The 33-year-old, Shechter, said ahead of the game: “I am delighted that we look much better lately. As soon as the last match was over our attention was directed to the game against Be’ersheva. They are a tough opponent and the rivalry between the two clubs has been stretched for many years. We will have to come focused, give Be’ersheva all the respect they deserve and do the maximum to return with the victory”.

First and foremost, last night’s victory was the 69th league victory Maccabi recorded over Maccabi Haifa. Only Maccabi Netanya (71) suffered more defeats.

Yesterday Maccabi extended their record to 15 successive unbeaten matches against Haifa – registering 11 victories and 4 draws since January 2017.

Haifa’s three longest “negative runs” were set by Maccabi: 15 winless matches in succession yesterday, with the previous two runs recorded in May 2016 (14), and December 1960 (11).

Last night’s victory at Bloomfield stretched Maccabi’s run to 9 successive victories over Haifa at the Jaffa stadium, one less than the all time record of 10 straight wins recorded against Bnei Sachnin.

Tal Ben Chaim who cancelled Haifa’s early lead to level the score, scored his first league goal since April 22nd 2017 against Beitar Jerusalem. Ben Chaim’s 37th goal for Maccabi helped him climb to 23rd place in the all time record charts.

The 2020/21 rollercoaster ride appears to be thrilling in particular, as the reigning Champions recorded registered their third injury time victory of the season. With similar injury time victories recorded against Hapoel Haifa and Kiryat Shmona, this equalled the same number of games as the 2013/14 season while we are not even halfway through the season.

Overall, this was Maccabi’s 28th injury time victory.

Maccabi Haifa now join Bnei Yehuda as the team we beat most inside injury time – with four overall victories.

Pre Match

Maccabi’s Head Coach Patrick van Leeuwen was forced to make a couple of changes from the side which beat Maccabi Netanya at the weekend as Dor Peretz was serving a one-match-touchline-ban while Yonatan Cohen is recovering from a leg injury.

The defense remained unchanged with Sheran Yeini and Louis Hernandez as the two central defenders in front of Daniel Tenenbaum while Shahar Piven and Enric Saborit on the right and left respectively. Eden Kartzev and Eyal Golasa were the two anchormen in the midfield engine room and Dan Biton filled in for the suspended Peretz.

Matan Hozez who made a substitute appearance against Netanya, was named in the starting line-up alongside Tal Ben Chaim and Etey Shechter kept their places upfront.

Dan Glazer and Maor Kandil who both recovered from their groin strains which sidelined them for the past few weeks, were named amongst the substitutes.

First Half

After a nervous start to both sides, it took Maccabi 12 minutes to launch a serious attack on goal. Enric Saborit charged into the Haifa penalty area before being impeded by Raz Meir as referee Orel Greenfeld awarded a penalty. However, VAR ruled out the decision and the spot kick was cancelled by the match officials.

In the 18th minute though the visitors took the lead as a free kick which was crossed into the Maccabi penalty area  struck Shahar Piven to beat Daniel Tenenbaum for an own goal. Two minutes later Tal Ben Chaim restored parity in spectacular fashion with his debut league goal. Matan Hozez whipped in a dangerous cross from the right before Ben Chaim who ghosted behind Haifa’s defense sent a right foot volley past Josh Cohen to make it 1-1.

Dan Biton blasted a shot over the crossbar in the 35th minute before Mohamad Abu Fani replicated a similar shot at the opposite end two minutes later.

Tjaronn Chery fired a left foot shot from outside the area directly at Tenenbaum in the  40th minute. But on the brink of halftime, a tussle between several players which began with a tackle by Jose Rodriguez on Eyal Golasa resulted with four bookings, two from each side.

The halftime whistle sent both teams to cool down in the dressing rooms with the score tied at 1-1.

Second Half

Eight minutes after the restart Van Leeuwen was forced to make his first change as Eden Kartzev limped off with a knee injury and was replaced by Dan Glazer.

Dolev Haziza tried his luck with a right foot shot from the edge of the area on 57 but sent his shot high over the crossbar.

Right on the hour mark, Ben Chaim was given the time and space as a cross eluded Haifa’s defense and fell into the path of the winger who curled a shot which crept wide of the post.

In the 66th minute Andre Gerlades made his second debut for Maccabi as he replaced Dan Biton while Eylon Almog came in for Ben Chaim.

A counter attack which began with a well-timed Piven tackle saw Hozez launch one of his trademark mazy runs. The diminutive winger who was brought down by a Haifa defender, dusted himself up to take the free kick but failed to direct his shot on target.

Van Leeuwen made his final two changes as Ofir Davidzada and Aleksandar Pesic came in for Enric Saborit and Shechter for the final 10 minutes.

Piven headed an Almog free kick in the 89th minute which threatened to catch Cohen offguard but the American keeper recovered on his line.

Inside injury time Eyal Golasa sent a long ball towards Hozez who skipped past substitute Talb Tawatcha, charged into the area before being brought down by Bogdan Planic. Greenfeld awarded a penalty before Pesic kept his calm and successfully converted the spot kick.

Ben Chaim, who scored his debut league goal this season, added: “This is a type of a match that if you don’t bounce back early it could lead to a situation where where the match will be a lot tougher. As soon as you score an early goal you balance the game. It seemed like the game will end in a draw but I am delighted that Matan (Hozez) had, as far as I am concerned, a man-of-the-match performance. He took his chance, played like a man amongst men, did the action which won us the game. He deserves all the credit and plenty of plaudits – I am just certain he will give us a lot more”.

“At the end of the day, if you would have asked me before the game about such a scenario, I would have taken it in open arms. As far as I am concerned, let the opponents be dominant for the entire 90 minutes but to take the three points at the final whistle”.