In a bid to build on Wednesday’s victory over Maccabi Haifa and in view of the upcoming packed fixture list, Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen made several changes to his starting line-up for the match at Be’ersheva. Andre Gerlades was handed his debut start as the Portugeuse full-back who returned to Maccabi in the January transfer window, replaced Shahar Piven on the right side of defense.
Eytan Tibi came for Sheran Yeini to partner Luis Hernandez as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum with Enric Saborit completing the back four. Dor Peretz who served his one-match touchline ban in the top of the table clash at Bloomfield, returned to the midfield and was handed the captain’s armband. After making a second half substitute appearance against Haifa, Dan Glazer who recovered from his injury, stepped in for the injured Eden Kartzev while Eyal Golasa completed the midfield trio.
Upfront, Van Leeuwen’s strike force remained unchanged as Matan Hozez’s man of the match performance against Haifa saw him keep his place on the wing. Tal Ben Chaim whose equaliser against Haifa opened his account for the season while Etey Shechter led the attack looking to break his long term goal drought.
First Half
Ninety seconds from the start Maccabi reached their first chance as Matan Hozez broke down the right before releasing Andre Geraldes whose cross was caught by Ohad Levita. Elton Acolatse tried his luck at the opposite end, but his shot didn’t trouble Daniel Tenenbaum who collected with ease.
An Enric Saborit attempt of a shot was blocked by Miguel Vitor in the 13th minute before Be’ersheva released a counter attack at the end of which Acolatse fired high over the crossbar.
The high tempo continued as Eyal Golasa broke into the area in the 15th minute before the ball was cleared for a corner. Ben Chaim’s resulting corner reached Etey Shechter at the far corner, but from close range the veteran striker couldn’t keep his shot down. A last gasp tackle by Sean Goldberg on Golasa in the 18th minute resulted with a free kick, but Levita managed to get a hand onto Hozez’s free kick which threatened to go in under the bar.
Ben Chaim tried a shot from the corner of the area in the 27th minute, but the winger’s shot sailed high into the stand. A Golasa shot from inside the area on 34 rolled across the face of goal as Maccabi continued looking dangerous.
Within four minutes, Maccabi took the lead in a move which began with a Tenenbaum quick throw and resulted with a spectacular Ben Chaim goal. Tenenbaum throw into the path of Hozez saw the pacey winger skip past his full back and send a square ball towards Shechter who was clearly brought down in the area. But as the referee waved play-on, Ben Chaim curled a perfect left foot shot beyond the reach of Levita to break the deadlock.
Despite a number of half chances and several corners, Maccabi didn’t manage to increase their lead before the interval.
Second Half
Four minutes after the restart Dor Pertez tried a shot which was caught by Levita but two minutes Maccabi came even closer to double the score. Ben Chaim, Shechter and Saborit pressured Be’ersheva’s defense to win the ball, but Peretz’s cut back that reached Hozez missed the target.
Be’ersheva made a double change on 58 as Ramzi Safuri and Ilay Madmon replaced Marcelo Melli and Loui Taha. Maccabi came close within a minute as Hozez had a shot from inside the area blocked by a Be’erhseva defender before Miguel Vitor cleared the danger.
Two minutes after the hour mark, Golasa was clattered in the area by Levita who charged off his line. Van Leeuwen made his first change as he introduced three players in the 66th minute with Avi Rikan, Eylon Almog and Aleksandar Pesic replacing Dan Glazer, Ben Chaim and Shechter.
Rikan tried to stamp his name as he carried the ball from midfield on 71 but rifled a shot over the bar. A minute later Golasa stole the ball from Be’ersheva’s defense but Pesic failed to keep his shot down. Sheran Yeini replaced the tired Golasa for the final four minutes.
Inside injury time, Rom Eligon forced Tenenbaum to stretch himself and push a dangerous shot for a corner. Nick Blackman replaced Hozez who had a shot strike the side netting before being replaced.
