Recap: Maccabi Haifa vs Maccabi Petah Tikva 0:5/Sport1
1. In the 69th minute last night in the match between Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Petah Tikva last night (Sunday), celebrations began in the northern stand of the champions - the fans of course heard about the final whistle in the Galilee landscape, which decided that the main rival for the championship title Maccabi Tel Aviv lost two more precious points. Seconds after the stands began to roar, Dean David scored the Greens' fourth goal and the celebration turned double and, perhaps more accurately, a quadruple. It's hard to believe that anyone at the Green Club believed last Sunday, when the gap was still ten points to Maccabi Tel Aviv at the top of the table, that just one week later it would shrink to just three.
At the final meeting at the hotel before leaving for the field, Masai told his players that the first twenty minutes would decide how the game developed. Dego asked his players to play as aggressively and under the same pressure they did against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The coach could be very pleased as his pupils went up in the same frenzy and even added much more impressive ability and performance. At the end they celebrated in Haifa but spoke mainly about continuity. "Just as we narrowed the gap by a week, so it can grow if we are arrogant," said a club source.
Haifa greatly complimented Anan Halaili, who recorded a good game, and for a change also provided numbers alongside his high ability. "We've said many times that Anan is a star," the source said, "when he's focused and purposeful, then any team in Israel will have a hard time stopping him. He needs to come to all the games like that, he's young and he's going to have to have stability."
Lorenzo Simic was also complimented and the team is very pleased that the defender is stepping in and starting to gain confidence. The only disappointment came from the injury of Mahmoud Jaber, who in the eyes of quite a few people in the team was the best player in last night's game. The midfielder is injured and it is believed that there are quite a chance that it is a tear in the posterior muscle. Haifa understands that Jaber will be absent for a considerable period of time and are left with a significant hole in the center of the field. The Greens can hope that the Angolan national team will be eliminated in the group stage, which will bring Shaw back in time for games against Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
"There will have to be stability." Halailly with David/Danny Maron
More in Israeli football
Masai: "I wished Lusk good luck and that he would fly quickly. Milson?
Robbie Keane: "Bad performance, you have to take responsibility after losing points like this"
What one week does: Maccabi Haifa crushed Maccabi Petah Tikva
0-5 Neighbor's grass is greener: Maccabi Tel Aviv finished 2-2 with Maccabi Bnei Reina
All because of the goal celebration: Sagiv Yehezkel was arrested and taken for questioning by the police
More in Walla!
What one week does: Maccabi Haifa crushed Maccabi Petah Tikva 0-5
See full article >
2. In the 72nd minute, Lior Rafalov was replaced and the 14,15 fans in the stadium stood up. The residents of the northern stand were quick to call for the veteran midfielder, and in the stadium began a tremendous singing of Rafalov's fan song, which has been playing in the stands of Maccabi Haifa for over 12 years. In recent seasons, it was Charon Sari and Omer Atzili who won the love of the audience and were the stars of the team, while Netta Lavi also became a symbol among the green audience. With Rafalov's return to Carmel, few believed he would be the most important player in Masai's set-up, but last night the intensity of the decibels in the stands as the midfielder approached the North Stand proved that whoever returned after 11 years has once again established himself as the star of the team and the most beloved player in the stands.
"Lior every game surprises anew," explains a player in the team. "Don't forget that he also came up with a kind of sensitivity. But to see him at this age and in this ability is an experience, we can only learn from him." Rafalov, who already has seven goals and five assists, will miss on Wednesday against Bnei Sakhnin. The midfielder picked up his fifth yellow and will be absent from the game. The person who will take the place of number <> will be Sherry, who landed in Israel and will join the training. Haifa is very hopeful that his short stay in the Netherlands will free him up and return him to the good form of the season opener.
"They can only learn from him." Rafalov with friends/Danny Maron
3. Many spicy moments were recorded yesterday at Sammy Ofer. Goni Naor, who has been receiving quite a few criticisms throughout his year at Maccabi Haifa, entered yesterday and scored one of the most beautiful goals scored this season. The midfielder dedicated the goal to his mother, who finished the Houston Marathon. The goal didn't just bounce the fans, as all the bench players and professional staff just held their heads in disbelief. Naor is highly regarded in the team and although he didn't get too much credit, he continued to train at a high level and try to work his way back. The midfielder may even start in the line-up on Wednesday due to Mahmoud Jabber's injury and Rafalov's absence.
In addition to Naor, Shaun Goldberg, who is not used to scoring goals in his career, scored his third goal in the last four games. The defender, who until this season had scored just one career goal, tripled that in less than two weeks. Immediately after the goal, Goldberg ran to the bench and asked to get him to hoist a shirt to return the hostages, but there was no such one on the bench (the professional staff came up with the shirt for warm-up) and Goldberg had to give up the gesture.
He didn't give up for a moment - and it paid off for him. Naor/Danny Maron
Haifa were very pleased that the end of Podgorano also entered the game well and even cooked. The midfielder wants a lot more playing minutes and knows that with the return of quite a few injuries he may even get fewer minutes. Podgorano may go out on loan, with Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Petah Tikva very interested in him.
- More on the subject:
- Maccabi Haifa
- Lior Refalov
- Anan Halailly
- Guney Naor