Preview:

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium where they recorded a late 2-0 victory over Bnei Sakhnin last week aiming to put aside the disappointing State Cup exit by the hands of Maccabi Petah Tikva in midweek. Robbie Keane who rested several players in midweek, returned to the starting line-up which gave Maccabi a 10-point-lead at the top of the table ahead of tonight’s visit of Maccabi Haifa. Keane, will aim to extend the run of six successive league victories and 7 unbeaten matches since the 2-0 defeat away to Haifa on MD20 in February.

Roi Mishpati returned to goal with Idan Nachmias and Enric Saborit lining-up as the two central defenders in front of him. Ido Shahar kept his place at right-back while Ofir Davidzada replaced Roy Revivo to complete the defensive line at left-back.

Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role was accompanied by Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz in Maccabi’s midfield engine room. After missing out on the two defeats to Haifa in the league and the Toto Cup final victory, Felicio Milson, who represented Angola during the Africans Cup of Nations, lined-up on the wing against Haifa for the first time this season. Milson was partnered by Osher Davida on the opposite flank assigned to supply the ammunition for Eran Zahavi. The veteran Maccabi marksman who didn’t find the back of the net against Haifa this season, will aim to add to his 34 goals in all competitions so far in this campaign.

On the bench Keane named goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Roy Revivo, Dor Turgeman, Dan Biton, Raz Shlomo, Yonas Malede, Eyal Golasa, Matan Baltaxa and Eden Karzev.

First Half

Bloomfield was packed to its capacity as the lightning storm and torrential rain which began shortly before kickoff supplied the backdrop for the top of the table clash between the two sides that dominated the Israeli league and had a European run which lasted into the spring. The visitors came close to draw first blood as Ali Mohamad had a shot saved by Mishpati before Sean Goldberg blasted a shot from the edge of the area that beat Maccabi’s keeper but struck the post.

At the opposite end, Gabi Kanichowsky, released Ofir Davidzada who fired a left foot shot that bounced off the base of the post before Haifa’s defense managed to clear. In the 14th minute however, Bloomfield erupted as Eran Zahavi headed Maccabi into the lead. Davidzada launched a free kick towards the back post before Idan Nachmias sent the ball across the face of goal for Zahavi to nudge in his 35th goal in all competitions.

Felicio Milson and Osher Davida kept tormenting Haifa’s full backs as they charged down both flanks while Dor Peretz kept on breaking through the middle. Nachmias was allowed a free header but couldn’t keep the ball down as it sailed over the crossbar. Joris van Overeem who dominated the midfield picked a knee injury which required medical treatment before the 29-year-old limped off and was replaced by Dan Biton just before the break.

Second Half

With no changes to either side at halftime the second half began just like the first with Haifa looking dangerous on the break. A counter attack which began with Mahmoud Jaber deep inside Haifa’s half on 53 saw Lior Rafaelov carry the ball forward before a last gasp tackle by Enric Saborit denied Din David what would have been an equalizer.

Three minutes after the hour mark tempers flared as Ali Mohamad was booked by referee Snir Levy for kicking the ball at Nachmias who was bizarrely cautioned as well. In the 66^th minute Biton tried his luck with a powerful low drive from the corner of the area that flashed wide of Keuof’s post. Rafaelov was lucky to avoid a red card for two off the ball incidents in the 68^th minute as the Haifa captain first elbowed Dor Peretz in the chest before retaliating to a Saborit tackle with a push in the face of the Spanish defender. But somehow Levy opted for a yellow card while VAR also decided not to intervene either.

In the 70th minute Haifa were back on level terms as Anan Khalaili blasted a low drive that beat Mishpati from the edge of the area. Maccabi almost hit back instantly as Davida slid the ball to Zahavi who snapped a shot on the turn before Keouf was at full stretch the claw the ball out. Milson tried curing a shot which was equaled by Keuof before Keane reacted with a triple substitution on 77. Roy Revivo came on for Ido Shahar at right-back, Eden Karzev replaced Kanichowsky at the heart of midfield while Yonas Malede came on for Davida.

Haifa continued to look dangerous from set pieces as Abdolaye Seck flicked a corner to Goldberg whose close-range header crashed against Mishpati’s crossbar in the 80^th minute. In the 86th minute Keane made his fifth and final change as Dor Turgeman came on for Zahavi to try and snatch a late winner. But at the opposite end Seck was given the time and space to head a corner but Misphati collected on his line. The fourth official signaled 6 minutes of added time but both sides managed to hang on as the full-time whistle confirmed the spoils will be shared.

 

Dor Peretz is experiencing the most productive season of his footballing career as the 28-year-old midfielder scored 7 league goals and 16 in all competitions. Peretz, whose late goal against Bnei Sakhnin led Maccabi to a 2-0 victory at Bloomfield which extended the lead at the top of the table to 10 points from Monday’s opponents Maccabi Haifa, said ahead of the match: “First and foremost we brought ourselves to this situation, no one handed us anything. I can promise myself, the fans my fellow teammates and the coaching staff that we would do our best, from the first minute, to achieve our targets.”

Peretrz who had an extra time goal against Maccabi Petah Tikva disallowed as Maccabi suffered a 4-2 State Cup Quarter Final exit in midweek, spoke about the team’s recovery: “This week is a highlights version of the world of football – a rollercoaster ride of emotions for players, fans and everyone who takes part in this thing. From an injury time victory to elimination from the Cup, a place where we expected more from ourselves in those moments. We can only learn from these things and perform better in the future. Against Maccabi Petah Tikva we should have been concentrated in the closing stages, to understand we have the game in our hands and not let go even when it seems to be over.”

After Eran Zahavi’s 34 goals in all competitions, Peretz, is Maccabi’s second top scorer as he related to the reasons behind his attacking contribution: “The place in which the coach positions me on the pitch, his professional demands from me which highlights my strengths and attributes. But there are still quite a few matches left to play, I still have things I would like to show and prove to him myself and others as well.”