Forced to deal with the repercussions of COVID which sidelined no less than nine first team players, Maccabi’s coach Georgios Donis couldn’t have dreamed of a worse way to prepare for such an important match.
With Maor Kandil serving a one-match touchline ban, and Shahar Piven recovering from a foot injury, Donis also had to cope without Dan Glazer, Yonatan Cohen, Enric Saborit, Avi Rikan, Dor Peretz, Nick Blackman, Daniel Peretz, as well Eduardo Guerrero and Dor Turgeman who were the latest additions to those testing positive for COVID.
Only six players could make it to the substitutes bench, for the first leg of the Champions League Playoff against Austria’s Champions FC Salzburg. The starting line up included Daniel Tenenbaum in goal, Ben Bitton at right-back, Sheran Yeini, Eytan Tibi and Matan Baltaxa as the three central defenders while Ofir Davidzada at left back completed the five-man-defensive line. Eden Kartzev and Ruslan Barsky were handed rare starts as the two midfield anchormen while Eyal Golasa completed the midfield trio. Upfront, Dan Biton joined Eylon Almog to try and cause damage to the Austrian defense.
Matan Hozez who only recovered from an injury he carried from last season, made his first appearance of the current campaign on bench. The remaining five were Etey Shechter, Tal Ben Chaim, Amit Glazer, Ronen Hanzis and young goalkeeper Ben Musayof on his first appearance in the senior squad.
Two minutes from the start Daniel Tenenbaum was tested with a long range free kick which the Brazilian custodian parried out. Maccabi took the lead in the ninth minute though as Eylon Almog carved Salzburg’s defense open with a perfect through ball to Dan Biton.
The diminutive midfielder playing as a makeshift forward, chested the ball down thus cancelling two defenders, before spotting the advancing keeper off his line and sending a delicate chip into the net.
Salzburg came close to level the score as a Masaya Okugawa cross from the right caught the defense flat and fell to Mregim Berisha on 15, but his shot which beat Tenenbaum was cleared off the line by Eytan Tibi. Eight minutes later, Tenenbaum reacted well to catch another dangerous free kick from the edge of the area, as Salzburg increased the pressure in a bid to try and snatch an equaliser.
Eden Kartzev had a chance to double Maccabi’s lead as he flashed a shot from inside the area into the side netting. Sheran Yeini, Tibi and Matan Baltaxa battled hard to clear the danger every time Saltzburg’s forwards managed to pass Kartzev and Ruslan Barsky. While Eyal Golasa, Biton and Almog kept looking dangerous.
The halftime whistle of referee Michael Oliver sent both teams for a 15 minute breather at the end of which Salzburg made their first change as Sekou Koita came in for Berisha. Two minutes later, Salzburg were awarded a penalty which Dominik Szoboszlal successfully converted despite Tenenbaum getting hand to.
Boosted by their equaliser Salzburg continued pushing forward but it was Dan Biton who tested Cican Stankovic with a left foot curler. Tenenbaum was forced to stretch himself and deny a powerful effort from Enock Mwepu but three minutes later though, Salzburg completed the comeback. Koita broke from the right, sent a low ball across the face of goal which Okugawa blasted into the roof of the net from one meter out.
Donis made his first change as Tal Ben Chaim came in for Barsky right on the hour mark but on 67 Tenenbaum came out to the rescue once again as Koita released Patson Daka but the keeper managed to dive and save. Biton sent a dangerous shot come cross which deceived Stankovic and and struck the post. Donis reacted with another substitution as Shechter and replaced Kartzev on 71.
Maccabi created several more chances to go level as did the visitors who struck the post in injury time. But the final whistle left Maccabi knowing that in a week’s time in Salzburg they have a mountain to climb.
