Summary: Olympiakos - Maccabi Tel Aviv 4:1/Sport1
Many soccer fans revolted this week and wondered why exactly after they dropped the second point to Maccabi Haifa, there was such a wide and sweeping public protest against the court, as if by now not enough damage had been done and not enough had been done to everyone (including a fatal injury to Beitar Jerusalem). But the truth is that this point was really different and heavier than its predecessors. There is nothing more painful than seeing at noon today the table changing as it has changed: in a PDF file, in a dry press release. No football moves, no roaring broadcaster or an enthusiastic audience, with judges deciding on a change at the top because of borderline and different legal issues in controversy. And what is especially jarring is the clear and simple fact: there is a particularly close and interesting championship fight this year. It is an injustice to disrupt it and damage it.
Thursday evening was truly tremendous. One of the most exciting days in the history of Israeli football in Europe. It is true that it ended in a loss in extra time, but that too Couldn't erase the quality of the experience, destroy or tarnish the sense of pride. It was fun. Entertaining. Quality. Two games, one after the other, 12 goals, some of them spectacular, by our best, talented and fearless guys. March, two Israeli teams are still traveling In Europe, in the knockout stages, and doing a good job.
Admittedly a conference league, but against two well-known, respected opponents.
Maccabi Tel Aviv in a hostile atmosphere in Greece.
Maccabi Haifa in the rain and mud, in difficult conditions.
It was a pleasant evening.
A show that defies logic.
Maccabi Tel Aviv/Reuters
It was a "miraculous" day at the level of wonder, astonishment, because the feeling is that the events were contrary to logic, contrary to the entire history and tradition of Israeli football.
Maccabi Tel Aviv, for example, was supposed to be frightened by the "Greek volcano".
The coach should tell the players that the goal is "first of all to get through the first 20 minutes".
But here, this is exactly the miracle.
It was the boys from Israel who attacked and scored twice in the first 10 minutes.
More than that: it was the Israeli team that didn't get scared by the shrinking goal and scored the third (what a great goal!).
And in complete contrast to all Israeli genetics, the Europeans are the ones who remain frustrated and do homework, complain about bad luck ("we were close"), cry over misses and inefficiency ("it could have ended differently"), frustrated by pointless control, amazed by the efficiency of the opponent ("It's not a 4:1 game").
It should be the other way around.
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Impressive on the court, but "loses" to the lawyers.
Maccabi Haifa/Reuters
And Maccabi Haifa, this year is also demonstrating non-Israeli strengths, resilience and character.
It seems excessive to compliment an Israeli team that lost an advantage and surrendered in extra time due to unnecessary nonsense, but sometimes the feelings, the taste left in the mouth, are stronger than the final result, than the hard facts.
And the feeling is that Maccabi Haifa will reach the rematch in Italy, trailing by a goal, against a rival of the caliber of Fiorentina - and it's really impossible to eulogize her.
Everyone who saw her this year feels, even knows, that she will come full of faith and confidence to the rematch, and rightfully so.
which is organized, stable, confident and full of talent.
What the hell was that goal by Halaili?
Could it be that our own player went out on a burst, fumbled an Italian opponent and sent a sharp, flat ball into the far corner?
What a wonderful moment.
The football fans left proud, the fans of both teams came back even more in love with them, and here, under this impression, we return to the Premier League, to reality, and are forced to endure the ugly sight of a table full of stars and explanations, when before us there are still countless appeals and discussions, disputes and nerves.
After all, the damage has already been done.
Even if they minimize damages and return the points, even then it will look distorted, dubious, puzzling.
Complaints about unfairness will arise again.
And after last Thursday, all this legal madness became even more infuriating.
Even further away from the championship fight, contrary to its quality, disrupts all enjoyment.
There is a sense of wonder.
It's as if the judges and prosecutors are now taking revenge on the teams, punishing them for changing the regulations, as if telling them "it's your fault, you didn't want radius penalties and closing stands, now pay by deducting points".
It smells like legal power struggles on the league's back.
That they forgot their role, who they work for.
What is the point of "fighting with violence" if the war is done violently and evokes a sense of injustice.
As if the purpose for which we gathered was abandoned: good, enjoyable, fun football.
As it really can be here.
More on the same topic:
Maccabi Tel Aviv in football
Maccabi Haifa
The court of the association