Pre Match
With seven points from the opening three matches Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Bloomfield stadium ahead of the Conference League match against HJK Helsinki. The 5-0 victory over HJK under heavy rain at Helsinki last month, kept Maccabi top of group 1 and level on points with Austrian outfit LASK. Since then, HJK were crowned as Finland’s Champions while Maccabi parted company with Patrick van Leeuwen and appointed Head of the Football Department, Barak Itzhaki, as interim coach. While the search for a permanent continues, Itzhaki, who guided the team to a 3-1 league win away to Kiryat Shmona , made several changes to the starting line up.
The defence remained unchanged as Andre Geraldes and Enric Saborit were the two full-backs on the right and left respectively while Shahar Piven and Luis Hernandez lined-up in front of Daniel Peretz. Sheran Yeini who completed his one-match touchline ban, returned to the heart of midfield and led the team out wearing the captain’s armband on his 500th appearance for the club. Dan Glazer lined-up alongside Yeini in the midfield engine room with Gabi Kanichowsky assigned to the attacking midfield. Tal Ben Chaim back in the starting line-up on one wing with Brandley Kuwas who scored his debut goal for Maccabi at Kiryat Shmona in support of Croatian striker Stipe Perica upfront.
First Half
Maccabi dominated the opening stages of the game passing the ball around trying to breach HJK’s defence. Despite enjoying the majority of the possession it took Maccabi until the 15th minute to create the first chance on goal which came from a corner. A short corner reached Enric Saborit whose initial shot was blocked before the rebound fell to Luis Hernandez before his effort also resulted in a corner.
Maccabi increased the pressure with Dan Glazer and Sheran Yeini blocking HJK’s attempts to cross the halfway line and Tal Ben Ben Chaim who tormented the Finns defence down the left flank. Maccabi were then awarded a series of corner that that didn’t result with an attempt on goal but in the 22nd minute the deadlock was finally broken as Brandley Kuwas and Gabi Kanichowsky exchanged passed only for the Curaçao international to beat Hugo Keto with an accurate low drive from the edge of the area that put Maccabi infront. Two minutes later, Yeini managed to block a shot by Lucas Lingman that rolled out for an HJK corner that Maccabi managed to clear.
Miro Tenho was the first player to go into the book of Slovenian referee Rade Obrenovic as the tall HJK defender tripped Kuwas who charged forward through the middle in the 29th minute. Kuwas dusted himself up and curled the resuting free kick forcing Keto to push the ball out for a corner on the hour mark.
With HJK sitting back, Glazer tried threatening from long range but his effort on 41 sailed high over the crossbar.
Two minutes later Kanichowsky released Enric Saborit down the left flank before the Spaniard sent a square ball into the path of Yeini whose attempt of a flick couldn’t find a Maccabi player. Obrenovic’s halftime whistle sent both sets of players into the dressing rooms for a bit of regrouping ahead of the second half.
Second Half
With no changes after the interval, the second half began where the first one left off as Ben Chaim looking dangerous. The winger tried his luck with a right foot curler in the 50th minute that was deflected out for a corner.
Itzhaki made his first substitution in the 57th minute as Eylon Almog who ended his four match touchline ban in the league, came in for Ben Chaim.
HJK skipper Daniel O’Shaughnessy tried a long range powerful left foot effort that was equaled by Daniel Peretz in what appeared to be his first test on 61. A minute later at the opposite end Almog broke into the area and tried to go round the keeper but collided with Keto as the ball was cleared off the line. Maccabi did manage to double the score on 65 as Kuwas and Perica released a counter attack but as the square ball was directed at Almog, HJK’s Lingman slid in but rolled the ball into his own net to make it 2-0.
Itzhaki reacted instantly as Perica and Kanichowsky bowed out and were replaced by Osama Khalaila and Eyal Golasa.
Kuwas came close to increase Maccabi’s lead and score his second on the night but after exchanging passes with Geraldes he slotted his shot wide on 68. Itzhaki made his two final changes in the 77th minute as Ido Shahar replaced Glazer and Matan Hozez came in for Kuwas.
While Maccabi’s fans were chanting ahead of Sunday’s Tel Aviv derby, Hozez curled a perfect left foot shot from distance that gave the keeper no chance and sealed the win at 3-0.
