“A derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv is never an easy game, especially in the situation both teams are in. This is a match with great importance. It is a derby which is obviously not an easy match. We would have loved to have had the normal atmosphere with fans, but we are already used to this. At the end if the day this is a match for three points which is very important for us”.

Pregame

Maccabi’s Performance Director, Patrick van Leeuwen, returned to guide the side from the touchlines following Wednesday’s dismissal of Georgios Donis. Van Leeuwen, who led Maccabi earlier this season to a victory in the Super Cup, made three changes from the side which was held to a 0-0 by Beitar Jerusalem at Teddy stadium.

Van Leeuwen, returned to a four-man defensive line that included Eytan Tibi and Luis Hernandez as the two central defenders with Maor Kandil and Enric Saborit as the right and left back respectively. Dan Glazer returned to his role at the heart of midfield to complete a midfield trio together with Dor Peretz and Eyal Golasa. Upfront, Van Leeuwen named Eylon Almog on the wing with Yonatan Cohen on the opposite flank in support of Serbian striker Aleksandar Pesic who led the attack.

First Half

In the opening minute Daniel Tenenbaum was forced to charge lit of his and needed two attempts to deny Mohamad Shakker. Two minutes later Luis Hernandez blocked a Lucio shot before Samuel Brown sent a powerful shot wide of the target.

Midway through the first half Dor Peretz had one chance as he broke towards the Kiryat Shmona penalty area but couldn’t get a shot on target. Shortly after, Eylon Almog’s pleas for a penalty were waved by referee Snir Levy.

Second Half

The halftime whistle sent both teams into the dressing room for the 15 minute interval and with no changes at halftime both emerged after the break in an attempt to break the deadlock. Yonatan Cohen had a low cross collected by Kiryat Shmona’s Lithuanian keeper Dziugas Bartkus on 51.

Three minutes later, Eyal Golasa picked Maor Kandil inside Kiryat Shmona’s area with a perfect pass. The full back sent the ball across the face of goal but Aleksandaer Pesic couldn’t reach and tap it home. Maccabi kept piling the pressure as Enric Saborit’s cut-back was fired by Cohen towards goal only to be accidentally blocked by Pesic.

Pesic teed-up Cohen in the 68th minute but the forward blasted his shot high and wide. Seconds later, Van Leeuwen made a double change as Dan Biton and Tal Ben Chaim replaced both Almog and Golasa.

A Biton free kick in the 73rd minute fell comfortably into the path of Kandil, but he opted for power rather than accuracy and the shot flew high over the crossbar.

Dan Glazer released Yonatan Cohen with a perfect through ball in the 80th minute but Bartkus saved the forward’s right foot shot. This was Cohen’s final contribution on the night as he was replaced by Matan Hozez while Etey Shechter came in for for Pesic as Van Leeuwen made another double change.

Shechter released Biton through on 86 only to see Bartkus dive and collect the weak shot. It seemed like the deadlock was finally broken in the 89th minute as Biton nodded the ball down to Peretz who slotted home from close range. But the celebrations were shortlived as VAR ruled the goal out for offside.

Deep inside injury time VAR was at the center of things once again as Hozez and as tripped inside the area before referee Snir Levy had to use the technology before awarding a spot kick. Biton stepped up and successfully converted the penalty into the net and clinch the three points.

“Of course it was a penalty. Without any shadow of a doubt. I did a shimmy, saw him tangle in my feet and was simply brought down” Hozez spoke about the incident which led to late penalty. “It makes us all really happy to win especially with all that had happened with the changing of the coach which is not in our control” he added. “we are trying to do our best and whatever is required of us but we are looking forward”.

Hozez, who hasn’t featured too much this season added: “I really hope to get more minutes and play more. I recovered from quite a complex injury but will keep on working as hard as I possibly can. I want to improve and play more and intend to work as hard as I can to make sure it happens”.