Pre Game
Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the Tel Aviv derby on the back of two successive victories over Ironi Kiryat Shmona (3-1) in the league and HJK Helsinki (3-0) in the Conference League.
Maccabi were also aiming to build on those victories and record a second successive league win for the first time this season which would improve their position in the table. A lot more than local bragging rights were at stake, as Maccabi were aiming to extend the unbeaten run in derbies which has been stretched to a staggering 14 matches.
Interim coach Barak Itzhaki made only one change from the side that beat Helsinki in the Conference League on Thursday as Eyal Golasa replaced Tal Ben Chaim in the starting line-up. However, Sheran Yeini joined Luis Hernandez and Shahar Piven as a third central defender right in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz while Andre Geraldes and Enric Saborit completed the defensive line as the two wing backs. Dan Glazer and Eyal Golasa were the midfield engine room duo while Gabi Kanichowsky was handed slightly more central attacking role. Brandley Kuwas who scored goals in both matches against Kiryat Shmona and HJK kept his place in support of Croatian striker Stipe Perica as Itzhaki made changes to the formation.
Shortly before kick-off, veteran captain Sheran Yeini whose Thursday’s Conference League victory over HJK was his 500th appearance for the club – received a framed shirt with the number 500 to honour his impressive landmark.
First Half
Bloomfield stadium was packed for the second time this season as the electric atmosphere spilled onto the pitch with a barrage of flares thrown from the visitors’ end shortly after kick-off caused a delay. When the smoke had cleared and play resumed Hapoel took the lead within a minute as Dan Einbinder found a gap in Maccabi’s defence before sending Osher Davida with a through ball allowing him to fire a low drive past Daniel Peretz.
It took Maccabi until the 27th minute to create the first serious threat on goal as a Brandley Kuwas free kick from near the corner flag fell to Luis Hernandez whose flick on target forced Ernestas Setkus to push the ball beyond his post. Three minutes later, Kuwas’ pinpoint cross into the area saw Stipe Perica rise above Hapoel’s defence before the tall Croat sent a header which forced Setkus to punch the ball and clear the danger.
Ben Biton who was booked earlier by referee Roi Reinshreiber, avoided an early shower after a rough tackle on Saborit went unpunished.
Due to the long delay caused by the pyrotechnics after kick-off, Reinshreiber indicated eight minutes of added time to the first half. Perica must have thought he had scored as his powerful header following a Kuwas accurate cross resulted with a spectacular Setkus last gasp save.
Second Half
With no changes after the interval Maccabi began the second half where it left off as Perica kept on looking dangerous on crosses. In the 48th minute a Gabi Kanichowsky free kick was headed by Perica but the ball struck the base of the post and rolled across Setkus’ goal.
right on the hour mark, Hapoel were reduced to 10 men as Mohamed Kalil Traore struck the lively Kanichowsky in the head before being sent off for a second bookable offence
Maccabi came within a touch away from levelling the score as Saborit’s telling cross that eluded Hapoel’s defence saw Kuwas slide-in but agonisingly miss the ball that rolled wide. Barak Itzhaki reacted instantly as he made his first change with Matan Hozez replacing Shahar Piven to revert to a four-man defensive line.
Maccabi finally managed to level the score in the 75th minute as Kuwas scored his third goal in three matches. Kanichowsky curled a corner which was punched by Setkus into the path of Kuwas whose half volley flew past Hapoel’s entire defence to beat the Lithuanian keeper and make it 1-1 to send Maccabi’s fans into raptors. In the 78th minute Kanichowsky sent a powerful drive from inside the area that was making its’ way into the top corner before Setkus pulled another stunning save to deny the diminutive midfielder. Itzhaki made a double change on 79 as Dan Biton replaced the industrious Golasa while Ofir Davidzada came in for Saborit.
As the game reached its’ closing stages and the fourth official signalled that four minutes would be added on, Itzhaki made his final substitution as Eduardo Guerrero replaced Perica. But despite all their efforts to snatch a late winner Maccabi couldn’t find a breakthrough as the match ended in a draw.
