There are very few things in life that can be compared to a full football stadium.
Israeli Premier League match of the season kicked off with scenery that wouldn’t shame games in Argentina, Morocco or Turkey. More than 22 thousand fans were present in Bloomfield Stadium, in what was the highest attended match in ‘European’ football in more than a year.
Photo: Shal Greenfeld
First Half
It took off in style. Pyrotechnics in Haifa’s stand set the sign, but then Maccabi Tel Aviv woke up. They attacked the spaces on the right side of Maccabi Haifa’s defence and won a corner in the fifth minute. The yellow corner caused havoc in Haifa’s defence as goalkeeper Josh Cohen went out of his goal a bit insecure, and Eitan Tibi poached the ball in, and it was 1-0 and the yellow and blue volcano exploded.
A massive pyro show took over the whole stadium, and the match was paused for the next 10 minutes. It was all yellow smoke and an unbelievable singing by the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.
Amazing scenes in Bloomfield! 💥
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) May 9, 2021
Maccabi Tel Aviv put on a show that doesn’t fall from the great fans of Argentina and Turkey. Absolute scenes in Jaffa 🧨
More in our Instagram story.
Look for @BabaGol_.#NoPyroNoParty pic.twitter.com/m5MBBjrQma
After the game was renewed, Tel Aviv did not let go, and Alexander Pešić notched the second one! Haifa didn’t exist, and it seemed to be a long night for the Greens.
But things did not stand still in this game. You couldn’t blink in this game. Omer Atzili, the player, released from Maccabi Tel Aviv after a massive scandal that saw him involved with underaged teenagers, was in the centre of things. He lobbed a ball to Bogdan Planic, who headed it to Godsawy Donyoh, who netted the 2-1. Haifa was back in the game. It took them three minutes, and they got the second. Again it was Atzili who showboated on the line and found Tjarron Chery who bombed the upper net. 2-2, the Greens exploded!
Haifa became more dominant and controlled the pace. Enric Saborit, maybe the most important player in Maccabi Tel Aviv, got injured, and Ofir Davidzade replaced him. It had an immediate impact. Dolev Haziza sent a terrific ball right to the crossbar and almost completed a shocking comeback for Haifa. The first half enjoyed a 12-minute extra time, and it was worth it.
Donyoh almost scored the third for Haifa after a fantastic attack via the middle space in Maccabi Tel Aviv’s defence. The ball was saved from the line, Tibi cleared from the goal line. A fantastic half ended in an eventful 2-2 draw.
Photo: Shaul Greenfeld
Second Half
In the second half, Maccabi Tel Aviv made another change with Sheran Yeyni, the veteran replacing Eyal Golasa. The game was much more equalled in the second half, as neither sides created any dangerous chances, except one attempt by Donyoh.
On the 61st minute, Pešić almost made 3-2 to Maccabi Tel Aviv, but Cohen was on the spot and made a tremendous save.
The game became more aggressive, and several players from both sides picked up knocks and were substituted.
In the dying moments, both teams tried to score but couldn’t. 2-2 in the end, a result that works magic for Maccabi Haifa, as there are three more games to go, and they are leading by four points on top of the table.
A big celebration in Green in the end, as they are about to grab their first championship title after ten long years.
Photo: Shaul Greenfeld
Photo: Shaul Greenfeld
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