Robbie Keane started with the same lineup as the one that started in the victory over Bnei Rayna last week, with Roy Rabivo as right back and Raz Shlomo in the center of the defense, although the stopper recorded a less good game. At least at first, it doesn’t look very good. The yellows presented a confused and lackluster first half, often losing balls and having trouble developing attacks. Sakhnin was actually more dangerous, but Dor Hogi was unable to take advantage of mistakes by Aden Kartsev and Roi Mishpeti to score. Only towards the end of the first half did the yellows wake up a little, and in two minutes they reached two big situations. Unfortunately, Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanikovski missed from close range, and the teams went into the break with a zero draw.
In the second half, the real action began. Roy Rabivo set up Osher Davida’s third league goal (53rd) with a dizzying break on the wing, and Maccabi Tel Aviv seemed to be on the right track. But then Milson (or Greenfeld) stepped in. It started with a borderline yellow in the 58th minute, and continued with another – and even more controversial – yellow for a foul without the ball. From here the course of the game changed. Sakhnin gained confidence and went forward, and a short time later got her reward, when Hassan Hilo took advantage of another mistake by Roi Mishpeti to strike from close range to make it 1:1 in the 67th minute. Maccabi Tel Aviv pressed back and tried to keep the point, and did so with quite a bit of luck.
Now they will come to the game against Maccabi Haifa on Saturday under great pressure – and without Milson, without him, they have already lost twice to the Greens this season. Is this the evening that changed the championship fight?
