Maccabi arrived at Turner stadium in Be’ersheva for the MD9 Winner League home match against Hapoel Kiryat Shmona aiming to bounce back from last week’s defeat to Beitar Jerusalem,
Zarko Lazetic’s side who are top of the table with 19 points will aim to record their 7th league victory against 12th place Kiryat Shmona.
The Serbian coach made several changes to the side that lost at Teddy with Stav Lemkin partnering Raz Shlomo as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Sagiv Jehezkel started at right back with Ofir Davidzada completing Maccabi’s defensive line on the left. Joris van Overeem returned to the anchorman role to join Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz as Maccabi’s midfield trio. Henry Addo and Osher Davida were named on both wings with Dor Turgeman leading Maccabi’s attack.
On the bench alongside Simon Sluga, Idan Nachmias, Tyrese Asante, Eran Zahavi, Wesley Patati, Elad Madmon, Issouff Sissokho, Hisham Layous and Ido Shahar all waited for their chance to make an impact.
First Half
Around 10,000 season ticket holders travelled to Beersheva for a home match away from home, showing the team their support. Four minutes from the start Osher Davida picked the ball deep inside Maccabi’s half and began a counter attack which saw Dor Peretz burst forward through the middle. Kiryat Shmona’s midfielder Christian Martinez charged Peretz down stopping the attack and was cautioned by referee Gal Cohen. In the 15th minute Davida had possession on the edge of Kiryat Shmona’s box and when it seemed as though the 23-year-old was going for goal he slipped the ball for Sagiv Jehezkel who couldn’t reach. Peretz tried a left foot shot which was directed straight at goalkeeper Assaf Tzur on 17 before Maccabi’s best chance to score came two minutes later. Davida found Dor Turgeman in the box as the forward chipped the ball back with a delicate touch to leave his teammate in front of goal. But with only the keeper to beat I’m a glorious positionn tonl score, Davida miscued his shot wide of the target.
Maccabi continued to dominate enjoying most of the posession with Henry Addo tormenting Kiryat Shmona’s defenders on the left. Turgeman fired a shot wide on 26 and Peretz forced Tzur to stretch himself and turn his low drive for a corner a minute later. In the 32nd minute Jehezkel also went into the referee’s book for a foul on Jardel. Kiryat Shmona’s defense continued to frustrate Maccabi as the halftime whistle sent both teams into the dressing rooms to regroup ahead of the second period.
Second Half
As neither side made chsnges at the interval, Maccabi began the second half just like the first half. Two minutes after the restart Turgeman rose high to meet Davida’s pinpoint cross but sent his header crashing against the base of the post. Stav Lemkin limped off after suffering from a head injury as he was replaced by Terese Asante in the 57th minute. Addo charged into the area from the byline before his close range effort was saved by Tzur near the goalmouth.
In the 75th ninute Davida broke forward and slid the ball to Peretz who was fouled in the area before Levy awarded a8 penalty. Lazetic made a triple substitution before the penalty was taken as Jehezkel, Davida and Joris van Overeem all bowed out and we’re replaced by Ido Shahar, Eran Zahavi and Wessley Patati. In his first touch of the game Zahavi picked up the ball but saw his spot kick saved by Tzur. In the 80th minute Kiryat Shmona took the lead against the run of play as Nadav Niddam burst forward fed Mohamad Abu Rumi whose shot beat Mishpati to put the visitors infront. Lazetic made his fifth and final substitution as Elad Madmon replaced Addo for the closing stages on 88. The fourth official added seven minutes to the game but nothing seemed to be working in Maccabi’s favour as the visitors slowed the game down and run the clock until the final whistle was heard.
