Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Haifa drew 1:1 at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday 21 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika. Enric Saborit’s spectacular first half individual effort gave the Yellow & Blue the lead but a Gabriel Tamas header cancelled out the advantage as the sides split the points. Maccabi will now get ready for Bnei Sakhnin in the first leg of the State Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday evening at the Acre Stadium.
Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Enric Saborit, Sheran Yeini, Jair Amador, Maor Kandil, Dor Peretz, Dan Glezer, Ruslan Barsky, Dor Micha, Eliran Atar and Itay Shechter.
Available on the bench: Daniel Tenenbaum, Omer Atzili, Avi Rikan, Yonatan Cohen, Aron Schoenfeld, Ophir Davidzada, Shahar Piven.
First Half
In the 5’ Ginsari’s pass went off of Amador, skipped by the post and went out as Haifa had the first chance of the contest. Peretz’s 10’ opportunity from 20 meters went out while 8 minutes later Hozez tried to surprise Rajkovic from a tough angle but the Maccabi keeper made the save.
Ginsari’s 21’ chance from a Hozez ball missed the target and Barsky’s 23 meter attempt two minutes later flew over the goal as the contest remained goalless. In the 35’ Micha crossed the ball to Saborit but his header attempt was caught by Setkus and one minute later Shechter’s chance off Amador’s attempt from a corner just missed the goal.
But in the 37’ Saborit took the ball on the Maccabi half of the pitch and went forward 40 meters before unleashing a low shot from the top of the box that beat the Haifa keeper for a 1:0 advantage as the Yellow & Blue took the lead into the break.
Second Half
Micha gave Peretz a nice ball in the 52’ but his header went over the bar, while three minutes later Setkus took care of a Shechter chance. Glezer’s 62’ attempt was saved by Setkus and five minutes later Avi Rikan was introduced for Peretz.
Aron Schoenfeld entered the match in the 80’ for Shechter and a minute later Hozez’s free kick was parried away by Rajkovic for a corner. However, Haifa found the back of the goal via Gabriel Tamas as he headed home the equalizer, 1:1. Rikan almost gave Maccabi the lead in the 84’ off a Barsky ball but his shot went by the target and two minutes later Omer Atzili was introduced in favor of Barsky.
Both sides had chances to find the winner but ended up splitting the points as Maccabi will now prepare to face Bnei Sakhnin in the first leg of their State Cup quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday night at the Acre Stadium.
