JAFFA: Thursday night was all about the Europa League round of 32, where Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk, who arrived with their Israeli jewel, Manor Solomon.
The first leg was all about Solomon, Israeli football poster boy and great hope. Solomon had a fantastic season in 2020/21 so far, scoring twice against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Despite he did not win an immediate lucrative move in January, but after those games, all of Europe is now aware of the extremely talented kid. Solomon’s name has recently been related to the Arsenal, as well as other clubs in England. As he’s working with super-agent Pinhas Zahavi, it is not contradicted that Solomon will trade his ply in the UK next season.
For Solomon, the game was highly emotional. Aside from the fact that it is his first visit to Israel since the last international break and the first with Shakhtar, his family are known to be Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.
A special day for this young star, who’s coming from a family of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. Solomon (Photo: FC Shakhtar)
First half
Shakhtar Donetsk opened the match in massive pressure on Maccabi’s goal. Maccabi looked to find its breakthrough in counter-attacks, and a couple of them were quite dangerous in the first ten minutes.
Maccabi’s aggressive approach to the match produced them a golden chance, but Alexander Pešić missed an easy one-on-one with the keeper, the ball was deflected, and Avi Rikan sent it wide above the bar in front of an open goal. A horrific miss, but luckily for Rikan, he was caught offside, and it didn’t count.
Maccabi’s dominance on both sides of the pitch continued, but in the 22nd minute, Shakhtar finally got their first serious chance. A combination between Taison, Solomon and Júnior Moraes created havoc in Maccabi’s box, but goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum was in the right place.
On the 31st minute, Shakhtar went on the scoreboard. A tremendous team play, curated by Taison, who came to the middle, found Junior Moraes that in one touch passed it to Alan Patrick that came from the back and notched it to the far low post. 0-1 Shakhtar, Taison dictating the pace in the decisive move.
Finished an excellent team play. Alan Patrick (Photo: FC Shakhtar)
Pešić was hurt inside the ox ten minutes later, but a VAR checked disapproved a foul against the Serb. Maccabi lost its aggressive attitude, and Shakhtar controlled the pace in the last minutes of the first half.
Second half
The second half started with much more enthusiasm from Maccabi Tel Aviv. Coach Patrick van Lueewen changed Dan Biton with Matan Hozez. Two attacks found Shakhtar’s defence unprepared, but the final moves lacked the accuracy needed to surprise goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin.
On the 60th minute, Manor Solomon finally got his first chance. The Israeli talent found himself almost free in the box, but Luis Hernandez blocked his shot.
Maccabi kept attacking consistently but wasn’t focused enough in the less third. They made a double change and threw Eyal Golasa and Nick Blackman for Tal Ben Haim and Avi Rikan.
Solomon was substituted on the 72nd minute. He played well when Shakhtar was dominant, but all in all did not rise to his own very festive occasion. Enric Saborit did a marvellous job guarding him. Much better than what Real Madrid’s Ferland Mendy did, that’s for sure.
Maccabi attacked through the flanks and got to some good chances. On the 87th, Fernandez headed an excellent corner, but Trubin stopped it well with a superb instinct.
On the stoppage time, Maccabi went forward, and Shakhtar punished them. Tetê finished well a quick counter-attack after a mistake by Hozez in defence. 0-2 Shakhtar.
The final whistle came, and unless something unique will take place, the last European night in the Middle East for this season was this game.
Photo via FC Shakhtar official Twitter.
