awarded Haifa a victory.

On the other hand, when both teams met earlier this season, a dramatic match saw Maccabi win 4-3 thanks to a 95th minute Yaonatan Cohen penalty – after coming back from a 2-0 early deficit and an 87^th minute 3-2 Haifa lead.

This was the seventh match in the history that Maccabi manages to come-back from a to-goal deficit and record a victory. The last time such a scenario happened was the 2012/13 season and the famous 4-3 victory over Ramat Hasharon.

Rafi Levy, who died last week at the age of 83, is the top scorer against Hapoel Haifa with 10 goals. Shiye Glazer and Avi Nimni have 9 goals each.

Maccabi has 13 victories over teams coached by Haim Silvas.

Hapoel Haifa’s coach has 1 victory and 2 draws against Maccabi, and holds a success rate of 10.5% – the lowest of the 48 coaches that met Maccabi for 15 matches or more.