A first half penalty from Yonatan Cohen and a debut goal from Aleksandar Pesic saw Maccabi record their first league victory of the season with a 2-1 win away to Sachnin.
After five league matches, Georgios Donis’ side go into the international break with 6 points and time to recover from the hectic fixture list they encountered in Europe and domestic competition.
Pre Game
Georgios Donis made several changes to the side which was beaten 4-0 by Villarreal in the Europa League as Sheran Yeini returned to the heart of defense alongside Luis Hernandez. Enric Saborit returned to his position on the left side of defense with Maor Kandil completing the back-four as the right full back.
Dor Peretz and Eyal Golasa returned to the starting line-up and partnered Dan Glazer as the midfield trio exactly like they did during the 2-2 draw against Maccabi Haifa last week while Dan Biton and Yonatan Cohen were named as the right and left wingers behind Aleksandar Pesic on his debut start.
First Half
Ten minutes from the start referee Gal Leibovic awarded Sachnin a penalty after Luis Hernandez was judged to have handled the ball in the area. But after a lengthy check in the VAR, Leibovic canceled his initial decision.
On 22 Yonatan Cohen released Aleksandar Pesic into the area, but the shot of the Serbian striker was easily collected by Rami Hamada.
Eight minutes later however, Maccabi were awarded a penalty as Enric Saborit sent Pesic clear through before the Serb was brought down by the advancing Hamada. Cohen stepped up, kept his calm and successfully slotted the penalty home to break the deadlock.
Osama Haliala came close on 34 as his snapshot from the edge of the area beat Daniel Tenenbaum but hit the side netting.
A minute later, Maor Kandil should have doubled the lead as he ghosted unmarked to head Dan Biton’s corner. But the tenacious right back somehow managed to direct his header over the bar when it seemed easier to score.
Second Half
A minute after the restart Biton’s through ball released Cohen in acres of space and with only the keeper to beat. But Cohen’s powerful left foot drive was initially parried by the keeper before Sachnin’s defense cleared the danger.
On 51 Cohen turned provider as he teed-up Kandil on the edge of the area only to see the right-back miscue his shot and miss the target once again.
Seven minutes after the hour mark Pesic finally scored his debut goal as he latched onto a lose ball, lifted it over the advancing keeper and blasted it into the open goal to double Maccabi’s lead.
Donis made his first two changes in the 77th minute as Eylon Almog and Tal Ben Chaim replaced Biton and Cohen for the final 13 minutes.
Pesic bowed out to what would have been a standing ovation on 84 as Etay Shechter replaced the Serb while Avi Rikan and Eden Kartzev came in for Dan Glazer and Eyal Golasa as a part of a triple substitution.
Inside injury time Sachnin were awarded a penalty after Moti Barshatzky was fouled inside the area and Osama Haliala blasted the penalty to make it 2-1 in what was the final kick of the game.
