The Yellow & Blue picked up a point in a draw against Ashdod at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al. Mauricio scored for the visitors to open the scoring while Nick Blackman drew Maccabi even just before the break in the 45’.
Head Coach Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI featured Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal along with Captain Sheran Yeini, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Tal Ben Haim and Ofir Davidzada in front of him. Jose Rodriguez, Eyal Golasa and Dor Micha were in the midfield while Nick Blackman, Eliran Atar and Vidar Kjartansson played up front.
Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Lifshitz, Yuval Shpungin, Barak Itzhaki, Eitan Tibi, Avi Rikan, Aaron Schoenfeld and Dor Peretz.
First Half
Maccabi controlled the pace of play over the opening minutes as the hosts had a couple of chances during the first ten minutes as Kjartansson’s headers couldn’t find the back of the goal. In the 23’ Golasa tried his luck from long distance but his effort went over the bar as Maccabi looked to break the ice against a pesky Ashdod side.
However, it would be the visitors who would score first as Mauricio stole the ball in the midfield and beat Rajikovic for a 1:0 Ashdod lead in the 30’. Eight minutes later, the visitors almost doubled their advantage but Gadi Kinda’s attempt just went wide of the post.
With Maccabi looking for an equalizer before the break they would find it via Blackman in the 45’ as the winger’s opportunity from 20 meters beat Yoav Gerafi to help draw the hosts even at 1:1 after 45 minutes of action.
Second Half
Maccabi began the second half pressing for a go ahead goal. In the 55’ Atar’s chance went off the side of the goal while three minutes later his free kick was saved by an alert Gerafi. Cruyff began making substitutions in the 66’ when he inserted Avi Rikan for Rodriguez who had just come back from injury. Ashdod had a 71’ chance but Edlison’s effort missed the target.
The Yellow & Blue brought on Itzhaki and Schoenfeld to freshen up the offense as the half continued while in the 83’ Atar’s dangerous opportunity just missed the goal as the side’s ended in a 1:1 draw to split the points.
