Maccabi Haifa tonight (Thursday, 29/7/2021) defeated Dynamo Tbilisi 5:1 at the Sami Ofer Stadium in front of 15 spectators. After the victory of the Greens 2:1 in Tbilisi last week, the champion completed a total victory of 7:2 and advanced to the third qualifying round of the regional league. Next Thursday (5/8/2021) they will host Torshavn from the Faroe Islands for the first match, and a week later they will host the return match in the distant islands.
Debut goal for Maor Levy in the senior team
The Israeli champion started the game well. Already in the 5th minute, the visiting goalkeeper Miginyashvili had to stretch his limbs to save a kick by Charon Sherry. San Menachem sent the rebound to the stands. A few minutes later, Omar Atzili took a shot at the goal and narrowly missed.
In the 17th minute, an exciting moment occurred. Sherry bounced a ball to Maor Levy who scored his first goal in the senior team from close range. Levy even shed a light tear in light of the event.
Minutes of anxiety
Instead of easily jumping over the Georgian barrier, the Haifaites made sure to bring Tbilisi back into the picture soon. San Menachem gave the ball to the visiting attack and from this mistake Barnes Osei finally equalized in the 23rd minute. Two minutes later the Blues could have registered a turnaround, but fortunately Marosic's kick hit the net from the outside.
After minutes of palpitations in green, the color returned to the cheeks of the Haifaites. A kick by Godsvi Donio was deflected by the goalkeeper for a corner in the 35th minute. Haifa scored from this corner, when Miginiashvili headed the ball over the unfortunate Sporksled and the ball crossed the line. The own goal was scored for the brakeman's duty and no more goals were scored until halftime.
A wonderful second half for the greens
In the 57th minute, Omer Atzili had to finish the game, when he received a ball from Donio and passed his keeper, but kicked out from 5 meters. 18 minutes later he didn't miss anymore. Substitute Dean David kicked from the left side, the header was scored and Atzili went on to net. Third goal for the end of the season in Europe.
In the 80th minute, Atzili made way for Yuval Ashkenazi, who did not get many playing minutes last season. In his little time tonight on the field he did wonders. Only a minute after entering, Ashkenazi received a ball from Ben Shaher and fired from 20 meters into the goalkeeper's corner for Haifa's fourth. In the 85th minute, the midfielder completed a brace when he pushed in a touch from Dean David's cross and sealed the final result.
In conclusion, Maccabi Haifa gives a good performance overall and closes a perfect week for them, with a win in the champion of champions against Maccabi Tel Aviv and a ticket to the third round of the regional league qualifiers. Next week, Torshavn will reach the heat of the Mediterranean Sea, and although it is considered a weak opponent in Haifa, they already know perfectly well that they should not be underestimated.
Already in the next two days, the Greens will know who their next opponent in Europe will be if they pass the paroises when UEFA will hold the draw for the playoff stage. If against Torshavn the champion plays as it played today in most stages of the game, it will be possible to fantasize aloud about a warm European winter in Sami Ofer.
Maccabi Haifa is a good team. Shabbat Shalom