The Yellow & Blue defeated Bnei Sakhnin 1:0 away at the Acre Stadium on Matchday 16 of the Israel Football League Ligat Ha’Al. Vidar Kjartansson slotted home a second penalty which had to be retaken after keeper Mohamed Kandil came off his line to give Maccabi the win and 3-points. On Saturday at 18:10, Maccabi Tel Aviv will welcome Bnei MMBE to the Netanya Stadium for a State Cup Round of 32 contest.
Head Coach Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI featured Predrag Rajikovic in goal along with Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Captain Sheran Yeini, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Dor Micha, Cristian Battocchio, Dor Peretz, Barak Itzhaki, Nick Blackman and Vidar Kjartansson.
Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Yuval Shpungin, Tal Ben Haim, Eliran Atar, Jose Rodriguez, Ofir Davidzada and Aaron Schoenfeld.
First Half
Maccabi looked to control the pace of the contest from the get go as Itzhaki tried to find Blackman with a deep ball but put it out of the Englishman’s reach in the 3’ while in the 16’ Blackman’s half volley just went over the bar. Just one minute later number 11’s 18 meter blast went wide of the post as Maccabi continued to threaten the Sakhnin goal.
In the 19’ Maccabi had back to back chances from Itzhaki and Battocchio but their attempts were taken care of the Sakhnin keeper Mohamed Kandil. Blackman kept pressing as his 28’ chance came close and then a minute later he was pulled down by Sari Falach in the box after the defender lost the ball, however, referee Gal Leibovitz didn’t call for a spot kick after a clear penalty.
Jabar A’taa replaced Alaa Abu Salah after an injury to the latter in the 34’ and Peretz picked up a yellow card in the 40’ as the half ended goalless.
Second Half
Sakhnin had the opening chance of the half when Falach’s header off a free kick didn’t find its intended address in the 49’. But it would be Maccabi who would break the ice thanks to a Kjartansson penalty. Blackman was pulled down in the box as he came sweeping in from the right side good for a spot kick. Prior to the penalty the referee warned Kandil not to come off the line before the kick was taken. However, the shot stopper did exactly that and saved the Iceman’s attempt forcing the penalty to be retaken which was promptly slotted home by Vidar for a 1:0 Maccabi lead in the 56’.
Ten minutes later Jose Rodriguez came in for Itzhaki and then picked up a yellow card in the 71’, but sandwiched between the two, Shlomi Azulay came in all alone on Rajiko but the Maccabi keeper was up to the task to keep his clean sheet intact. The Serbian shot stopper was tested again in the 84’ but made a fantastic save, tipping the ball over the bar to safety and one minute later Aaron Schoenfeld came on for Vidar.
Blackman was issued a yellow card in the 88’ as the match came to an end with Maccabi taking home the 3 points and the win.
