Guy Luzon’s team came into this Toto Cup Quarterfinal match against Hapoel Acre, after losing to Beitar Jerusalem 2:1. The Greens aimed find their winning ways again against a side they hadn’t beaten in two previous meetings this season.
The match began with both teams playing conservatively. In the 7th minute, the Greens got their first opportunity with a corner resulting from a good move constructed by Caio. At the quarter of an hour mark, the Greens broke through the Acre defense to produce multiple dangerous chances with shots stemming from an initial long range Neta Lavi effort, but the Acre goalkeeper, Strauss, did just enough to keep the home side off the score sheet. In the 21st minute, Caio had an effort outside the box and slipped the ball into the side netting of Strauss, giving Maccabi Haifa the early advantage 1:0.
Mabouka looked dangerous down right flank, showing his speed and serving quality deliveries into the box during the first half. After having more pressure with ten minutes left in the half, the Greens looked poised to score their second of the match. In the 37th minute, Gili Vermouth had an opportunity after well-worked counter attack, with the shot going wide. The half ended with Haifa having a 1:0 lead.
The Greens began the second half with two changes in taking off Rami Gershon and Omer Demari and bringing on Dos Santos and Klaus. In the 52nd minute, Raz Meir beat his defender and got a strong cross in, but Kostadinov could not get his header on target. The Greens started the half just they finished the first half, with a lot of pressure and looking to go forward. In the 56th minute, Klaus was unable to finish a ball crossed in by Raz Meir, keeping Haifa up by only one goal.
In the 62nd minute, Gal Alberman was brought onto the pitch in place of Kostadinov for Luzon’s third change. In the 68th minute, Hapoel Acre’s Onyekachi beat Omri Glazer to score the equalizer against the run of play. The goal brought Acre back into the match and they began to pressure and create dangerous chances in front of Glazer’s goal. Haifa had one last chance in the final seconds as Mabouka had a shot that was just wide of the goal but time ended and overtime needed to be played.
In the 98th minute, well into overtime, Neta Lavi took a chance on a shot from outside the box and beat Strauss to put the Greens up 2-1. Strauss was at fault for the goal and it encourage the Haifa player to continue shooting from distance at the Acre goalkeeper. In the 108th minute, Hapoel Acre’s Al Krenawy hit a great shot from inside the box to equalize for the second time in the match, ultimately sending this match to penalties.
Maccabi Haifa was able to win 4:3 on penalties as Awad, Alberman, Sallallich and Kehat scored their penalties with Acre missing two, having the fourth kick saved by Omri Glazer. Haifa will look forward to their next match against Kiryat Shmona this weekend.
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