The Yellow & Blue went up 2:0 in the first half thanks to Dor Micha and an own goal, however, Haifa drew even in half number two via Maaran Laala and Hanan Maman. But substitute Gal Alberman gave Maccabi the lead while Vidar Kjartansson added an insurance goal to help Shota Arveladze’s side end the first round of matches with a win.

Prematch
Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach Shota Arveladze made some cosmetic changes to the Starting XI that featured against Dundalk as Sagiv Yehezkel and Avi Rikan were inserted into the lineup in favor of Haris Medunjanin and Omri Ben Harush who began the match on the bench. Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic was in goal with Eli Dasa, Tal Ben Haim and Eitan Tibi joining Rikan. Eyal Golasa, Nosa Igiebor and acting Captain Dor Micha were in the midfield while winger Tal Ben Chaim and Vidar Kjartansson were up front with Yehezkel.

On the bench for the Georgian boss were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Yossi Benayoun, Gal Alberman, Eden Ben Basat and Barak Itzhaki along with the aforementioned Medunjanin and Ben Harush.

First Half
Icelander Vidar Kjartansson had the contest’s first chance in the 11th minute as his 20 meter effort was collected by the Haifa keeper Velthuizen, while 8 minutes later Ben Chaim’s cross was also blocked and sent out to safety.

In the 21st minute, Rikan picked up a yellow card and Yehezkel collected one as well four minutes later. Maccabi looked to have scored via Ben Chaim in the 30th minute but referee Ziv Adler mistakingly called it offside. However, four minutes later the Yellow & Blue made sure that the goal would count as Micha beat Velthuizen putting the ball into the corner of his goal for a 1:0 lead.

Maccabi would continue to press and make it 2:0 in the 39th minute as Micha gave Kjartansson the ball whose cross would result in an own goal via Ofek Fishler giving the visitors a two goal advantage going into the break.

Second Half
Haifa came out strong and scored in the 51st minute as Maaran Laala beat Rajikovic thanks to Haim Magrashivili’s hard work in the box. Dasa tried to get the ball past the Dutch keeper but Velthuizen was in the right place to make the save in the 55th minute following which Coach Arveladze made his first substitution inserting Medunjanin in favor of Yehezkel.

Micha’s long effort couldn’t find the goal in the 58th minute while Laala almost drew the hosts even a minute later but he was stopped in his tracks by Ben Haim. Igiebor was then booked in the 65th minute while two minutes later Alberman replaced number 40. However, the substitution would not help stop Hanan Maman from drawing Haifa even in the 69th minute, 2:2.

Rajikovic had to come up big in the 73rd minute robbing Maman while Itzhaki was inserted for Rikan five minutes later as Maccabi looked to find some offense to find the go ahead goal. And what would you know, they would do exactly that one minute later.

The Captain, Gal Alberman took a Micha pass and sent the ball past a helpless Velthuizen to give the Yellow & Blue a 3:2 lead. Ben Chaim tried to add another goal via a solo effort but his chance just went by the post as Maccabi continued to look for an insurance goal.

Well if Ben Chaim couldn’t score he could help set up Kjartansson as the striker beat Velthuizen to wrap up a Maccabi 4:2 win. The Yellow & Blue will now get ready to face Hapoel Kfar Saba on Matchday 14 at Levita Stadium this coming Saturday at 16:00.