Hapoel Hadera held Maccabi Tel Aviv to a goalless draw at Bloomfield Stadium on Saturday, getting an important result for them and frustrating their hosts at every turn.

Maccabi had numerous attempts to put the ball in their opponents’ net, although the team from the north made life as difficult as they could for the home favourites.

Hadera played with almost their entire team behind the ball for 90 minutes and barely any of Maccabi’s players, who kept the pressure on the Hadera goalmouth throughout the entire encounter. 

Hadera had at least five players in their back line at any given time and Maccabi had few innovative ideas as they tried to find a way through towards goal.

Maccabi had three attempts at goal in the first half but none came close to the target, Hadera made no effort to even threaten Daniel Tenebaum in the Maccabi goal.

Enrique Saborit was the first Maccabi player to have a pot shot at goal in the second half but that too missed the target as the Hadera players continued to opt for a very defensive stance and not allow the home team any leeway going forward.

Maccabi began forcing the pace a bit more and pressured Hadera into conceding more corners hoping that the set piece might produce the breakthrough but no player managed to break free for a good attempt at Austin Aguida’s goal. 

Two headed efforts in the 83rd minute also missed the target in what seemed Maccabi’s best chance to break the deadlock as Hadera’s defence held their ground and

Dor Micha had the best chance of all in the 86th minute when he was put clear with only Aguida, to beat but he shot directly at the man, who managed to keep the ball out. Uros Nikolic then had a final effort thwarted by a Hadera defender to end the match on a disappointing note for Maccabi, while Hadera’s team and their entire bench reveling in the point they had garnered.

Oct. 5: Following the great win over Beitar Jerusalem, Maccabi will look to continue their winning ways and seek the points against Hapoel Hadera in a home clash at Bloomfield on Saturday. The early 18:00 kickoff time will afford families an opportunity for a great afternoon out.

Oct. 7-17: International break as the national team continues its Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with an away clash against Austria on Oct. 10 and a home fixture against Latvia on the 15th.

Oct. 21: Maccabi will return from the break directly into TASE Premier League seventh round action and an away clash against Ashdod on the Simhat Tora holiday. It will be a tough challenge against a team that is so far unbeaten in league play.

Oct. 28: The meeting with Hapoel Beersheba will be the culmination of the month’s action and Bloomfield will be ready again after three years to host one of Maccabi’s main league opponents in the past few seasons.

Goalkeeper Daniel Tannenbaum arrived at Kiryat Shalom in summer 2017. He came directly from Rio de Janiero’s Flamengo for trials with Maccabi, and the scrutiny of Jordi Cruyff. A week’s trial for the Brazilian have now become three years during which he has become used to wearing the Maccabi strip, has absorbed in Israeli daily life now speaking fluent Hebrew, and he has enlisted in the army. 

As we prepare for the year 5780 according to the Jewish calendar, Tannenbaum spoke to Maccabi’s web site about life in Israel, the difficulty of living far from his family, the army, and the club.

“I came to Israel because of football. It was a good opportunity to be able to play in Israel and to live in a different country. Israel is very different and the move has been significant for me. When I was younger, I came here to compete at the Maccabiah Games and also for my Bar Mitzva, so I have had connections with Israel all my life.

“It was a surprise for me to discover that I would have to serve in the army and I must admit that I was a bit scared. My family and I have had no knowledge of the military and I wasn’t certain whether I would enlist, but I chose to do so. This is a chance to give back something to the country and this has allowed me to feel more a part of the country. I was not born here, but I feel like a native Israeli.”

When I was eight years old, my grandfather returned from a visit to Israel with a Maccabi shirt as a gift for me so Maccabi are like family. This is my home. My grandfather passed away last year. It was at the end of the campaign and the off-season was a very tough time for me. He taught me much about life.

In summary, I just want to say that Maccabi isn’t just a football team. It is a club with so many people working behind the scenes who give so much for the success of the organization. I really want to wish us all Shana Tova, with many victories and no conceded goals.