The Yellow & Blue fell 1:0 to Astana on Matchday 4 of the Europa League after Patrick Twumasi scored a second half goal to take the three points in a contest that was controlled for the most part by the hosts. Maccabi will now get ready for Israel Premier League action at Hapoel Raanana on Sunday.
Head Coach Jordi Cruyff Starting XI featured Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal with a defense of Ofir Davidzada, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Eitan Tibi and Captain Sheran Yeini. Avi Rikan, Cristian Battocchio, Or Dasa and Nick Blackman were in the midfield while Eliran Atar and Vidar Kjartansson were on the attack.
Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Aaron Schoenfeld, Omer Atzily, Yuval Shpungin, Dor Micha, Tal Ben Haim and Dor Peretz.
First Half
Maccabi went on the offensive right from the get go as Vidar had a 2’ chance but the keeper made the save while 4 minutes later Blackman found Dasa in close, but his header went out. Babin headed Battocchio’s 18’ corner but his effort just went wide of the goal and just one minute later Vidar’s chance in the box was miraculously saved again by keeper Nenad Eric.
Blackman swept into the box but his opportunity went off of a defender in the 22’ and 8 minutes later Atar’s long range strike was saved by the keeper and sent out for a corner. In the 34’ Battocchio’s stunner from just outside of the area went wide of the target and right before the halftime whistle Blackman sent a cross to Dasa but his effort just went over the bar as the club’s went into the break goalless.
Second Half
Atar came out flying to start the second half as the Astana keeper had to be alert to make the smart save and send the ball out for a corner. In the 52’ Rikan sent a screamer that Eric was able to stop yet again while Atar’s header attempt from a Yeini cross went wide of the goal. However, Astana took a 1:0 lead via Patrick Twumasi as the striker took a Absal Beysebekov cross and put it behind Rajikovic in the 57’.
Cruyff made a double substitution in the 65’ to freshen up the attack as Aaron Schoenfeld and Dor Micha came on for Or Dasa and Eliran Atar while Schoenfeld picked up a quick yellow just one minute later for a reckless tackle. Omer Atzily was the third substitution as he entered the match for Blackman in the 77’ as Maccabi looked for a goal. Rikan jumped on a 79’ rebound but his effort flew over the goal as the match ended in a 1:0 win for Astana.
