Pregame
Three days after the 0-0 draw against Sutjeska in Montenegro and four days before the return leg at Bloomfield, Patrick van Leeuwen’s charges put their European exploits aside in favor of the first domestic trophy of the season.
For the first time ever in Super Cup history, an encounter between Maccabi and bitter rivals Maccabi Haifa supplied a mouth watering fixture which officially opens the domestic season.
Silverware and bragging rights are not the only thing at stake as the winner of the Super Cup guarantees itself a place in the Toto Cup semi final.
Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen made four changes from the side that was held to a 0-0 draw in Podgorica as new signing Idan Nachmias was handed his official debut as the partner of Louis Hernandez at the heart of defense. Enric Saborit returned to the left side of defense with Andre Geraldes completing the back four that protected the goal of Daniel Peretz.
In the absence of Sheran Yeini who is still recovering from COVID, Dan Glazer, who made a second half substitute appearance against Sutjeska, was handed the captain’s armband. Shahar Piven and Avi Rikan completed the midfield trio. Yonatan Cohen and Eduardo Guerrero were both assigned to the winger’s role while Osama Khalaila who made his debut against Sutjeska as a substitute, made his first start leading Maccabi’s attack.
First Half
A minute after the start Maccabi were awarded a free kick near the corner flag which was whipped in by Yonatan Cohen before Haifa’s defense cleared into the path of Avi Rikan who blasted his shot high. Within a minute Osama Khalaila was fouled almost in the same position, but this time Cohen’s free kick was headed over by Louis Hernandez.
Dan Glazer was the first player to go into the book of referee Liran Liani for what seemed like a harmless challenge on Tjaronn Chery in the middle of the park on 15. Patrick van Leeuwen protests saw the fourth official signal to the referee who consequently also booked Maccabi’s coach.
A goalmouth scramble following a Haifa in the 24th minute saw Daniel Peretz somehow push the ball off his line before Enric Saborit cleared the danger. Three minutes later Ben Sahar managed to get the ball past Daniel Peretz , but Haifa’s celebrations were short-lived as the goal was ruled out for offside.
In the 35th minute Haifa had the ball in the back of the net but once again the goal was ruled out for offside. Idan Nachmias also received a booking on 37 for a tackle on Sahar. Omer Atzili curled the resulting free kick that narrowly missed the target as the ball went just over Peretz’s goal.
With no goals in the first half, Liani’s halftime whistle sent both teams into the dressing room to catch their breaths for 15 minutes.
Second Half
A minute after the restart, Maccabi’s claims for a penalty were waved by the referee despite the fact a shot seemed to have struck the hand of a Haifa defender in the box. A minute later Mohamad Abu Fani flashed a shot wide of Peretz’s goal. In the 49th minute however the deadlock was finally broken as Peretz pulled a stunning save to keep out Atzili’s header following a Din David cross. But the young Maccabi custodian could do nothing to keep out Sahar’s close range rebound as Haifa took the lead.
Right on the hour mark, Cohen flashed a shot high and wide of the target while a minute later Van Leeuwen made a double substitution. Matan Hozez replaced the tired Guerrero while Ido Shahar made his senior debut appearance for Maccabi coming on for Rikan. Van Leeuwen made his third change of the game as Enric Saborit bowed out on 64 and was replaced by Ofir Davidzada.
Hozez was brought down near the edge of the Haifa area before Cohen’s free kick shaved the top of the crossbar with his free kick on 69. Three minutes later Van Leeuwen made his final two changes as Tal Ben Chaim and Eylon Almog replaced Khalaila and Nachmias. But less than a minute later, Haifa doubled their lead through a solo effort from Abu Fani.
Inside injury time a Hozez cross was parried by Josh Cohen into the path of Yonatan Cohen whose shot was headed off the line by Sean Goldberg as proof that this was not going to be Maccabi’s night.
