Nick Blackman scored first (9) for the Yellows, Ashta Shawaka (14, 37) and Lidor Nakshari (37) became the Jerusalemites' winner but Ruslan Bersky (50) and Ido Shachar (67) prevented embarrassment in the ranks of the champion

• Burst in an air battle, tonight in Jerusalem

  Photo: 

  Courtesy of Maccabi Tel Aviv

Tonight (Tuesday), Maccabi Tel Aviv held its first preparation game in the 2020/21 season. The champion met Hapoel Katamon from the national league as part of the opening tool test of the training camp she is currently holding in the capital. 

Maccabi started the first half well and already in the 9th minute took the lead. Yonatan Cohen burst on the left wing, passed a width to Nick Blackman, who with a touch bounced with a chip in the left foot over the goalkeeper. 0: 1 to Maccabi. 2 minutes later, Avi Riken broke free from his defender and tried a left-footed kick that was blocked. In the 14th minute, Eshta Awaka from Katamon took control of a ball from a distance from Yaniotis and from an extension scored the equalizer. 1: 1. In the 21st minute, Riken was again close to the goal with a kick from 18 meters, but the ball slipped inches from the crossbar.

Maccabi Tel Aviv players celebrate, today in Jerusalem // Photo: Courtesy of Maccabi Tel Aviv 

In the 27th minute, Elon Almog took control of a Yanniotis goalkeeper ball and burst onto the field from the right side. His kick hit Katamon's crossbar. In the 34th minute, Lidor Nakshari kicked a ball from 18 meters to the right corner. 1: 2 to Katamon. 3 minutes passed, and Awaka snatched a ball off the field, and kicked from 10 yards inside. 1: 3 to Katamon.

5 minutes into the second half Ophir Davidzada failed in the box. Bersky Dyke from the penalty spot and shrank to 3: 2. In the 59th minute, Eden Kartzev came close to balancing the result after a great kick from 16 meters that was stopped by the goalkeeper. In the 64th minute, Maccabi had a great attack after an exchange of dedication between Guerrero and Turgeman, the latter passed a width and Bar Cohen came from behind and squeezed a save by Adley Adbayo.

3 minutes passed and Ido Shachar found a great ball outside the box the right beam of Katamon and from there the ball continued to the net. Maccabi equalized to 3: 3. In the 77th minute, Omar Katz prevented a one-on-one goal against Ahmad Ibrahim, who broke into the Yellows' field and was stopped by the goalkeeper.

In the 82nd minute, Eden Kartzev again tried his strength off the field, but the kick from 17 meters passed near the left beam.

Dor Turgeman was close in the 89th minute to give the Yellows the lead after trying a kick from a hard angle from an extension, but the ball went over the crossbar. At the end of the game the two teams separate without a decision in the first preparation strength of the season.

Maor Kandil, today in Jerusalem // Photo: Courtesy of Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Compositions:

The Maccabi Tel team in the first half: Andreas Janiotis, Maor Kandil, Eitan Tibi, Shachar Phiben, Enrik Saborit, Dan Glazer, Avi Rikan, Dor Peretz, Yonatan Cohen, Elon Almog, Nick Blackman.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv team in the second half: Omer Katz, Noam Cohen, Amit Glazer, Matan Balteksa, Ofir Davidzada, Ido Shachar, Eden Kartzev, Ruslan Bersky, Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen, Dor Turgeman.

Happy Blackman, today in Jerusalem // Photo: Courtesy of Maccabi Tel Aviv