21st round in the Japanika League: Maccabi hosted Hapoel Tel Aviv at Sammy Ofer stadium. The first half won’t be forgotten for a very long time.
The team managed to recover after failing to score in the last three matches and climbs, after winning this match, to the second place in the league. Just seven minutes into the match were needed for Awad to score the opening goal, and 11 minutes later Rukavytsya doubled the lead. At the 24’ minute Gotlieb narrowed the score. Ten minutes before half time Awad took advantage of Levkovich's mistake and gave Maccabi a 3:1 lead. After less than 60 seconds Safuri scored the second goal for Hapoel and the last one of this encounter. Kerim Frei made his debut in the second half. Mohammed Abu Fani made his first appearance since he returned from a loan at Hapoel Hadera. The next fixture will be an away match against Beitar Jerusalem.
Kick Off
4’ First opportunity for Maccabi: Meir crosses the ball into the box, Awad lowers it towards Sallallich that from seven meters shoots high above Levkovich’s goal.
7’ Mabouka delivers a brilliant cross, Awad goes for a header from five meters and scores! 1:0 for Maccabi!
11’ Awad shoots from 20 meters, Levkovich collects it.
19’ Sallallich storms down the right wing and he crosses the ball straight to Rukavytsya’s head, and it is in! The ball went to the bottom corner and Maccabi is now 2:0 ahead!
23’ Gotlieb takes advantage of a jumble in Maccabi’s penalty area and narrows the score, 2:1.
35’ Hapoel Tel Aviv’s goalkeeper, Levkovich, tries to pass the ball to one of his teammates but Awad is sharp enough and steals the ball. He passes by Levkovich and rolls the ball into the bare goal. 3:1 for Maccabi.
37’ Safuri shoots from outside the box and scores to Haimov’s net. 3:2
45’ 1 minute stoppage time.
Second Half
52’ A cross by Rukavytsya reaches Mandjeck, his header goes to the corner of the goal but Levkovich denies it.
60’ Substitution for Maccabi: Kerim Frei in, Nikita Rukavytsya out.
62’ Awad takes advantage of a mistake in Hapoel’s defense and shoots diagonally from 16 meters above the goal.
63’ Awad storms down the line and crosses the ball to Frei, but the latter wasn’t ready for it and he misses a great opportunity from five meters. It was Frei’s first chance to score for Maccabi.
67’ Raz Meir shoots to the far post from 10 meters after a lovely run in the left wing but Levkovich stops the attempt.
75’ Substitution for Maccabi: Maxim Plakuschenko in, Sintayehu Sallallich out.
76’ Plakuschenko with his first touch on ball sends Awad to a one-on-one against Levkovich, but the striker fails to pass the keeper.
86’ Plakuschenko shoots a free kick from 25 meters, the ball hits the wrong side of the net.
90’ Substitution for Maccabi: Mohammed Abu Fani in, Muhammad Awad out.
90’ 4 minutes stoppage time.
Final whistle. Maccabi wins 3:2!!
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