Preview
On the back of last week’s disappointing 1-1 draw against Nof Hagalil, Maccabi arrived at Teddy stadium for the league match against under turmoil Beitar Jerusalem whose coach Erwin Koeman stepped down after last week’s defeat away to Bnei Sachnin. Maccabi’s interim coach Barak Itzhaki made three changes to the starting line-up from the side which was held to a draw at Bloomfield as Ofir Davidzada replaced Enric Saborit at left-back.
The remaining defensive line remained unchanged with Idan Nachmias keeping his place alongside Luis Hernandez as the two central defenders while Andre Geraldes completed the back four on the right. Sheran Yeini led the team out with the captain’s armband as the veteran skipper occupied the anchor-man role right behind Gabi Kanichowsky and Dan Biton who replaced Eyal Golasa
Tal Ben Chaim, who scored a goal in each one of the last two league matches against Hapoel Haifa and Nof Hagalil kept his place. Brandley Kuwas who hasn’t scored in the final to matches, but was on target in the previous three outings – kept his place while Stipe Perica returned to the side at the expense of Osama Khalaila who waited for his chance on the bench.
Daniel Tenenbaum and Dan Glazer who both recovered from respective back and knee injuries were back amongst the substitutes.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the back foot as the home side seemed to have dominated the opening minutes with Aviel Zargeri threatening to draw first blood only for his shot to be collected by goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Five minutes from the start, referee Daniel Bar Natan was forced to stop the match for a few minutes in order to ensure that the smoke caused by flares lit in the away section cleared and visibility is restored. Shortly after the match was resumed, Stipe Perica chested down a Brandley Kuwas cross into the path of Dan Biton who fired his shot wide. Sheran Yeini tried his luck with a long range effort in the 10th minute only to see his shot fly high over the crossbar.
A Yeini cross towards Perica in the 16th minute reached the Croatian striker but the towering forward directed his header wide. Liran Rotman was given the time and space to break down the right side of Maccabi’s defence in the 20th minute before the diminutive Beitar winger sent his shot narrowly wide. Rotman had another shot blocked by Andre Geraldes three minutes later before Peretz released a counter attack which began with Tal Ben Chaim and resulted with a Gabi Kanichowsly shot that also missed the target at the opposite end.
Right on the half hour mark the deadlock was finally broken as Maccabi took the lead through Brandley Kuwas who exploited a school boy error by Ofir Kriaf to latch on the loose ball, go round Itamar Nitzan and with the goal at his mercy bury it in Beitar’s net. In the 37th minute however Beitar were back on level terms as Roi Herman floated a cross from the right and Yarden Shuah fired a half volley that beat Peretz and went in off the post to the delight of the home fans.
Despite four minutes of added time no goals were scored as both teams went into the dressing rooms to warm up from the cold Jerusalem weather.
Second Half
With no changes at the interval Maccabi returned for the second half where they left off as a Ben Chaim through ball in the 49th released Dan Biton into the area but the midfielder’s left foot shot was punched by Nitzan for a corner.
Maccabi regained the lead in the 55th minute as a pinpoint Ofir Davidzada cross from the left allowed Perica to rise high over Nitzan and head the ball home to make it 2-1.
Barak Itzhaki made a double substitution in the 66th minute as Eyal Golasa replaced Biton while Eduardo Guerrero came in for Ben Chaim.
Kuwas almost increased Maccabi’s lead less than sixty seconds later as the Curaçao international blasted a left foot powerful drive that flew just wide of the top corner.
Guerrero came close to get on the score sheet on 71 as he raced onto a clever Yeini flick that caught Beitar’s defence flat. But the Panamanian forward was denied by Nitzan who charged off his line to save at his feet.
Two minutes later Shuah curled a right foot shot that missed Maccabi’s top corner and at the opposite end Guerrero was brought down on the edge of the area by a clumsy Kriaf challenge. Kanichowsky fired the resulting free kick only to see his shot sail frustratingly wide.
Richmond Boakye tried his luck in the 82nd minute but his shot crept wide of Peretz’s post. Beitar began to enjoy some good moments, leading Itzhaki to make another double substitution on 87 as Eylon Almog came in for Perica while Dan Glazer replaced the tired Kanichowsky. Avi Rikan replaced Kuwas inside injury time as Maccabi had another chance to increase the lead only for Guerrero to send the ball over the bar.
Bar Natan’s final whistle saw the Maccabi players celebrate the victory and the three points with the 3000 travelling fans who braved the cold weather conditions and returned to Tel Aviv with smiles on their faces.
