Match context
Three days after a 0-0 European stalemate with PAOK Saloniki, Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to domestic action in the Israel Winner League. The 5th-round clash saw them travel to Docha Stadium in Sakhnin to face Bnei Sakhnin, with the Yellow & Blue aiming to preserve an unblemished league record in a packed schedule that also includes looming fixtures against Dinamo Zagreb and Maccabi Haifa.
Head coach Zarko Lazatic freshened the squad, handing starts to a selected group that included Heitor, Dani Groper, Idan Shahar, Helio Varela and Elad Madmon, while Roy Ravivo remained on the sidelines after a red card in the previous league outing against Hapoel Jerusalem. The visitors fielded a determined lineup as around 1,200 travelling fans backed their team.
First half: relentless pressure and denied openings
From the opening whistle, Maccabi pressed with clear intent: the goal was to strike early and set the tone. In the fifth minute, Elad Madmon whipped a shot that struck the crossbar, denying Sakhnin a timely reprieve and signaling the visitors’ ambition to take control of the match. The contest intensified midway through the half when Otongha of Sakhnin received a yellow card for a robust challenge on Idan Shahar near the halfway line. After a lengthy VAR review, the initial decision was overturned and Otongha was dismissed with a red card, a pivotal turning point that gave Maccabi a man advantage for the remainder of the half.
Undeterred by Sakhnin’s setback, Maccabi ramped up the pressure. A sweeping attack in the 29th minute produced several near misses: Shahar rattled the post, Varla tested the keeper with a powerful effort, and Heitor’s header was blocked at the line. A teasing free kick found Christian Blitz in space, but the defender’s shot was thwarted just before it crossed the line. As the half wore on, the away side continued to pin Sakhnin back, with the home side weathering the storm and limiting clear-cut chances.
Second half: tactical shifts and late drama
At the start of the second half Lazatic summoned changes to refresh the forward lines, replacing Gruber with Caro–no, Carroll? (the article notes a substitution and a positional shift, with Varla moving to left-back). Despite the reshuffle, Maccabi found it hard to convert dominance into a decisive goal, as Sakhnin’s defense held firm and their goalkeeper delivered crucial saves when required. In the 61st minute, Varla gave way as part of further tactical adjustments, and the flow of the match remained tight as the clock ticked toward the closing stages.
The hour mark brought a moment of caution for Maccabi when a challenge by Carvin Andrada on Ibrahim Drami earned a foul and sparked a contentious second booking. The referee initially showed red, but VAR intervention reduced the card to a yellow, keeping the visitors with a numerical edge but with heightened tension around the field. The tempo remained high, with Maccabi continuing to press and Sakhnin relying on quick breaks to threaten on the counter.
Late drama and the goalkeeper dilemma
Into stoppage time, a dangerous cross from Shgib Yahezkel found Tyreis Assanta, whose powerful header forced a save from Sakhnin’s keeper. The moment became even more dramatic as the goalkeeper, Mohammed Abu Nill, picked up a yellow card for time-wasting and then faced a penalty decision after the ball struck the keeper’s hand in the box. With Abu Nill shown a second yellow and subsequently sent off, Maccabi faced a goalkeeper crisis in stoppage time, forcing Iyad Abu Abid to pull on the goalkeeper’s jersey as an outfield player lined up in goal. The late incident capped a tense, hard-fought contest, underscoring the season’s unpredictable nature for Lazatic’s side and the resilience of Sakhnin’s defense in the face of sustained pressure.
Implications and takeaways
While the final scoreline isn’t captured in this summary, the match illustrated several key narratives for Maccabi Tel Aviv: the squad depth tested by a congested schedule, the effectiveness of Lazatic’s rotation in keeping players fresh, and the team’s continued belief in pressing for goals even when facing setbacks. For Bnei Sakhnin, the red card and late-pressure sequence highlighted their discipline and organization, particularly in defending a lead after going a man down early in the half. The result adds another layer to the season’s early storylines as both sides look ahead to upcoming fixtures against European rivals and domestic contenders alike.
Notes on formation and rotation
Coach Lazatic’s rotation strategy aimed to balance freshness with continuity, deploying a front line capable of sustained pressure while preserving defensive solidity. The tactical tweaks in the second half, including positional shifts and targeted substitutions, reflected a broader approach of adaptability that will be crucial as the calendar intensifies.
Looking ahead, Maccabi Tel Aviv will hope to translate their dominance into more clinical finishing as they travel to face tougher opponents in the coming weeks, while Sakhnin will take the positives from a bold performance, particularly in handling a numerically advantaged opponent late on.
