Pre Match
With five victories in succession, Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen, made two changes from the side that beat Hapoel Hadera for the match against Hapoel Kfar Sava.
The defense remained unchanged with Eitan Tibi and Luis Hernandez lining up as the two central defenders in front of Daniel Tenenbaum while Enric Saborit and Andre Gerlades completed the back-four as the two full backs.
With Dan Glazer serving a one-match-touchline-ban, Sheran Yeini stepped into the midfield at the anchor-man role. Shortly before kick-off, Yonatan Cohen suffered an injury in the warm up, limped off and was replaced in the starting line-up by Tal Ben Chaim.
First Half
Maccabi took the initiative right from the start and threatened to draw first blood in the opening minute as Dan Biton found Tal Ben Chaim at the far post but the winger struggled to direct his shot on target. Aleksandar Pesic was sent clear through minutes later only to see his effort blocked for a corner.
Maccabi continued dominating and in the 10th minute Enric Saborit sent a cross into the area, but Avi Rikan’s half-volley missed the target. Two minute later, Biton whipped in a free kick from the left and Pesic rose unmarked to direct his header on goal, but Kfar Sava’s keeper Itamar Yisraeli collected with ease.
Rikan came close once again on 17 as the ball fell to his feet right on the edge of the area, but the veteran midfielder directed his shot to the wrong side of the post.
Maccabi reached their best chance in the 21st minute as Ben Chaim was given the time and space to send a cross from the left, Rikan had his initial header blocked by Sodiq Atanda before Yisraeli then Omer Danino managed to save Biton’s second attempt to fire in the rebound.
Four minutes after the half hour mark, Biton cut the ball back for Rikan whose shot was deflected for a corner from which Peretz sent a header over the crossbar. In the 41st minute Maccabi were finally awarded for their efforts as Ben Chaim received the ball down the left, sent a pinpoint cross into the area allowing Pesic to rise high and head-in the opener.
Second Half
Kfar Sava’s coach Elisha Levy made a double change at the restart as Itay Shor and Amadou Soukouna replaced Tom Shelah and Ben Reichart. Two minutes later Ben Chaim had a powerful low drive saved by Yisraeli for a corner which was headed by Peretz and caught by the keeper. Rikan had another shot saved by Yisraeli in the 50th minute as Maccabi came closer to increase their lead.
Perez blasted a right foot pile-driver a minute later which gave Yisraeli no chance but was centimetres away from finding the top corner. Pesic had the ball in the back of the net in the 58th minute after a Maccabi free kick which Peretz fired from distance fell to his feet after hitting a defender. But the Serbian striker’s celebrations were short-lived as referee David Fuxman ruled out the goal for offside.
Van Leeuwen made his first changes on 65, as Etey Shechter and Matan Hozez replaced both Pesic and Ben Chaim.
Four minutes later, Biton floated a left foot cross into the path of Rikan, but the midfielder didn’t manage to connect his attempt of a diving header. In the 70th minute Maccabi’s defense was tested for the first time but managed to clear the danger. At the opposite end, Hozez cut the ball back from the touchline for Shechter who failed to connect before Biton lost his footing and sent the ball high over the crossbar.
Van Leeuwen made two more changes as Shahar Piven and Eduardo Guerrero replaced Sheran Yeini and Rikan for the final 12 minutes.
In the 90th minute Eytan Tibi rose high to meet Biton’s free kick, but the veteran defender headed over the crossbar. Inside injury time Hozez sent a square ball across the face of goal only to see Guerrero somehow manage to miss the target when it seemed easier to score. Matan Baltaxa replaced the tired Biton inside injury time in a bid to shore up the defense.
Fuxman’s final whistle secured a sixth victory in succession to ensured the three points and 28 from a possible 30 since Van Leeuwen’s appointment.
