League

Gedera
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) maccabi haifa's Yan Cantarini started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Itzhak Bachar during the 2nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 5th minute, Jonatan Rosten hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 8th minute, Ithiel Rogel got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Gedera's Lemuel Alter played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Yan Cantarini in the 11th minute of play. maccabi haifa's Yan Cantarini got a good chance for a goal in the 13th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Roi Ginzburg's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Joy Baruch read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 16th minute of play. Lemuel Alter showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jathniel Greenbaum in the 19th minute of the match. maccabi haifa's Joy Baruch proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 21st minute of the match, managed to save maccabi haifa from getting a goal against them. In the 22nd minute, Roi Ginzburg fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. Ithiel Rogel sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jathniel Greenbaum sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 29th minute, Kayam Vagou hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 30th minute the ball was on its way in behind maccabi haifa's goalkeeper Joy Baruch, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Joy Baruch acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 31st minute, took the ball on the long shot from Tuvia Harif. Giora Arava placed the ball on the penalty spot and got himself ready to shoot. Post out! If Ithiel Rogel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 43rd minute, Ithiel Rogel reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Joy Baruch. The goal made the score 1-0. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Ithiel Rogel to make the kick off. maccabi haifa's Joy Baruch played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Itzhak Bachar in the 54th minute of play. Gedera's Avraam Regev got a good chance for a goal in the 56th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Ithiel Rogel in the 59th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Joy Baruch saved maccabi haifa from getting behind. Ithiel Rogel sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Roi Ginzburg in the 62nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Joy Baruch prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 63rd minute Ithiel Rogel shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Joy Baruch saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Roi Ginzburg might have been able to make a better finish in the 64th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Joy Baruch. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Roi Ginzburg ran back to his position shaking his head. Joy Baruch showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ithiel Rogel, who was totally free with the ball in the 66th minute. Kayam Vagou kicked well hit freekick during the 71st minute of the match. When Gedera's Ithiel Rogel in the 76th minute got a chance for a shot 76th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye maccabi haifa's goalie prevented a goal. The attack was good, but when Ithiel Rogel in the 78th minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. Yiftach Harel's late challenge caught a Gedera's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Yiftach Harel helped the player get up and apologised. Yiftach Harel kicked well hit freekick during the 80th minute of the match. When the match clock showed 81 minutes, the score became 2-0 when Ithiel Rogel sped through maccabi haifa's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Joy Baruch. Joy Baruch made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Roi Ginzburg in the 87th minute of play. maccabi haifa's Joy Baruch played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ithiel Rogel in the 88th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ithiel Rogel in the 89th minute of play forced maccabi haifa's goalkeeper Joy Baruch to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Jathniel Greenbaum recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 95th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal.