19th round in the Japanika League: Maccabi hosted this evening (Saturday) Hapoel Ra’anana. 17,238 fans attended the stadium stands. Before the match Maccabi were confident that they could keep the winning streak from the last 5 matches. Throughout the entire match Maccabi attacked Ra’anana’s goal, but the gusts keeper, Assaf Tsur, saved his team time after time. It was the first match in which Marco Balbul lost points since he was appointed to the job. On Tuesday Maccabi will play against Sakhnin for a place at the quarterfinals of the Israeli Cup.
Kick off
11’ A shot from 20 meters by Neta Lavi is blocked by Ra’anana’s goalkeeper, Assaf Tsur.
22’ Rukavytsya storms down the right wing but Ra’anana’s defense clears the ball away.
23’ Raz Meir crosses the ball into the penalty area. Ra’anana’s defense clears it but the ball goes directly to Lavi who shoots from 18 meters, but the ball hits one of the away players and goes out.
27’ Mandjeck is inside the box and tries to shoot but he is blocked by a Ra’anana defender.
30’ Shon Weismann goes one-on-one against Tsur but he fails to put Maccabi in front.
36’ Another great opportunity for Maccabi starts with a cross by Awad towards Arad. Arad goes for the header but unfortunately Tsur somehow denies it.
42’ Awad breaks down the right wing and delivers the ball to Weismann but the latter is blocked in the last moment.
45’ Awad crosses the ball, Mandjeck reaches with his head but the ball goes wide.
Second half
51’ Awad shoots from outside of the box, the ball is wide.
52’ Substitution for Maccabi: Roi Kehat in, Shon Weismann out.
60’ Mabouka delivers a cross towards Rukavytsya, but his header goes straight to the keeper's hands.
68’ Substitution for Maccabi: Shlomi Azulay in, Muhammad Awad out.
78’ Substitution for Maccabi: Amit Zenati in, Georges Mandjeck out.
80’ On his first move on the pitch, Zenati provides a cross. Lavi reaches the ball and shoots from 20 meters, but it is high above the goal.
82’ Neta Lavi sends a long ball to Mabouka, and with a one touch shot he forces Tsur to pull another great save.
83’ Maccabi keeps pressing Ra’anana’s goal. Mabouka shoots from 10 meters, Tsur collects the ball.
90 4’ minutes stoppage time.
Final whistle.
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