The Yellow & Blue couldn’t muster any offense as they lost 1:0 to Beitar Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium in the nation’s capital. A first half penalty by Itay Shechter gave the hosts the win as Maccabi will now prepare to face Bnei Lod on Saturday evening in the State Cup Round of 32.
Prematch
Head Coach Shota Arveladze’s Starting XI included Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic, along with defenders Eli Dasa, Tal Ben Haim, Egor Filipenka and Omri Ben Harush in front of him. Captain Gal Alberman was the defensive midfielder as Nosa Igiebor and Haris Medunjanin played alongside him while Dor Micha, Tal Ben Chaim and Barak Itzhaki provided the firepower up front.
Available on the bench for the Georgian boss were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Avi Rikan, Eitan Tibi, Sagiv Yehezkel, Yossi Benayoun, Vidar Kjartansson, Eden Ben Basat.
First Half
With rain falling on and off in Jerusalem, both sides had a tough time getting chances early on. Igiebor had Maccabi’s first two opportunities in the 10th and 15th minutes but both of his headers missed the mark after getting crosses from Dasa and Ben Chaim respectively.
Medunjanin’s 26th minute free kick just missed to the left of the goal while Idan Vered’s low shot three minutes later scooted by Rajikovic’s left post and out as the contest remained goalless. However, Filipenka pulled down Vered in the box good for a penalty that Itay Shechter slotted home to give the hosts a 1:0 lead in the 38th minute.
Ben Haim picked up a yellow card in the 44th minute for a reckless foul as the Yellow & Blue went into the break down 1:0.
Second Half
After 15 minutes of midfield play, Maccabi made their first substitution of the match introducing Eden Ben Basat for Medunjanin and the move almost paid off immediately. Number 9’s free kick went into the box bounced off of a couple of players and back to the striker who skied it over the goal.
In the 63rd minute, Dasa found Ben Basat in the area but his attempt was just tipped over the bar for a corner kick that was cleared by the Beitar defenders. Ten minutes later Vidar Kjartansson entered the contest in favor of Dasa and just one minute later Rajikovic stoped Vered’s attempt from right outside of the box.
As Maccabi looked for an equalizer, Yossi Benayoun came on for Gal Alberman in the 78th minute as Number 6 handed off the captain’s armband to Barak Itzhaki. Ben Basat had an 84th minute header opportunity but his effort just went wide of the goal as the Yellow & Blue pressed for a tying goal. However, it was not to be as the visitors fell to Beitar 1:0 and will now get ready for State Cup Round of 32 action on Saturday night at Bnei Lod.
