Eran Zahavi had mixed feelings describing the 1-1 draw against Maccabi Haifa in Sami Ofer: “The first half was one of our best this season”

Last night, the 1-1 away draw against Maccabi Haifa was taken with mixed feelings among Maccabi Tel Aviv players and staff.  Maccabi's professional staff preferred to take the positive aspect from the game, which was the first 45 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHPggDNQlWM

Maccabi’s goal scorer Eran Zahavi, explained his goal celebration: “We thought it would be a nice gesture to celebrate the birth of Tal Ben Haim's son. He really wanted to play with us but he couldn’t make it.  We always miss those who can't play, and especially missed Tal, who could have made the difference”.

The midfielder had more to say about the game: “I thought we were excellent in the first half. The second half was not as good.

In the first half, we dominated the pace of the game, but unfortunately, could not translated our chances into goals that would have given us a comfortable lead. Instead, we game Maccabi Haifa an equalizing goal. I think that we were out of the game from that moment. It is just part of football. Momentum changes and it was difficult for us to get back into the game. We will learn from this performance”.

Currently, all eyes are towards the away fixture in Vasermil, Be’er Sheva which could be the match that will seal the league championship for the third consecutive season. “It is possible that the game in Vasermil would be the one and it is possible it won’t”, said Zahavi. “Our first priority is to improve the things that didn’t work out yesterday. There were many positive aspects as well. If we win the title next Monday we’ll be very happy. But if we don’t, it can happen the following week as well. Of course I am disappointed to miss the game in two weeks because of the yellow cards accumulation rule".

Zahavi has already scored 27 goals this season and he is not far from breaking his own record from last season. The yellow card he received yesterday means he will to miss the game against Kiryat Shmona in two weeks. Zahavi concluded: “I was upset because I didn’t think I deserve the yellow card. It makes my job a little harder but I like it.”

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa finished their fifth and last meeting this season with a 1-1 draw. Eran Zahavi and Ruben Rayos scored the goals

Goalkeeper Juan Pablo who made some important saves, described the match:

“We played a great game in the first 30 minutes. Those minutes were probably our best this season. I don’t know what happened afterwards. I can tell you that Maccabi Haifa is a good team and that sometimes things don’t go the way we want them to. We had a few more opportunities but we could not convert them into goals. There is always room for improvment. We know that the title race is not over. We are not champions yet and we need to remain strong and to prove ourselves until the end of the season. There’s no point to calculate a result in Be’er Sheva before the game is over. We’ll go down there to win”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MLVQc_6Re4 

 

After a thrilling 90 minutes of football, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa split the points between them after a 1:1 draw at the Sami Ofer Stadium

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MLVQc_6Re4

Paco Ayestaran gave his view of the game at the post match press conference, right after congratulating Tal Ben Haim on his first born son: "We controlled the game in the first 30 minutes, and played fantastic. After we conceded the yellow cards we played an individual game, and lost possession of the ball. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make the changes at the second half. I don’t think we suffer from a lack of performance in the last period. The only thing I would like to take from this game is the first 30 minutes. I don’t think we play different away from Bloomfield. We play our game but we are unable to translate our chances into goals. I only think of what is best for the team. Players have to be mentaly strong and keep on fighting for their place at the starting 11". 

For the fifth time this season, Maccabi Tel Aviv will Face Maccabi Haifa as they hold a perfect record against the team from Haifa. All the information for the upcoming game is in the infographics.

 

The match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa will be the fifth time the two meet this season, with the yellows winning all four previous encounters.

Dor Micha spoke about the matchup against the historical rival shortly before they meet at Sami Ofer Stadium. Micha talked about Maccabi’s good results against the greens in recent years: “Results are going in our favor against them in the last two seasons. Maccabi Tel Aviv against Maccabi Haifa is prestigious game that brings out a lot of emotions, regardless to the position in the table. I don’t think that we are favorites in this game, especially when it is played in Sami Ofer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rO6-2s6nXeU

Micha spoke about the final run towards the league title: “It doesn’t matter if we win the title in this specific game. A game against Haifa is one of those games you that remind you why you love playing football. And that’s why we need to give it all we have. We want to play well in every game and we always look to improve. We didn’t play as well in the semi-final, which came after a good period, but it shouldn’t affect us ahead of the next game”.

 

Round 32 in the Israeli Winner League will come to an end when Maccabi Tel Aviv will meet Maccabi Haifa at Sami Ofer Stadium. The game on Monday night will be the fifth time the two teams meet this season, with the yellows winning all previous encounters.

Defender Eitan Tibi spoke before the match about Maccabi’s final run towards the league title: “There are five games left. There is no doubt that the next game is vital towards our goal. We want to win the league as soon as possible. I think that Maccabi Haifa is a great team, but I am not concerned about our opponent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T7OOwCwFSs

The defender spoke about comparing this current Maccabi, to the ones from the last three years: “I think that the team is a different every year. This season we are doing something that we haven’t done before, which is to challenge every title. So it is wrong to say that we are not as good as before. We made great progress this season. It is too early to think about the next season and the Champions League. First, we need to accomplish our goals for this season and only after we can talk about the future”.

