Maccabi Haifa entered tonight’s match against Hapoel Haifa after taking four points from two matches. These two rivals take each other on in the first derby of the 2017/18 season in the League Cup
The match began with Hapoel Haifa being shown a red card four minutes into the match. Newly signed Swedish Hapoel Haifa defender, Sjostedt, obstructed and took down Rukavytsya as he was running into the box, producing a red card from the referee. Rukavystya then stepped up and delivered from the spot to put Maccabi Haifa up 1-0, and providing a man advantage for the remaining eighty-six minutes of the match
The Greens kept pressuring and Ophir Mizrachi found Rukavystya making a darting run off their backline of defense. Rukavystya finished the move by shooting the ball past a hopeless Hapoel goalkeeper to put the Greens up 2-0 in the 26th minute. With balls being whipped in from the wings, and possession being held throughout the pitch, scoring chances were plentiful for the Greens
Although Hapoel Haifa was held back throughout most of the match, their best chance came as Allyson dos Santos received a yellow card after a foul in Maccabi’s third. The ensuing free kick produced a high quality save out of Omri Glazer, who had little else to do during the first half
The Greens made two changes to begin the second half, taking off Abu Fani and Ophir Mizrachi for Gili Vermouth and Neta Lavi. Hapoel Haifa opened the half looking to pull a goal back. Even with ten men, they pressured the Greens creating dangerous opportunities
But minutes later, Roei Kehat entered the match for Caio Alves and his presence was felt instantaneously on the pitch as he scored in the 59th minute and then two minutes later in 61st minute. Two minutes after the goal, Eliran Atar and Raz Meir were brought on in place of Gal Alberman and Ernest Mabouka
The Reds were able to get on the score sheet when Kapiloto scored in the 75th minute to pull one goal back. This proved to be little consolation as Maccabi Haifa went on to win 4-1. Maccabi Haifa dominated the pitch and gave their rivals little opportunity to get back into the match
The Greens will take this momentum and look forward to their next match on Saturday, August 13, 2017 when they face Hapoel Acco