A two legged tie against Red Bull Salzburg with the home tie staged at Bloomfield next week followed by the return leg in Austria the following week now stands between Maccabi and a third qualification to Europe’s biggest stage. Regardless of the result against the Austrians’, the victory over Brest secured Maccabi a place in the Europa League group stages.
First Half
Four minutes from the start Maccabi came close to break the deadlock as Itay Shechter exchanged passes with Sheran Yeini to carve the Brest defense open. But with only the keeper to beat flashed his shot across the face of goal. Two minutes later Eyal Golasa received a perfect cut-back from Maor Kandil which only to see his shot from the penalty spot fly over the crossbar.
In the 18th minute Dor Peretz blasted a shot which was pished out for a corner by Sergei Iganotovich. Two minutes later, Eitan Tibi rose high to clear the danger and prevent a dangerous Kirill Pechenin cross from reaching Abdoulaye Diallo.
Second Half
Five minutes after the restart Maccabi were rewarded Peretz was brought down in the area and Italian referee Davide Massa pointed at the penalty spot. Dan Biton stepped up and successfully converted the spot kick to give Maccabi a well deserved lead.
On 56 Donis made his first change as Nick Blackman came in for the tired Shechter. Right on the hour mark Peretz forced Ignatovich to dive and save his shot from the edge of the area.
Avi Rikan came in for Golasa on 64 as Donis felt he needed a fresh pair of legs in midfield as well. Daniel Tenenbaum was seriously tested for the first time as he charged off his goal to dive at the feet of Diallo who broke clear through.
Saborit could have doubled the score on 72 as he rose unmarked to head Biton’s corner but failed to guide it on target. Two minutes later the best chance of the game saw Kandil carve the Brest defense open as he broke into the box from the right.
Kandil’s cross beat the keeper and with the goal at his mercy from 2 meters out Davidzada somehow miscued his shot over the bar. Blackman tested the keeper with a powerful left foot drive and minutes later struggled to connect onto a cross which could have sealed the victory. Yonatan Cohen replaced Biton for the final 9 minutes but it was a Saborit’s last gasp header which denied Diallo from heading in an equaliser.
The referee added five minutes which didn’t add to the nerves of everyone present but his final whistle kicked off the celebrations on the pitch.
