Preview
Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the early kick-off match against Bnei Sakhnin for the first Playoff match.
As Maccabi are currently ranked third in the table with 53 points from 26 league matches, coach Mladen Krstajic was aiming to extend the run of good form that saw his side record 7 victories in succession and 9 out of the last 10 unbeaten.
One of the five defeats Maccabi suffered this season was away to Sakhnin (3-1) on the opening day of the 2021/22 league campaign. But as the reverse fixture at Bloomfield ended in a draw, Krstajic and his charges didn’t want to disappoint the 20,000 fans that turned-up and keep the title aspirations alive.
Captain Sheran Yeini pulled out of the squad in the last minute forcing Krstajic to change his defence from the side that beat Hapoel Hadera last week. In Yeini’s absence, Tal Ben Chaim who played at right-wing-back against Hadera, kept his place on the right side of the defence. Enric Saborit and Idan Nachmias lined-up as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz with Matan Baltaxa completing the back four at left-back.
Dan Glazer led the team out wearing the captain’s armband in the midfield anchor-man role, while Eyal Golasa and Gabi Kanichowsky sharing the midfield duties. Matan Hozez was named in the starting line-up on the wing with Djordje Jovanovic on the opposite flank while Stipe Perica led the line upfront.
First Half
Maccabi began the match with purpose and intention a fact which saw them launch the first threat on goal after 90 seconds of play. Matan Hozez, latched onto a loose ball deep inside Sakhnin’s half before holding off a defender and unleashing a shot that crept wide of the post.
Matan Baltaxa found himself in a glorious position to score as the ball fell to him at the far post in the 9th minute, but Maccabi’s left-back wasted the chance as he guided his effort wide.
In the 17th minute Hozez was sent clear through and was seemed to have been brought down by Gad Amos who charged out of his area. But despite Maccabi’s claims for a foul and a potential red card for the Sakhnin keeper, referee Gal Leibovic kept his cards inside his pocket.
Five minutes later however, Ihab Ghnaim was the first player to be cautioned for a foul on Gabi Kanichowsky that stopped a counter attack. Maccabi’s best chance came in the 28th minute as Stipe Perica released Eyal Golasa into the area with a clever flick but Amos charged off his line and blocked the effort for a corner.
In the 39th minute Tal Ben Chaim who played at right-back floated a pinpoint cross into the danger zone to Perica who couldn’t direct his header on target. Three minutes later, a Hozez cross struck the arm of Omri Ben Harush as Maccabi were awarded a free kick near the corner of the area. Hozez stepped- up and curled the free kick with his left as the ball eluded all of Sakhnin’s defense as well as Perica who needed a touch to push the ball home from point blank range.
Second Half
With no substitutions after the interval, both sides emerged unchanged for the second half with Maccabi looking the sharper of the two. Three minutes after the restart, a Ben Chaim cross was headed by Djordje Jovanovic into the path of Hozez whose attempt of a shot was blocked by Amos and his defenders once again.
Daniel Peretz was drawn into the action for the first time in the 55th minute as Maccabi’s keeper was forced to punch out for a corner an Odah Marshall left foot shot.
Krstajic made his first substitutions on 67 as a double change saw Ofir Davidzada replace Baltaxa while Brandley Kuwas came-in for Golasa.
Kuwas made an instant impact as he released Hozez for a counter attack in the 70th minute as the ball ultimately fell to Jovanovic whose shot from the edge of the area narrowly cleared the crossbar. Seconds later Ben Chaim limped off and was replaced by Avi Rikan as Krstajic was forced to make his third substitution of the game. In a bid to break the deadlock,
Maccabi continued to pile on the pressure as a dangerous Jovanovic square ball in the 75th minute forced Amos to dive and collect. Krstajic bolstered the attack and sent-in a fresh pair of legs as Eylon Almog replaced Hozez on 77.
Sakhnin had a chance of their own in the 81st minute as Guy Melamed who was introduced in the second half, flashed a header wide of Peretz’s post. At the opposite end Perica headed over following an Almog telling Cross from the left and a minute later Kanichowsky had a low drive blocked by Sakhnin’s defence.
In the 87th minute a clever Jovanovic turn in the middle of the park created time and space as he fed Perica whose shot was collected by Amos. Maccabi’s striking partners combined once again on 88 as Jovanovic’s attempt of a shot reached Perica who flicked the ball over the bar.
The full time whistle ended a disappointing match as Maccabi missed a chance to stick to the leading duo that won their matches.
