Pre- Game
With Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against Suduva in mind, Maccabi’s coach Georgios Donis named a makeshift side with only five substitutes for the Toto Cup final match away to Bnei Sachnin. On the subs bench waiting for their chance were goalkeeper Ben Musayof, and U19’s duo Itay Ben Hamo and Sapir Afek together with Ruslan Barsky, Dor Torgeman and Eduardo Guerrero.
Several players were handed their senior debut starts as goalkeeper Daniel Peretz wearing the number one jersey, was named in goal. His cousin, Amit Glazer lined-up right in front of him partnering Matan Baltaxa as the two central defender with Ben Bitton and Ofir Davidzada as the right and left full-back respectively.
Two days after his 19th birthday, Ido Shahar, was named at the heart of midfield, with Dan Biton who made his debut against FC Riga and 18-year-old, Bar Cohen in front of him. Tal Ben Chaim, who also made a substitute appearance against the Latvians’ for his second debut for Maccabi, was given his first start on the wing with Ronen Hanzis (18) making his debut start on the opposite wing and Itay Schechter with the captains’ armband upfront.
First Half
Eight minutes from the start Maccabi created the first chance as Ben Bitton floated a cross into the area before Dan Biton’s attempt of a first touch volley went high over the crossbar.
Right on the half mark Daniel Peretz was forced to make his first save as a cross from the right comfortably fell to Ihaab Shami at the opposite end. Sachnin’s winger blasted a volley but Maccabi’s young keeper positioned himself well to catch the fierce low drive.
Three minutes later Amit Glazer blocked a Jaaber Atta effort before Peretz was forced to make another save this time to punch out another Atta volley.
Guy Leiba’s halftime whistle sent both teams to the dressing room knowing that they only have one more half as no extra time will be played and a draw after 90 minutes will send them to a penalty shoot out.
Second Half
Nine minutes after the restart, Georgios Donis made his first change as Roslan Barsky replaced Bar Cohen. Tal Ben Chaim and Dan Biton combined well for a counter attack but the winger failed to get a shot on target. Within a minute, Biton found himself in a glorious position deep inside Sachnin’s box but rolled the ball straight into the hands of Mahmud Kandil.
Eduardo Guerrero came in for Ben Chaim on 65 and within a minute the ball was inside Sachnin’s net as Biton’s free kick was headed by Schechter into the path of Matan Baltaxa who tucked the ball in from close range. The linesman raised his flag for offside, but VAR confirmed there was no infringement and the goal was allowed to count.
Sari Fallach had a chance to level the score as he found himself unmarked in the 75th minute but with the goal at his mercy from five meters out somehow managed to miscue his shot which went high into the stand.
Guerrero, Ben Bitton and Dan Biton tore Sachnin’s defense from the right in the 80th minute only to see the latter’s shot blocked by a defender for a corner.
On 88 Biton charged forward from the halfway line riding several tackles before releasing Schechter who should have doubled the score but his attempt of a chip was directed straight at the advancing keeper.
Inside injury time, Biton was rewarded for his efforts on the night as he began the move by releasing Guerrero into the area and then finished in style the cross which the Panamian forward served on a plate. Once again VAR had to intervene as the celebrations on the pitch echoed those of the rest of the squad in the stand.
