Pre Match
For the first time during the 2020/21 season Maccabi arrive at this match from the first place in the league table. The 4-1 victory over Beitar Jerusalem last Monday, extended Maccabi’s run to nine league victories in succession but also took Patrick van Leeuwen’s charges above Maccabi Haifa.
For the visit to Kiryat Shmona, Van Leeuwen was forced to make several changes as his regular full-backs, Andre Geraldes and Enric Saborit, joined the injury list that already included Yonatan Cohen, Eden Kartzev and Dan Glazer. Serbian striker Aleksandar Pesic is still recovering from COVID while Tal Ben Chaim was serving a one-match touchline ban due to five yellow cards.
In the absence of Gerlades and Saborit, Maor Kandil and Ofir Davidzada were named as the two full-backs on the right and left respectively. Van Leeuwen kept the same midfield that beat Beitar as Sheran Yeini remained as the anchor-man behind Dor Peretz and Eyal Golasa.
Matan Hozez kept his place in the starting line-up as did Etey Shechter who led the attack while Dan Biton stepped-in for Eduardo Gurrrero who dropped to the bench. The injuries and suspensions limited Maccabi’s substitutes bench to seven players only as Matan Baltaxa, Nick Blackman, Avi Rikan, Shahar Piven and Gurrero joined goalkeeper Daniel Peretz all waiting for a chance to make an impact
First Half
It took Maccabi seven minutes to launch the first threat on Kiryat Shmona’s goal as an Ofir Davidzada cross reached Sheran Yeini whose left foot volley from the edge of the area was caught by Dziugas Bartkus.
Ten minutes later the hosts launched a dangerous attack of their own but Lucio failed to connect onto Muhammed Shaker’s cross. Maccabi came close within a minute as Etey Shechter rose high to meet Dan Biton’s cross from the right, but the veteran striker headed the ball over Bartkus’ crossbar from close range. Daniel Tenebaum was drawn into the action on 19 as the Brazilian born custodian punched out Lucio’s powerful drive.
Shechter couldn’t reach a Matan Hozez cross in the 27th minute, but two minutes later Maccabi came even closer as Dor Peretz forced Bartkus to save for a corner after a well-timed Biton cut-back.
A minute after the half hour mark, Maccabi were rewarded for their efforts and Peretz got the goal he deserved. Golasa carved Kiryat Shmona’s defense open with a perfect through ball to Peretz whose delicate chip over the advancing Bartkus broke the deadlock to the delight of the Maccabi fans who hadn’t seen a goal or a game in over a year.
As if conceding a goal wasn’t bad enough for Kiryat Shmona, the hosts were reduced to 10 men in the 34th minute after Yoav Hofmeister was shown the second yellow card for a foul on Sheran Yeini.
Hozez missed a chance to double the score in the 42nd minute as he was left unmarked deep inside Kiryat Shmona’s penalty area. But the diminutive winger who connected onto Maor Kandil’s cross, sent his header wide of the post.
Second Half
The second half began in the same way the first half had ended – a Hozez chance which he sent in the 49th minute high over the bar.
Aiming to capitalize on his numerical advantage, Van Leeuwen, made a triple change two minutes after the hour mark as Yeini, Biton and Golasa all made way for Shahar Piven, Avi Rikan and Eylon Almog.
Two minutes after his introduction Almog came close as he fired a shot on the turn straight at Bartkus. In the 70th minute, Almog broke down the right and sent a cross that found Hozez unmarked at the far post, but with only the keeper to beat, once again he shot high over the bar.
Nick Blackman replaced the tired Shechter in the 75th minute as Van Leeuwen made his fourth substitution of the game. Six minutes later, referee Nael Oudah, awarded a penalty after Hozez who tried to reach Kandil’s cross was pushed by Dor Elu inside the area. Hozez picked himself up, sent Bartkus the wrong way and rolled in the penalty to double the score on 82 with his second goal of the season.
Hozez forced another save from Bartkus on 86 after a counter attack that Peretz and Rikan released through the middle. Matan Baltaxa was introduced for the final 4 minutes as he replaced Davidzada while a minute later Blackman forced another save from Bartkus.
Oudah’s final whistle ensured Maccabi extend their lead at the top to four points, a gap that could be narrowed later on Sunday today as Maccabi Haifa face Bnei Yehuda.
