Even before the start of the fight between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa on the grass in Bloomfield, both teams tried to create pressure on the opponent in a kind of psychological warfare: in Haifa they emphasized that a loss by Tel Aviv would lead to a difference of 11 points, while in Tel Aviv they mentioned the fear of Haifa offsetting the difference in the top.
Between the yellow fans and the green fans, a rivalry has long developed around the question of which Maccabi is more senior.
The police's announcement on the morning of the game about being extra careful and deploying many forces to maintain order, only sharpened the nature of this rivalry, which has long gone beyond sporting sympathy and moved to hatred on a personal level and fear of extreme cases of violence.
The new coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Aitor Kranka, changed for the first time the team's normal formation and, unlike his predecessor, Vladan Ivitch, moved to a line of four defensive players, with Dor Peretz and Dan Glazer in the midfield. Barak Becher on the other side had to give up the injured Dolev Haziza , and in accordance with the yellows he also placed an array of four defenders with Sean Goldberg playing as a left defender.
Maccabi Tel Aviv players celebrating, photo: Alan Shiver
At the beginning of the game we saw mediocre football, the Haifaites concentrated on defense and tried to sting with explosive attacks.
On the other hand, the yellows created pressure on the ball, but the placement of Oscar Gloch on the left wing did not allow him to be dominant enough.
But Gloch didn't give up and on the verge of the end of the first half he knew how to find his friend Parfa Goyagon with a great pass who scored.
Maccabi Haifa tried to recover at the start of the second half, but it was difficult for them to deal with the high personal ability of the two magicians, Goyagon and Gloch, and against the tough Tel Aviv formation in the center of the field.
Then Eran Zahavi arrived, almost as usual, and in a pass attack sent a missile into the upper net, in a goal that actually decided the game.
The removal of Muhammad Abu Fani with a second yellow card, plus the removal of coach Barak Bakr, sealed the fate of the Haifa's chances.
Zahavi took advantage of the opportunity and scored another goal to determine an unequivocal victory for the Tel Avivites.
Maccabi Haifa.
Abduction from a severe blow, photo: Alan Shiver
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