Pre Match
Nine days after suffering his first league defeat away to Kiryat Shmona, Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen arrived with his side to Be’ersheva aiming to close the five-point-gap from the top of the table.
Tonight’s opponent managed to hold Maccabi Haifa to a 1-1 draw at Turner stadium as Roni Levy and his charges will try once again to influence the title race
With Eytan Tibi serving his one-match-touchline ban due to his dismissal at Kiryat Shmona, Van Leeuwen welcomed Sheran Yeini back into the heart of defense as Luis Hernandez’s defensive partner. Andre Geraldes who made a second half substitute appearance last week and Enric Saborit who was rested at that game, both returned to their regular roles on the right and left respectively. Dan Glazer and Dor Peretz both kept their place and were joined by Eden Kartzev to complete the midfield engine room.
Yonatan Cohen, who gradually returned to the side after recovering from a long term injury, made his first start since January 23rd. Eduardo Guerrero on the opposite wing to Cohen and Aleksandar Pesic as the striker who leads the attack completed Maccabi’s line-up. Eyal Golasa returned to the squad after an injury that side-lined him for a month as he was named on the substitutes bench waiting for his chance to make an impact. Matan Baltaxa, Nick Blackman, Etey Shechter, Tal Ben Chaim, Ofir Davidzada, Eylon Almog and Shahar Piven were the other substitutes.
First Half
The hosts took the initiative in the early stages as a Josue corner in the fourth minute was headed across the face of Daniel Tenenbaum’s goal by Mariano Barriero but eluded Maccabi’s defenders and Beersheva’s forwards.
In the 18th minute Hatem Elhamid was the first player to be booked by Orel Grinfeeld for a tackle on Eduardo Guerrero after the Panamanian broke free down the right flank. Yonatan Cohen whipped in the resulting free-kick but the ball was cleared by the home side’s defense. Two minutes later, Ohad Levita was forced to push-out a Guerrerro corner, before repeating the feat to deny Cohen’s corner as well.
In the 23rd minute however, VAR was forced to intervene after Sheran Yeini was elbowed in the face by Barriero as Grinfeeld awarded Maccabi a penalty. Cohen stepped-up and successfully converted the spot-kick past Levita to open the score with his 10th league goal of the season.
Tempers were running high after the halftime whistle as both sets of players were involved in a tussle on the way to the dressing rooms which resulted with Tal Ben Chaim booked before the restart.
Second Half
Aleksandar Pesic came close on 49 as his header following a Cohen corner caused Be’ersheva’s defense all sorts of problems, but the ball was cleared from the goal-mouth.
Daniel Tenenbaum was forced to make his first serious save on 52 as he punched-out Elton Acolatse’s powerful drive from outside the area. Dan Glazer who was booked earlier in the first half, was replaced by Shahar Piven in the 57th minute. But four minutes later, Turner stadium erupted as Marwan Kabha blasted an unstoppable shot that gave Tenenbaum no chance to level the score at 1-1.
Van Leeuwen made a double change in the 65th minute as Eyal Golasa and Etey Shechter replaced Eden Kartzev and Pesic. Nick Blackman and Eylon Almog were introduced for Guerrero and Cohen on 81 as Van Leeuwen introduced the duo for the final nine minutes.
The substitution almost paid off as Blackman came close inside injury time with a right-foot-shot. But Levita pulled a stunning save to push the ball onto the post as it was clear that it was not going to be Maccabi’s night.
