Maccabi 5 - 0 Aluf (365543474)

Due to an all-day shower, 5327 paying spectators got to see a match on a pitch-turned-bog at Hakufsa. Octávio Esmeriz was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Arttu Collanus and Sidney Leenheer. Maccabi tactics involved an interesting 3-5-2 combination. The following players had been chosen: Sirkka - Miller, Chaim, Eliyav - Shiltsov, Bass, Wolf, Zankov, Gold - Izurieta, Gabso.

A 5-4-1 alignment was the formation of choice for Aluf. They fielded: Geisler - Margalit, Grunder, Aboo, Rosenthal, Shivhon - Shifman, Salomon, Kattash, Shemarov - Meirov.

Maccabi mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. Aluf used their ability to concentrate their attacks in the middle of the pitch, rather than on the wings. The home side put themselves ahead 1 - 0 after 2 minutes courtesy of a breakthrough from N. Zankov, who scored with a stunning volley following a cross from the right wing. F. Wolf did not have a good day today, often losing his footing on the muddy pitch. Coming in from the right, Maccabi had a good opportunity to convert on a counterattack after 25 minutes, but M. Eliyav's attempt to finish was easily stopped. With 27 minutes played, O. Miller of Maccabi fell dramatically just outside the penalty area. However, the referee was unimpressed, and booked him for diving. 28 minutes in, Aluf appeared unsure on how to play and their organisation was only weak. After 35 minutes, G. Gabso put Maccabi ahead 2 - 0 when he rose to head in a cross from the right wing. Maccabi had a good opportunity to attack on the wing, but remembered their instructions to go for middle attacks. 36 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as D. Izurieta broke through, making the score 3 - 0 for Maccabi. 3 - 0 was the halftime score. Maccabi had most of the ball, with 66 percent of possession.

A review of the gameplan helped Aluf get back to a passable organisation when the referee blew his whistle again. Things were going to get worse for the visitors. D. Izurieta squirmed through their central defence after 47 minutes, increasing the lead to 4 - 0. After this, you could see that the players of Maccabi were more interested in killing time than scoring more goals. Maccabi's O. Miller had to watch the rest of the game from the sidelines, after twisting his ankle with 49 minutes having been played. R. Shtrauber was the replacement. 58 minutes into the game, Aluf seemed a little tentative in their play as their organization fell to inadequate. After 66 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by V. Shiltsov might have resulted in another goal for Maccabi. However, S. Geisler made a spectacular save. 73 minutes into the game, Aluf seemed to suffer a certain amount of confusion and they fell to a weak level of organisation. A free kick just outside of the visitors' penalty area after 76 minutes could have resulted in another goal, but S. Geisler got a hand out and tipped the ball over the bar. Maccabi increased the lead as R. Bass struck to make the score 5 - 0 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. 80 minutes in, Maccabi's M. Eliyav received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. Maccabi claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 70 percent.

Maccabi's top performer was clearly D. Izurieta. On the other hand, G. Gabso's play was disheartening. Aluf's best player was Y. Meirov. S. Geisler turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 5 - 0.