Pre Game
Three days after Thursday’s disappointing Conference League defeat to LASK at Bloomfield, Maccabi arrived at the Sammy Ofer stadium for the league match against Hapoel Haifa aiming to resurrect their league campaign. After being held to a 1-1 draw by Hapoel in the Tel Aviv derby just before the international break, Maccabi were ranked before the game in 11th place with 11 points from 9 matches. Interim coach Barak Itzhaki, who knew that a victory over the high-flying Haifaites would take Maccabi up to 7th in the table, made two changes from the Thursday’s line-up. Idan Nachmias returned to the heart of defense as the partner of Luis Hernandez while Enric Saborit returned to his original position at left back and Andre Geraldes completed the back-four on the right.
Sheran Yeini at the anchorman role led the line with the captain’s armband with Eyal Golasa and Gabi Kanichowsky joining the veteran skipper in midfield. Tal Ben Chaim stepped in to replace Matan Hozez on the wing with Brandley Kuwas on the other wing aiming to supply the ammunition for Croatian striker Stipe Perica.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot with pressure on Haooel Haifa’s three central defenders and five-man-defence. This pressure led to three corners in the space of the opening 10 minutes. A Brandley Kuwas corner in the 11th minute into the path of Luis Hernandez saw the Spanish central defender head the ball before it deflected off Izuchuckwu Anthony into his own net and break the deadlock.
Tal Ben Chaim came close to double the score in the 25th minute as the veteran forward received the ball from Enric Saborit deep inside Haifa’s half before skipping past two defenders to break into the box. Ohad Levita charged off his goal-line but with only the keeper to beat, Ben Chaim sent his shot wide of the target.
Right on the half hour mark, a back pass towards Daniel Peretz saw the keeper let down by his touch, only for Haifa’s Hanan Maman and Alen Ozbolt waste the chance. Kuwas tried his luck after a well drilled throw in on 37, but the Curaçao international sent a powerful left-foot volley which narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Second Half
The second half began in the same manner in which the first began with both Kuwas and Ben Chaim looking dangerous. Two minutes after the restart, Kuwas picked Ben Chaim down the left flank with an accurate pass. The 32-year old cut inside and curled a right foot shot that beat Levita and double the score with his first goal of the season.
In a rare situation that Hernandez and Idan Nachmias didn’t clear any threats made by Haifa’s forwards, Andre Geraldes’ last gasp header prevented a cross from reaching two players who ghosted unmarked into the area. Sa’ar Fadida hit the side netting with an effort from close range in the 58th minute. Stipe Perica seemed to have run out of steam as he sent a weak shot from. the edge of the area that was easily collected by Levita before Itzhaki made his first change in the 64th minute introducing Eduardo Guerrero for the Croatian striker.
In the 70th minute the hosts were back in the game as Dudi Twito found Liran Sardal unmarked inside the area before Hapoel Haifa’s captain fired past Peretz to cut the deficit.
Peretz denied Haifa an equalizer as he caught the ball on his goalline after a corner on 77. Two minutes later however, Maccabi extended their lead to 3-1 in bizarre fashion as a Kanichowsky corner Anthony and rolled past Levita for his second own goal on the night. Itzhaki reacted with a double substitution as Avi Rikan and Shahar Piven replaced Ben Chaim and Shahar Piven in the 81st minute. Peretz made another save before another two changes on 86 saw Kuwas and Kanichowsky bow out to be replaced by Eden Shamir and Eylon Almog.
Guerrero had a chance to increase the lead in the closing stages but the Panamanian forward blasted his shot over the bar as the referee’s final whistle sealed the score at 3-1.
