The Yellow & Blue & Ashkelon played to a 0:0 draw and split the points as Maccabi will now prepare to host Dundalk on Matchday Six of the Europa League Group Stages on Thursday at 20:00.
Prematch
Head Coach Shota Arveladze had Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal with a defense of Eli Dasa, Omri Ben Harush, Tal Ben Haim and Eitan Tibi in front of him. Eyal Golasa, Haris Medunjanin and Nosa Igiebor were in the midfield while Sagiv Yehezkel, acting Captain Tal Ben Chaim and Vidar Kjartansson provided the attack.
Available on the bench were Barak Levi, Gal Alberman, Egor Filipenka, Barak Itzhaki, Yossi Benayoun, Dor Micha and Eden Ben Basat.
First Half
The Yellow & Blue looked to strike first as Dasa sent Kjartansson a chip into the box in the 8th minute, but the Icelander couldn’t find the goal while two minutes later Igiebor gave Yehezkel a nice ball but the winger’s tough angle shot was saved by Aiyenugba.
Ben Harush lofted a fabulous ball into the box but Kjartansson’s header was off the mark just going wide of the goal in the 23rd minute. Two minutes later Medunjanin’s left footed low screamer went wide right of the post as the score remained 0:0. Number 4 tried his luck from 20 meters but his 39th minute scorcher went wide right of the goal once again as the sides went into the break goalless.
Second Half
Coach Arveladze introduced Dor Micha in favor of Sagiv Yehezkel as the Yellow & Blue looked to break through the Ashkelon defense and Micha almost did exactly that two minutes into the half. Medunjanin found number 15 in the box off of a corner but his weak effort was easily collected by Aiyenugba while winger Ben Chaim picked up a yellow card as well.
Maccabi made their second substitution of the evening in the 54th minute as Barak Itzhaki entered the match and Medunjanin exited as the Yellow & Blue continued to search for the opening goal of the game. Ten minutes later the Georgian boss made his third and final substitution introducing Eden Ben Basat for Igiebor.
In the 68th minute Micha tried his luck from 20 meters but his ball breezed by the post while Ashkelon coach Yuval Naim made a pair of substitutions as Baruch Dego and Matan Hozez were brought on in the 74th and 84th minutes respectively.
As the clock hit the 90th minute Ben Basat’s header couldn’t find the goal as the match ended in a goalless draw. Maccabi will now get ready for their final UEFA Europa League group stage match on Thursday night at 20:00 against Dundalk from Ireland as the Yellow & Blue will look to book their spot in the Round of 32.
