Pregame
On the day Maccabi Tel Aviv made their European debut against FC Valetta back in 1992, and the class of 2015 played the first leg of their Champions League Playoff away to FC Basel which resulted in a famous dramatic 2-2 draw, the current class of 2021/22 were getting ready to play the first leg of their Conference League Playoff.
Kazakhstan outfit Shakhter Karagandy, who knocked out Romanian side Steaua Bucharest and Kolos of the Ukraine in the previous rounds, both in a penalty shoot-out, separate between Patrick van Leeuwen’s side and an appearance in the Conference League group stage. Van Leeuwen, who is more than familiar with football in Kazakhstan having worked for Kairat Almaty prior to him joining Maccabi in 2017, made two changes from the side that advanced past Spartak Trnava in the 3rd qualifying round.
Idan Nachmias stepped in for Matan Baltaxa as the partner of Louis Hernandez at the heart of defence with Enric Saborit on the left and Andre Geraldes on the right completing the back four.
Sheran Yeini, the only survivor of the Maccabi team that 11 years ago played French giants P.S.G the Europa League Playoff, led the line with the captain’s armband as the midfield trio of Yeini, Dan Glazer and Avi Rikan remained unchanged. Upfront, van Leeuwen made another change as Eduardo Guerrero was named in the starting line-up while Matan Hozez waited for his chance on the bench alongside new signing Eden Shamir. Tal Ben Chaim as the second winger and Osama Khalaila as the striker upfront completed Maccabi’s strike force.
First Half
Maccabi began the match in what could have been a perfect manner as Osama Khaliala came close to score in the opening minute as he headed an Andre Geraldes cross goal-bound. But the 23-year-old striker was denied by Sahkhter’s goalkeeper Igor Shatskiy who pushed the ball over the crossbar.
The hosts, playing on Astana’s artificial pitch, tried testing Daniel Peretz with a couple of long range efforts which were easily collected by the Maccabi keeper. In the 12th minute, a Sheran Yeini pinpoint chip carved Shakhter’s defence open and left Eduardo Guerrero right in front of goal. But with only Trofimets to beat, the Panamanian forward lifted the ball over the advancing keeper but saw his effort clear the crossbar as well.
Maccabi kept on pushing forward as Khaliala had an effort blocked by Andrei Buivolov on the edge of the penalty area in the 22nd minute. Maccabi dominated the rest of the half and enjoyed most of the possession, but time after time couldn’t break through Shakhter’s defence that proved why they conceded only two goals in their previous four European matches. Srdjan Jovanovic didn’t add a single second as the Serbian referee blew the halftime whistle exactly after 45 minutes to send both teams into the dressing room to cool down.
Second Half
In the opening minute of the second half, Dan Glazer, became the first player to enter Jovanivoc’s book as the combative midfielder was penalised for a foul on Aydos Tattybaev. On 52 Enric Saborit teed-up Avi Rikan on the edge of the area, but the midfielder’s low drive was pushed by Shatskiy around the post. From the resulting corner, an exchange of passes between Saborit and Tal Ben Chaim resulted with a cross which was making it’s way in from an Idan Nachmias header. But just like start of of the first half, Shatskiy stretched himself to push the ball over the crossbar and the central defender a goal on his European debut start.
Van Leeuwen made a double change in the 65th minute as Matan Hozez replaced Ben Chaim and Eden Shamir made his debut appearance for Maccabi replacing Yeini.
In the 73rd minute however, Idris Umaev who was introduced only a minute earlier for Tattybaev headed in Yeskendir Kybrayev cross which eluded Louis Hernandez to beat Peretz and put Shakhter in front.
Maccabi’s reply was fast and furious as within a minute Shamir sent Hozez in before the winger’s cut-back was slotted home by Avi Rikan to restore parity on 75. Two minutes later, Maccabi completed the comeback as a Hernandez long throw was flicked by Khalaila before Shamir sent a header which went in off the post to make it 2-1 and celebrate a goal on his debut.
In the 87th Eylon Almog and Ido Shahar replaced Khalaila and Guerrero who both worked tirelessly throughout the match. Two minutes later, Almog was pushed 25 meters away from Shakhter’s goal, but wasted the free kick which he blasted high over the crossbar.
