Maccabi’s return to Bloomfield Stadium ended in disappointment as they fought out a goalless draw against Hapoel Beer Sheva. Eran Zahavi had a penalty saved
After two months in the wilderness, Maccabi Tel Aviv finally returned home to Bloomfield Stadium, only to have their celebrations muted by a stubborn Hapoel Beer Sheva side that held them to a goalless draw. Prior to the match Maccabi midfielder Eran Zahavi was given December's “Player of the Month” award by the League Management after a poll taken among football fans all across Israel.
The home side opened brightly with winger Tal Ben Chaim trying his luck in the very first minute with a shot from outside the area that ended in the arms of Beer Sheva’s Nigerian keeper Austin Ejide. Two minutes later midfielder Nikola Mitrovic had a go from the edge of the area but his effort sailed wide. On 11 minutes defender Omri Ben Harush also found space in the Beer Sheva half but his shot too missed its mark. It was not until just before half time that either of the two sides renewed any of the game’s initial energy, with Beer Sheva’s star midfielder Maor Buzaglo missing on 40 minutes after a sprightly run down the right. But the best chance of the half fell to Maccabi’s Nigerian midfielder Nosa Igiebor, who shot just wide from close range after latching on to Ajide’s deflection of fellow midfielder Dor Micha’s shot on goal.
Five minutes after the restart it was again Tal Ben Cham who had the first run on goal, but his shot was once again stopped by the Beer Sheva keeper, who also grabbed a second attempt by Nikola Mitrovic a minute later. Just past the hour mark it was Beer Sheva’s Romanian midfielder Ovidiu Hoban testing Maccabi keeper Juan Pablo, but the Spaniard stretched out to grab the ball. Maccabi’s best effort of the second half also fell to Igiebor, who got his head to a Tal Ben Haim cross in the area and sent it just over the crossbar fifteen minutes from time. Three minutes later Maccabi were awarded a penalty after Eran Zahavi was brought down in the area by Beer Sheva Ben Bitton, but the star midfielder failed the conversion and the game remained scoreless. Seven minutes from time Beer Sheva’s Serbian defender Tomislav Pajovic cleared a ball with his head back towards his own goal that hit the crossbar and fell into the path of Maccabi substitute Eden Ben Bassat, but the striker’s shot went wide. In extra time Beer Sheva defender Ofir Davidzada was shown red for a lunge at substitute midfielder Ben Reichert, but for Maccabi it proved too late to take advantage of their numerical superiority and the match ended 0-0 with the two sides sharing the points.
Next Sunday at 8.55pm Maccabi Tel Aviv head north to face Maccabi Haifa at “Sammy Ofer” Stadium.
