Maccabi arrived at the Netanya stadium for the MD32 ONE ZERO League match against the sixth placed team aiming to return to winning ways.
Last week’s 1-1 draw against Ashdod at Bloomfield kept Maccabi’s unbeaten record intact but with Be’ersheva also drawing 1-1 against tonight’s opponents Maccabi Netanya = the gap remained two points.
With club owner, Mitch Goldhar, watching from the stands, Maccabi’s coach Aitor Karanka made three changes to his starting line-up. Derrick Luckassen, who is one booking short of a one-match touchline ban which would side-line him from the State Cup Semi Final against Beitar Jerusalem on May 3rd, was left out of squad. Ofir Davidzada served his one-match suspension having collected his fifth yellow card forcing Karanka to make at least two changes at the back. As a result, the Spanish coach welcomed Maor Kandil back into the right side of defence with Andre Geraldes deputizing at left back. Nir Bitton filled Luckassen’s role as Enric Saborit’s defensive partner as the duo lined-up in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Dor Peretz returned to the midfield engine room alongside Dan Glazer with Gabi Kanichowsky dropping to the bench. Dan Biton and Parfait Guiagon both kept their places supplying the width to Karanka’s formation in support of the striking duo Eran Zahavi and Djordje Jovanovic.
On the bench alongside him, Karanka named Daniel Tenenbaum, Joris van Overeem, Gabi Kanichowsky, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Eylon Almog, Shahar Piven, Dor Turgeman and Matan Hozez.
First Half
Maccabi began the match with purpose and intention which saw the ball hit the back of the Netanya net less than 30 seconds after the first whistle was heard. Djordje Jovanovic beat two Netanya defenders down the right before crossing the ball to Eran Zahavi whose attempt of a shot reached Dan Biton. The midfielder side-footed the ball home but Maccabi’s celebrations were short-lived. According to VAR Jovanovic was judged to have committed a foul in the build-up for the goal as it was disallowed.
A perfect team effort involving Jovanovic, Zahavi and Parfait Guiagon in the 11th minute should have given Maccabi the lead. The Ivorian midfielder who found himself inside the area with only Itamar Nitzan to beat, forced a spectacular save from the Netanya keeper before Jovanovic sent the rebound wide of the target.
It took Netanya until the 18th minute to create their first chance as Boris Enow shook off Maor Kandil on the edge of the area before missing the framework. A minute later the hosts came even closer as Eitan Azulay charged into the area but blasted a left-foot shot which rattled Daniel Peretz’s crossbar. Netanya grew in confidence as three minutes later, Azulay tried his luck with a long-range effort, which was equalled by Peretz.
The high tempo match which was played mostly in the middle of the park saw both teams loose possession too often, as the first half ended goalless.
Second Half
With no changes to personnel at the restart on either side, the second half began almost exactly like the first one. Four minutes in, Guiagon fired home the rebound following a Jovanovic shot which was initially saved by Nitzan and the post only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. In the 51st minute, Maor Kandil released Jovanovic clear through as the Serbian forward slotted home past Nitzan. But once again the goal was disallowed for offside and the score remained goalless. Maccabi’s blitz continued and Biton could have done better after being put through by Jovanovic but his weak shot was easily collected by Nitzan.
Kandil went into the referee’s book on 53 as shortly after Netanya made a double change with Karem Jaaber and Patrick Twumasi replacing Ido Vaier and Ahmed Salman. Guiagon came close as his effort landed on the roof of the net while at the opposite end Aviv Avraham shot against the side netting. Aitor Karanka reacted with a double change of his own right on the hour mark as Shahar Piven and Gabi Kanichowsky came on for Kandil and Dan Glazer. Piven lined-up alongside Bitton at the heart of defence while Saborit pushed to the wing replacing Kandil at left back.
Andre Geraldes was booked by Snir Levy for tugging the shirt of Twumasi on 65 while five minutes later Zahavi was denied by Nitzan once again. Jovanovic blasted a shot over the crossbar in the 74th minute before Karanka introduced Eylon Almog for Biton a minute later.
In the 84th minute Karanka made his two final substitutions as Zahavi and Jovanovic bowed out and were replaced by Eyal Golasa and Dor Turgeman for the closing stages. Almog could have scored within a minute after Saborit’s pinpoint cross found him unmarked in the middle of the area but his left foot half volley was kept out by Nitzan.
A minute inside injury time a Maccabi counter attack almost resulted with a late winner as Saborit picked Kanichowsky unmarked at the far post but Nitzan pulled another save to keep his goal locked and ensure the points are shared.
