Avi Rikan and Eliran Atar found the back of the goal for the Yellow & Blue while Alon Turgeman and Hanan Maman via penalty scored for Hapoel Haifa as the side’s split the points on a Matchday 11 clash at Sammy Ofer Stadium.
Head Coach Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI featured Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal, along with Captain Sheran Yeini, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Eitan Tibi and Ofir Davdizada on defense. Avi Rikan, Eyal Golasa, Or Dasa and Dor Micha were in the midfield as Eliran Atar and Vidar Kjartansson provided the attack.
Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Lifshitz, Yuval Shpungin, Barak Itzhaki, Nick Blackman, Aaron Schoenfeld, Tal Ben Haim and Cristian Battocchio.
First Half
Alon Turgeman had the match’s opening chance in the 6’ but Rajikovic was up to the task while the Serbian keeper had to be alert three minutes later when Melul’s attempt in the box was smothered by the Maccabi shot stopper once again. As the intensity of the contest picked up, Babin was issued a yellow card in the 13’. Five minutes later, Rikan’s opportunity from 18 meters hit the woodwork and in the 27’ Golasa’s laser beam just went over the bar.
As Haifa sat back in their half, their patience paid off when Alon Turgeman led a break into the Maccabi box and sent the ball to Hanan Maman at the top of the area. Rajikovic made the initial save on his shot, but the rebound went to the aforementioned Turgeman who slotted it home for a 1:0 Carmel Reds lead. However, the lead didn’t last long as Maccabi stole the ball in the midfield and Rikan launched a screamer from 23 meters that beat Ran Kadosh to draw the Yellow & Blue even at 1:1.
Micha tried his luck in the 44’ but Kadosh made the save as the sides looked to be heading into the break knotted up a 1:1. But that was until Niso Kapiloto pulled down Kjartansson on his way to the Haifa goal and was handed a yellow card for his efforts, setting up Eliran Atar for a free kick in his sweet spot. And what a free kick Atar would deliver right into the Haifa goal to give Maccabi a 2:1 lead going into halftime.
Second Half
Right after Maman was issued a yellow card, he had a one on one chance against Rajikovic, but the Maccabi keeper again came up big to make the save in the 50’ and the visitors had an opportunity at the other end when Rikan sent a ball to Vidar, but the latter’s header was saved by Kadosh.
But with the score 2:1 Haifa was given a penalty after a reckless tackle in the Yellow & Blue box that Maman scored to draw the hosts even, 2:2. With the pace of the match picking up, Golasa sent a ball to Rikan who went in on Kadosh in a one on one situation but shot the ball out in the 61’. Three minutes later Rajiko made an alert save on Maman as Maccabi had back to back chances in the 67’ minute but Battocchio’s first attempt went over the goal while his second was taken care of by Kadosh.
Micha’s 73’ chance was stoped by Kadosh, while Kjartansson’s 75’ opportunity was saved as well by the Haifa keeper. Barak Itzhaki came on in the 81’ in favor of Rikan and Aaron Schoenfeld was introduced for Kjartansson to freshen up the attack. Atar had a chance to take the lead in the 85’ with another spectacular free kick but his attempt hit the bar. Kapiloto was sent off with a second yellow in the 85’ but Maccabi wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the extra man as the contest ended in a 2:2 draw.