Tibi was decisive in regards to criticism about the team’s defensive performances: “I have a capable coach and staff who are able to determine whether our defense is good or not. I think that our defensive game is excellent this season, not just good. It is not easy to be on the verge of three consecutive league titles, and we still want to perfect our game. I think that we deserve more credit. Our record speaks for itself, which is the best answer for our critiques. Until to a short time ago people were talking about Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Ironi Kiryat Shmona as are our challengers, so the league isn’t weaker, it is Maccabi that is stronger. 

Maccabi Tel Aviv's players are making their final preparations towards the match against Maccabi Haifa. We decided to remind you of three alternative games in the history of the two clubs.

1991/2.  Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Maccabi Haifa – Ramat Gan Stadium

After a few years of Maccabi Haifa dominating the league, Shlomo Scharf’s greens arrived to Ramat Gan Stadium to face a rejuvenated Maccabi Tel Aviv, led by coach Avram Grant. Having started the season slowly, Maccabi Tel Aviv players knew that a win against their northern rivals would give the season a whole new meaning.

Maccabi Haifa took the first lead at the 29^th minute. A great pass by Eyal Berkovic found Tal Banin, who dribbled past keeper Alexander Uvarov before scoring an easy goal. Banin’s goal separated the two teams at halftime, but that was about to change after the break. Two minutes into the second half Eli Driks set Avi Cohen for an easy finish in front of the Haifa’s goalkeeper, Viktor Chanov. Maccabi piled the pressure and it took them only two more minutes to make it 2-1. Again, Eli Driks was the man to create the goal- the forward found to Avi Nimni, who struck it with his famous left foot to give Maccabi the lead and the win.

The win gave Grant’s team a tremendous morale boost and Maccabi went on to win the league title for the first time after 13 years.

2002/3. Maccabi Haifa vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv – Kiryat Eliezer

Veteran television announcer Yoram Arbel started the broadcast with the following words: “Maccabi Tel Aviv fans are hoping for a miracle and to continue fighting for the title this season”. The experienced announcer wasn’t wrong to describe Maccabi’s situation, as the team struggled with consistency from the start of the season. Many assumed that after Haifa’s win in Bloomfield in the first round would mean that the greens are on the right track to win the league. The match in Kiryat Eliezer on matchday 14 would however be the one to change the course of the season.

It did not take more than ten minutes for Maccabi to strike first. Haifa’s defender Arik Benado handled the ball in the box and Baruch Dego converted the penalty kick. Haifa’s response was quick. Forward Aiyegbeni Yakubu made it 1-1, only five minutes after Maccabi’s lead. A lightning start to the second half saw Maccabi regaining the lead. This time Dego’s cross found Andreas Prohorenkovs in front of goal to make it 2-1. Fans witnessed a thrilling second half with a dramatic ending. At the 81st minute Adoram Keisi equalized again, this time following a corner. The last word however belonged to the yellows. The magical moment of the game, and perhaps the season arrived at the 84th minute. A long goal kick by Liran Strauber made it to Amir Turgeman, who flicked it to Prohorenkovs. The Latvian striker dribbled the ball into the box and squared it beautifully to Turgeman who tucked in the winning goal.

The rest of the season was as thrilling as this game, as the yellows managed to beat Haifa in their third encounter in Bloomfield. Both teams finished the season a with the same number of points, with Maccabi Tel Aviv winning the league thanks to a better goal difference.

1995/6 Maccabi Haifa vs. Maccabi Tel Aviv – Kiryat Eliezer

The stadium in Kiryat Eliezer hosted many great meetings between the two rivals and the one on matchday 26 in the 1995/96 season would end up going into Maccabi’s history books.

Maccabi Haifa was first to score. A corner kick caused confusion in Maccabi’s box and Moshe Glam managed to rifle a shot which was deflected by Roni Levi before going past Alexander Uvarov’s goal.

A different Maccabi team showed up to the second half, and Dror Kashtan’s yellows took the field by a storm.. At the 53rd minute Eli Driks put both teams on equal terms following an assist by Avi Nimni. Driks produced another great moment at the 62nd minute after running past two defenders and the goalkeeper. A wide-open Nir Klinger was there to roll the ball into Haifa’s goal in order to give Maccabi the lead. Maccabi sealed the victory at the 81st minute. Avi Nimni received a great pass from Haim Hadjaj, dribbled past keeper Davidovich and scored from inside the box.

The win by Kashtan’s team proved to be a great step towards winning the league title at the end of a season to remember.

 

 

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv will return tomorrow to center stage in the Israeli Premier ("Winner") League second round play-off campaign as they face Maccabi Haifa for an 8.55pm kick-off at Sami Ofer Stadium. Head coach Pako Ayestaran will have a nearly complete squad at his disposal, with only midfielder Gili Vermouth and Barak Itzhaki missing.

At the customary pre-match press conference, the Spaniard was asked about the previous State Cup match: "I admit that I didn’t like the way we played at the Semi Final. We took responsibility and tried to fix the defects that we spotted. In the first half were had trouble moving the ball at the back, but it is something we know that can happen in Football".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T7OOwCwFSs

Regarding meeting Haifa for the fifth time: "Even after you play five times against a team, you can surprise them, but it is not the way Maccabi plays. We don’t change our gameplay by the opponent were facing. At the previous game, they did some inner changes and we will be prepared for that. It is true that the two clubs are rivals, but we must remember to honor the other side".

Regarding his future at the club said Pako: "I love my work here at Maccabi, but I am focused on the present. April was a month that I was pleased with 80 percent of our games, and that is what's important to me".