Maccabi beat Ironi Kiryat Shmona 4:1 at Sammy Ofer, with goals from Azoulay (9’), Benson (36’), and a brace from Guy Melamed (30’, 80’).
Israeli Premier League - 26th fixture | Maccabi Haifa vs Ironi Kiryat Shmona | Sammy Ofer Stadium
Maccabi’s line-up: Georgiy Yermakov, Jelle Bataille, Abdoulaye Seck (C), Lisav Eissat, Yinon Fainegezicht, Ali Mohamed, Ethan Azoulay, Michael Ohana, Manuel Benson, Kenji Gorre, Silva Kani.
Kick Off
9’ GOAL! Benson receives the ball on the counterattack, plays it to Ohana, who lays it off to Azoulay, and with an accurate finish into the bottom corner, he gives the Greens an early lead. 1:0 for Maccabi
9’ Assist: Michael Ohana
14’ Michael Ohana plays an excellent pass to Fainegezicht, who bursts down the flank, cuts into the box and strikes well, but the goalkeeper makes the save.
17’ Yellow Card: Shay Ben David (Kiryat Shmona)
21’ Gorre storms into the box and crosses a great ball to Ohana, but the latter’s shot misses the target not by much.
28’ Double substitution for Maccabi: Cedric Don and Guy Melamed in, Michael Ohana and Silva Kani out.
30’ GOAL! Fainegezicht finds Azoulay, who plays it to Benson. Benson shoots, the keeper parries into the center of the box and Guy Melamed is first to the rebound, finishing with a single touch. 2:0 for Maccabi
32’ Substitution for Kiryat Shmona: Ariel Sheratzky in, Yaw Ackah out.
35’ GOAL! Adrián Ugarriza narrows the score. 2:1 for Maccabi
36’ GOAL! In the first attack after Kiryat Shmona’s goal, Fainegezicht passes the ball to Azoulay, who lays it to Don. Don delivers a superb cross to Benson, who scores his first goal of the season! 3:1 for Maccabi
43’ Benson nearly grabs his second of the match with a great shot from a long distance, but the keeper pushes it out for a corner.
44’ Azoulay delivers an excellent corner kick that finds Fainegezicht, whose header hits the crossbar and out.
Second Half
46’ Substitution for Maccabi: Peter Agba in, Ali Mohamed out.
46’ Double substitution for Kiryat Shmona: Musa Alli and Aviv Avraham in, Mor Siman Tov and Ofir Benbenishti out
64’ Substitution for Maccabi: Kenny Saief in, Manuel Benson out.
64’ Substitution for Kiryat Shmona: Fernando Pacheco in, Yair Mordechai out.
65’ Don receives the ball inside the box and curves it towards the far corner, but the ball goes just narrowly wide.
76’ Substitution for Kiryat Shmona: Ido Vaier in, Ovadia Darwish out.
80’ GOAL! Cedric chips a delicate ball into the box; Melamed rises high and heads it in! 4:1 for Maccabi
80’ Assist: Cedric Don
82’ Substitution for Maccabi: Sean Goldberg in, Kenji Gorre out.
86’ Yellow Card: Fernando Pacheco (Kiryat Shmona)
90’+4’ Yellow Card: Aviv Avraham (Kiryat Shmona)
90’+5’ Final whistle.
