Despite a late Eran Zahavi penalty Maccabi Tel Aviv tonight lost their second league match of the season 2-1 to Ironi Kiryat Shmona.
Only hours before Maccabi's matchweek 9 away tie against current league leaders Ironi Kiryat Shmona, heavy rains raised the possibility that the match would have to be postponed. But by the time the some 3,000 Maccabi fans who had made the long trip north had taken their seats, both sides were ready for ninety minutes of action packed football. In the event fans of both clubs had little time to wait as the home side scored before the first minute of the match had passed, with Kiryat Shmona's Rodgers Kola heading past Maccabi keeper Barak Levy into the net. Maccabi proceeded to pose the greater threat throughout the first half but got no further than hitting the woodwork of Kiryat Shmona keeper Guy Haimov. Kiryat Shmona added a second ten minutes from time courtesy of ex-Maccabi player, midfielder Roi Kahat. In the final minute of play Maccabi were awarded a penalty and midfielder Eran Zahavi coolly converted from the spot to make it 2-1. But four minutes of stoppage time were all that remained to draw the sides level and ultimately Maccabi were thwarted in their efforts.
With just forty-five seconds on the matchclock, a poor clearance of a throw-in to the Maccabi area enabled Kiryat Shmona's Zambian striker Rodgers Kola to head over an out-of-position Barak Levy into the net to give his side an early 1-0 lead. Maccabi recovered quickly and five minutes later Rade Prica came close after running ahead of his markers to receive a clever pass in from defender Omri Ben Harush, but an onrushing Haimov blocked the Swedish striker's effort. Under the shadow of repeated Maccabi attacks Kiryat Shmona succeeded several times to counter on the break at the other end, with Roi Kahat and Central African Republic forward David Manga both getting close to the Maccabi goal. Five minutes from time Eran Zahavi released a lovely chip over a host of Kiryat Shmona defenders to catch keeper Haimov off his line, but his effort ricocheted off the crossbar.
After the restart Maccabi head coach Pako Ayestaran made two substitutions to freshen up the attack, sending on striker Barak Badash for Rade Prica and midfielder Dor Micha for fellow midfielder Gal Alberman. The result was again that the visitors had the upper hand and eight minutes in Eran Zahavi met the crossbar again with a well-placed free kick. On the hour mark Barak Badash set up midfielder Nosa Igiebor just outside the area but the Nigerian's low strike just grazed the far post. On 76 minutes Pako added yet another striking option in the form of forward Eden Ben Basat, but paradoxically it was Kiryat Shmona that came up with the second goal of the match four minutes later. Ten minutes from time a long ball into the Maccabi area found Roi Kahat on the left and after turning round his marker he let fly with a shot that passed Barak Levy inside the near post. Until the final minute of regular play it looked like Maccabi might fail to score in a league match for the first time this season. But then Kiryat Shmona defender Oded Elkayam inexplicably handled a ball inside the area and Eran Zahavi stepped up to the spot to pull one back for the visitors. But in the event it was too little too late and Maccabi suffered their second loss of the current Israeli Premier league season 2-1 to ironi Kiryat Shmona.
