Pre Game
Maccabi’s coach Georgios Domis made two changes from the side which held Villarreal to a 1-1 draw in the Europa League for the league match against Hapoel Kfar Sava. Sheran Yeini replaced Eitan Tibi to partner Luis Hernandez at the heart of defense with Maor Kandil and Enric Saborit completing the back-four on the right and left respectively.
Sidelined by the injury to his eyebrow for which he received five stitches by Maccabi’s medical staff, Dan Glazer, was replaced by Tal Ben Chaim. Eyal Golasa and Dor Peretz both dropped back to a deeper position in midfield which was completed by Dan Biton with Yonatan Cohen and Aleksandar Pesic keeping their places upfront to form an attacking trio with Ben Chaim.
First Half
Three minutes from the start Maccabi came close to break the deadlock as Dan Biton led a counter attack before releasing Yonatan Cohen whose square ball fell to Aleksandar Pesic. The Serbian striker who scored Maccabi’s equalizer against Villarreal miscued his volley which beat Matan Zalmanovic but bounced back off the post. Pesic had another chance in the 10th minute as Kfar Sava’s defense failed to clear the danger but once again failed to connect.
On 22 Biton had an initial shot from the edge of the area blocked by a defender before Ben Chaim teed him up for the rebound only to miss-hit his shot wide of the target.
Four minutes later, Kandil found Dor Peretz who ghosted into the area, but his right foot shot was blocked by a defender for a corner which was cleared.
A mistake by Luis Hernandez could have cost Maccabi dearly on 36 as his back pass was intercepted by Luwagga Kizito. But his attempt to curl the ball and catch Daniel Tenenbaum off his line missed the target.
A minute later however Maccabi took the lead as Cohen fed Pesic who sent a clever back-heal flick to beat the keeper and put Maccani in front. On the stroke of halftime, Maccabi doubled their lead in spectacular fashion as Peretz won a tackle in the midfield, released a counter attack at the end of which Cohen set up the second goal as well this time for Biton who slotted home on the half volley.
Secon Half
Seven minutes after the restart, Biton turned provider and repaid Cohen for his earlier assist. This time round Cohen rose high to head in Biton’ pinpoint corner for Maccabi’s third.
Cohen could have scored another on 58 as he crept behind Kfar Sava’s defense to meet Ben Chaim’s cross from the right. But his header which was directed on target was pushed by Zalmanovic for a corner.
Donis made a double substitution on 73 as Etey Shechter and Matan Hozez replaced Pesic and Ben Chaim.
Shechter got involved almost instantly as two minutes after his introduction he shielded Saborit’s cut back and teed up Biton whose left foot drive was deflected for a corner. Avi Rikan, Eylon Almog and Nick Blackman were given 10 minutes to make their mark as they replaced Golasa, Biton and Cohen in the 80th minute.
Inside injury time, Shechter who was booked a minute earlier, was sent off for a tackle on the keeper.
