Preview
Five days after being knocked out of the State Cup in the Semi Final by Beitar Jerusalem, Maccabi returned to the Sammy Ofer stadium aiming to turn their attention to league action with a tough encounter against the leaders. Eight points behind Maccabi Haifa and four adrift of second place Hapoel Be’ersheva that face Maccabi at Bloomfield next week, Aitor Karanka and his charges would have certainly wished for a different scenario.
With Eran Zahavi, Enric Saborit and Shahar Piven all ruled-out with the injuries they picked against Beitar last week, Karanka was forced to make changes to his team. Sheran Yeini returned to the heart of defence as the veteran captain led the team out with the captain’s armband before lining-up alongside Derrick Luckassen. Andre Geraldes on the right and Ofir Davidzada on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line in-front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Dan Glazer and Dor Peretz were both assigned to the midfield engine room with Gabi Kanichowsky drafted in to strengthen Maccabi’s centre. Dan Biton and Parfait Guiagon supplied the width to Karanka’s formation. In the absence of Zahavi, Djordje Jovanovic led the line as the 23-year-old Serbian striker spearheaded the attack aiming to add to his 15 league goals and 23 in all competitions.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Karanka, named Rares Ilie, Joris van Overeem, Eyal Golasa, Yonatan Cohen, Eylon Almog, Maor Kandil, Dor Turgeman and Nir Bitton.
First Half
The match began with both sides fighting for possession in the middle of the park as it was Maccabi that created the first chance. In the ninth minute Gabi Kanichowsky released Djordje Jovanovic who raced from the halfway line before sending a weak left foot shot which was equalled by Josh Cohen.
Within a minute and at the opposite end, Daniel Peretz, was called into action as he was at full stretch to punch out Omer Atzili’s dangerous free kick. Peretz, was at his best a minute later to keep his goal locked after Tjaronn Cherry released Dia Saba only for Maccabi’s custodian to pull a reflex save. In the 14th minute Maccabi took the lead after Dan Biton cut in from the right and teed-up Kanichowsky whose left foot low drive from the edge of the area proved too powerful and accurate for Cohen.
The goal silenced Haifa’s supporters and sent Maccabi’s 2000 plus travelling fans into a state of delirium. Minutes later, Haifa were inches away from drawing level as Dolev Haziza rose above Andre Geraldes and sent a header towards Atzili. But with the goal at his mercy and from point blank range Atzili somehow managed to guide his shot onto the post. Parfait Guiagon forced Cohen to claw his curling shot from the edge of the area on 23, while a minute later Haifa’s American born keeper pulled an identical save to keep out Kanichowsky’s shot from the exact same position.
In the 38th minute though a mistake in Maccabi’s defence helped Haifa level the score. A poor Derrick Luckassen back-pass left Peretz in no man’s land before his attempt of a clearance struck Haziza and rolled into the net. Jovanovic was shown the yellow card by referee Orel Grinfeeld for a tackle on Sean Goldberg as Maccabi kept on battling for each ball at both ends of the pitch.
Grinfeeld’s half-time whistle sent both teams to regroup in the dressing room ahead of another action packed 45 plus minutes.
Second Half
Four minutes after the restart Haifa completed their comeback as Pierre Cornud was given the time and space to send a low powerful drive towards goal. Peretz dived to his left and was only able to push the ball but just like Haifa’s first goal the ball struck Saba and went in to make it 2-1.
The hosts increased their lead in the 62nd minute as a long pass caught Maccabi’s defence flat to reach Cherry. Sheran Yeini who marshalled Maccabi’s defence and hardly got a foot wrong all game, couldn’t reach his opposite Surinamese number who teed-up Saba. The diminutive Haifa forward sent a low left foot shot which shaved Andre Geraldes before going in off the post. Karanka made a double change on 67 as he introduced Eyal Golasa and Eylon Almog for Glazer Biton. In the 70th minute Almog flashed a shot wide of the post with his right while three minutes later he sent a left foot half volley straight at the hands of Cohen.
Karanka made two more changes in the 84th minute as Jovanovjc and Kanichowsky bowed out and were replaced by Dor Turgeman and Yonatan Cohen. Din David could have increased Haifa’s lead seconds later but he sent his shot against the side netting. Cohen tried firing a free kick which sailed high and wide as Maccabi pushed forward in a desperate bid to try and get back into the game. But none of their attempts managed to bear fruit before the full-time whistle ended the contest.
The defeat kept Maccabi on 67 points and with Hapoel B’ersheva beating Ashdod 1-0, the gap from second place has been increased to seven points – a week before their visit to Bloomfield stadium.
