Keane made three changes from the side that beat Netanya as Matan Baltaxa replaced the injured Raz Shlomo to partner Enric Saborit at the heart of defense. Roy Revivo returned to his role on the left side of defense while Idan Nachmias was drafted in at right back. Ido Shahar’s man of the match performance against Netanya saw him keep his place and join Joris van Overeem and Gabi Kanichowsky in the midfield engine room. Felicio Milson and Yonas Malede also kept their places on the wings with Eran Zahavi returning to lead the attack as well as the team out with the captain’s armband.
On the bench Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishai Cohen, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Ofir Davidzada, Dor Peretz, Kiko Bondoso, Eden Kartzev and Osher Davida.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot with pressure on Be’ersheva’s players right from the off. Felicio Milson’s frantic pace saw him skip past Mariano Bariero’s tackle near the halfway line to charge forward in the fourth minute. But the Angolan winger who broke into the area was blocked by a combination of a defender and goalkeeper Niv Eliasi before he could get a shot on target. Yoni Stoyanov blasted a shot which sailed high over the crossbar in the 10th minute. Two minutes later, Milson, became the first player to go into the book of referee Roi Reinshreiber for a mistimed tackle on Bariero.
Maccabi continued to pile the pressure forcing the visitors to make mistakes as in the 20th minute Eden Shamir lost his footing deep inside his own half. Yonas Malede picked the ball and tried slipping it for Eran Zahavi allowing Beersheva’s defense to recover. Seven minutes later Milson continued to run riot down the wing and his cut-back ultimately reached Gabi Kanichowsky whose shot was saved by Niv Eliasi. A minute after the hour mark at the opposite end Roi Mishpati was drawn into the action as Maccabi’s keeper was at full stretch to push out Antonio Sefer’s powerful left foot drive.
Keane was forced to make his first change in the 40th minute as Malede limped off clutching his hamstring and was replaced by Osher Davida.Davida’s impact was almost instant as Milson gave a 1-0 lead a minute later. Idan Nachmias, picked Davida unmarked with a perfect cross before the winger sent a volley which Eliasi couldn’t hold onto. Milson was quick to react as he stuck in his boot and fired home the opener to send Bloomfield stadium into raptors.
Second Half
Be’ersheva’s coach Elyaniv Barda made his first change after the interval as Eitan Tibi replaced Miguel Vitor at the restart. Two minutes later Maccabi were awarded a penalty as Milson floated a cross into the area towards Zahavi who was taken out by Eliasi. Zahavi stepped up to take the spot kick and sent it to the left of the keeper who managed to save the penalty and deny the veteran marksman from doubling Maccabi’s lead.
Keane made two more substitutions in the 66th minute as Van Overeem and Zahavi bowed out and we’re replaced by Dor Peretz and Dor Turgeman.
Keane made two more substitutions in the 66th minute as Van Overeem and Zahavi bowed out and we’re replaced by Dor Peretz and Dor Turgeman. Beersheva tried desperately to level the score as they sent men forward as well as launcing the ball into the area. But Mishpati dominated his penalty area showing his aerial superiority intercepting all their attempts in mid air. Keane made his two final changes in the 81st minute as Shahar and Milson were replaced by Avisahi Cohen and Eden Kartzev. Enric Saborit was booked for stopping an Alexander Quinones counter attack before Mishpati was at full stretch to keep out Imran Omar’s dangerous free kick which was naking its’ way into the top corner.
Helder Lopes came inches away from drawing level as he managed to get at the end of an Amir Ganah cross only to see his close range effort roll out. The fourth official signalled five minutes of added as Maccabi’s players were battling for every loose ball in order to protect their lead.
