Pre – Game
Maccabi’s coach Georgios Donis made several changes to the side which beat Suduva last week. Enric Saborit returned to his original position on the left side of defense at the expense of Ofir Davidzada while Ben Bitton replaced Maor Kandil at right back. The midfield remained unchanged with Dan Glazer, Dor Peretz, Avi Rikan as Dan Biton kept his place and Eylon Almog was named alongside Nick Blackman upfront.
First Half
Maccabi began the game on the front foot as Donis’s players put Petah Tikva’s players under pressure as Rikan, Biton and Almog forcing four corner in the first quarter of an hour. Saborit was shown the yellow card for a mistimed tackle on Liel Abada just before the water break on 25 while Abada was booked a minute later for stopping Rikan’s counter attack.
Petah Tikva came close to break the deadlock in the 35th minute as Or Inbrum’s back-heal flick released Eylon Eliyahu who sent a shot across the face of Daniel Tenenbaum’s goal. The visitors gained confidence and came close once again within four minutes this time Abada directing his shot wide.
Peretz fired a shot which Arik Yanko collected on his goal line before Biton shot high over the crossbar. But it was Tenenbaum who was the busiest keeper amongst the two as he first parried out Inbrum’s powerful drive before keeping out a dangerous header from Marcus Diniz. On the stroke of halftime however, Yanko pulled a reflex save to keep out a Peretz header which could have rewarded Maccabi for their efforts.
Second Half
Two minutes after the restart, Petah Tikva took the lead as Mohamad Hindi sent a cross from the left which reached Eliyahu at the opposite end before the right-back blasted his shot which gave Tenenbaum no chance as it hit the roof of the net.
Donis made a double change in the 57th minute as Yonatan Cohen and Ofir Davidzada replaced Peretz and Saborit respectively.
Within three minutes of his introduction, Cohen came close twice as he first failed to connect onto Biton’s cross before sending a weak shot into the hands of Yanko. Maor Kandil replaced Bitton on 62 and Itay Schechter came in for Almog five minutes later.
In the 70th minute Maccabi were awarded a penalty but Blackman who scored three penalties so far this season, blasted his spot kick against the crossbar.
In the 83rd minute however, Maccabi were back on level terms as Cohen floated a free kick and Schechter rose high to head in the equaliser at the far post.
Two minutes later, Abada restored Petah Tikva’s lead as he was sent clear through before beating Tenenbaum with a powerful right foot shot. Kandil came close on 87 as he beat two defenders and blasted a shot which beat Yanko but went agonizingly wide.
Cohen fired a free kick over the crossbar, and as the clocked kept on ticking Rikan had a left foot shot saved by Yanko before Biton also sent a shot high and wide.
