In the 29th round of the Premier League, Maccabi Haifa hosted Hapoel Beer Sheva at Sammy Ofer Stadium. The Greens were hoping to close the gap in the fight for third place, but encountered a tough opponent who came with the goal of sticking to the top spot.
The evening opened with a moving ceremony in honor of Doron Steinbracher, who finally arrived at the Maccabi Haifa game after her release from captivity. As you may recall, the Maccabi Haifa club provided great support to her father, in addition to the other families of the kidnapped, the team's fans, and in general. Doron told the audience:
"I heard from my father about what Maccabi Haifa, as a club and as a community, did and is still doing for the kidnapped and for their families. What you, the audience, did is far beyond football. It was a hug, it was light in the darkness. A huge thank you for that. But we don't forget, after a year and a half, there are still 59 kidnapped in Gaza... We will not rest or be silent until everyone returns home."
Tonight was also the first game in which the organizations returned to the stands, another event the team hoped would give a huge boost to a green victory.
the progress of the game:
First half:
- Minute 3: Pedro loses the ball in the box but Kiyof manages to intercept and prevent an early goal.
- Minute 6: Sabrina breaks from the wing and passes to Rafaelov, who passes to David, but the referee whistles for a foul.
- Minute 9: A dangerous kick by B.S. from outside the box goes near the post.
- Minute 27: Rafaelov kicks a free kick from the center of the field, but the ball flies over the goal.
- Minute 35: A free kick from Haifa's right wing is lifted into the box and the ball is hit wide.
- Minute 41: B.S. takes a shot in Haifa's half, but a dangerous kick squeezes out Kiyof's great save.
- Minute 45+1: A serious mistake in the Greens' defense leads to a one-on-one situation against Kiyof, a huge save leaves the score at zero.
- In extra time: Sek shoots for David, the goalkeeper saves, Rafaelov shoots again, Sabrina kicks off the goal line and misses a great opportunity to take the lead.
Second half:
- Minute 47: B.S. again finds itself in front of Kiyof, but the ball goes out.
- Minute 53: B.S.'s kick is stopped on the goal line by S.K., but the rebound goes in. 1-0 in B'Sh.
- Minute 61: Guy Melamed, who came off the bench, grabs and falls in the box, but the referee blows the whistle for a corner despite Maccabi Haifa's claims for a penalty.
- Minute 82: Free kick by B.S. – Kiyof goes out, hits the head of one of the B.S. players and the penalty kick is whistled and even goes in. B'S doubles to 2-0.
- Minute 98: In the last attack of B.S. and after several passes in the Haifa area, the ball goes over the goalpost and goes in. 3-0 to the guests.
The evening that started brightly turned into a painful disappointment for Maccabi Haifa. A confused game, turnovers, and inaccuracy led to a crushing loss and a risk of third place.
Maccabi Haifa has yet to beat any of the big teams this season, but it has no time to put its head down because it will have to prepare for the next game against the leader, Maccabi Tel Aviv.