The Yellow & Blue moved on in Europa League play thanks to a clutch goal by Captain Gal Alberman in the 85th minute. Tal Ben Chaim opened the scoring in the 5th minute while Gerard Gohou drew Kairat even in the second half. But it was number 6 who showed his leadership to send Maccabi through to the next round.

Head Coach Shota Arveladze began the match with the same Starting XI that featured in Almaty as Predrag Rajikovic was in goal with Avi Rikan, Eitan Tibi, Tal Ben Haim and Dor Peretz in front of him. Captain Gal Alberman was the defensive midfielder while Haris Medunjanin and Nosa Igiebor played in the center of the pitch. Dor Micha, Tal Ben Chaim and Orlando Sa provided the offense up front.

First Half

Even before the fans were settled in their seats after a moving tribute to Nurit Mor Zt”l the Club’s Youth Department secretary who passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Maccabi was on the board thanks to a Ben Chaim goal.

In the 5th minute, Haris Medunjanin lifted a long cross from the right side directly to the feet of winger Ben Chaim who immediately beat the left back Stanislav Lunin and slotted home a goal past Kairat keeper Vladimir Plotnikov to give the Yellow & Blue an early 1:0 lead.

Five minutes later, Ben Chaim had a chance to score again, beating Lunin once more but this time Plotnikov made the save to keep the score as is. Referee Tiago Martins from Portugal booked Ben Chaim in the 21st minute while Lunin was handed a yellow card three minute later as play began to settle down. However, in the 29th minute Andrey Arshavin cut in from the right side but his low shot just whistled by the far post.

An active Ben Chaim then tried his luck again from the left wing in the 32nd minute but his attempt sailed over the goal. As the clock hit minute 36, Arshavin came flying in on the left side but his sharp opportunity was smartly blocked by Rajikovic as the ball went off of the Serbian’s knees and out of danger.

Ben Chaim crossed the ball into the key area and right to the head of Micha, but number 15’s header went over the goal while in the 44th minute Ben Chaim sped past Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and took a scintillating shot but the ball went off of the Kairat defense and out for a corner.

Medunjanin then lifted a ball right to Igiebor who had picked up a yellow card a few minutes earlier, but his header went off of the post just before the break as the sides went into the dressing rooms with Maccabi holding a 1:0 advantage.

Second Half

Isael looked to tie up the match with a 46th minute free kick but his attempt went over the goal. In the 53rd minute Gerard Gohou was issued a yellow card and five minutes later Micha swept past three Kairat players but his screamer went just left of the goal as each side looked to a goal. And it was the visitors from Kazakhstan who found the goal first in the second half as Gerard Gohou headed in a corner in the 64th minute to draw Kairat even 1:1.

Arveladze made his first substitution of the match introducing Eli Dasa for Peretz in the 69th minute to spark the Yellow & Blue attack while Yossi Benayoun entered the fray in the 75th minute to try and find the winner.

Sa almost found it in the 82nd minute as the Portuguese striker took a magnificent pass by Medunjanin but his effort was saved by the keeper to keep the score deadlocked at 1:1.

Who would come to rescue? None other than the Captain Gal Alberman who launched an unbeliever scorcher from long range past a helpless Plotnikov to give the Yellow & Blue a 2:1 lead in the 85th minute.

To help maintain the advantage coach Arveladze brought on Egor Filipenko for Haris Medunjanin as Maccabi looked to hold the lead and win the match which they did in style as the referee blew the final whistle to send the Yellow & Blue to the next round and a date with Romanian side Pandurii.