Preview:
Yoav Gerafi who made his debut appearance in goal for Maccabi during last week’s Super Cup defeat to Hapoel Be’ersheva at Bloomfield, kept his place in goal. New signing Mohamed Ali Camara who joined Maccabi last week from Swiss side Young Boys, lined up alongside Nemanja Stojic as the two central defenders infront of Gerafi.
Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Ben Lederman who also joined this summer from Polish side Rakow was named in midfield for his Maccabi debut. Issouf Sissokho partnered Lederman in the midfield engine room while Dor Peretz competed the midfield trio with the captain’s armband.
Weslley Patati on one wing and Osher Davida on the opposite flank supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation. Dor Turgeman who scored 19 goals in all competitions last season, led the li e aiming to open his account for the current campaign.
On the bench Lazetic named goalkeepers Ofek Melika and Roi Mishpati, new Brazilian defender Heitor, Sagiv Jehezkel, Raz Shlomo, Denny Gropper, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Noam Ben Harush, Itamar Noy, Ido Shahar, and Ion Nicolaescu.
First Half
Backed by 745 traveling fans Maccabi avoided an early scare in the 4th minute as Joao Correia’s square ball rolled across the face of Yoav Gerafi’s goal as none of the Pafos players was able to get a touch. The hosts continued to dominate the early stages as a last gasp Nemanja Stojic tackle denied Anderson who was sent clear through in the 12th minute.
Three minutes later a poor clearance by Pafos’ goalkeeper Neofytos Michael fell to Weslley Patati who was unmarked down the flank but the Brazilian’s attempt of a low cross couldn’t reach a teammate. Maccabi put their foot down as Dor Peretz found Osher Davida down the right flank in the 18th minute but the winger’s attempt to curl the ball narrowly missed the top corner.
In the 27th minute Ali Camara was cautioned by referee Mykola Balakin for a challenge on Vlad Dragomir just inside Pafos’ half. Right on the half hour mark Patati was also shown the yellow card for a challenge on Bruno. Two minutes later the Brazilian wizard lost his man by a drop of a shoulder, burst forward and clipped the ball towards the far post. But former Maccabi defender Derrick Luckassen managed to clear for a corner before Dor Turgrman could connect.
Ben Lederman and Issouf Sissokho battled hard in midfield to try and dictate the pace of the game. The Mali midfielder picked a loose ball on 39 and slipped it to Patati who fed Peretz. But the captain’s attempt of a snap shot from outside the area sailed high over the crossbar.
On the stroke of halftime Davida stole the ball and fed Patati who slipped in Peretz but with only the keeper to beat couldn’t get enough power on the shot allowing Michael save with two attempts. Inside injury time Asante gave a soft free kick near the corner of the area and was consequently booked before Dragomir tried curling the free kick which crept just wide.
Second Half
Lazetic made a single change after the break as Heitor was handed his Maccabi debut replacing Camara at the restart.
Two minutes in tbe second half Maccabi wasted a chance to open the score as Turgeman opted to pass to Patati inside the box instead of shooting. The Brazilian blasted a left foot shot which rattled the crossbar but his effort wouldn’t have counted as the referee assistant raised his flag for offside.
A pyrotechnics display from the visiting sector caused the game to be stopped until the smoke would clear. Around 10 minutes later when play was resumed a Turgemam attempt of a shot was deflected for a corner. Lazetic made his second change two minutes after the hour mark as Ben Lederman was replaced by Ido Shahar.
Patati who kept battling with his opposite number tried a left foot piledriver that Michael managed to push away on 64.
Three minutes later at the opposite end Gerafi needed a double save to keep out Anderson’s cross come shot which the Maccabi custodian almost spilled into his own goal.
Lazetic made two more changes in the 70th minute as Sagiv Jehezkel replaced Davida while Ion Nicolaescu came on for Turgeman.
Within a minute the referee awarded Maccabi a penalty after Patati went down inside the area. But VAR intervened, called the referee to the screen before the initial decision was overturned.
In the 81st minute however Pafos took the lead in spectacular passion as a shot which came off the head of a Maccabi defender sailed into the air before it was met by Mons Bassouamina whose over head bicycle kick gave Gerafi no chance.
Patati limped off and was replaced by Elad Madmon in the 87th minute as Lazetic added another pair of fresh legs in an attempt to grab an equaliser.
The referee added 10 minutes due to the delay caused by the smoke earlier in the second half and the number of substitutes to both sides.
While Maccabi tried to level the score Pafos looked dangerous on the break as only brave defending by Shahar prevented Pafos from increasing their lead. But right at the death Maccabi were rewarded for their efforts on the night as Revivo floated a perfect chip over the defence of Pafos before Madmon rose high and sent a powerful header to level the score.
