After the victory over Bnei Yehuda last weekend, Maccabi Petah Tikva said goodbye last night (Wednesday) to Maccabi Netanya 1: 1, which gave only one point to each team in the fight for a ticket to the top playoffs.
Guy Luzon’s team came to face the Diamonds from Netanya knowing that a victory of one would complicate the other, and after falling 1-0 at halftime, Luzon said at halftime to his players that he believed in them and that with patience the goal would come, The opening whistle for the second half of the game and even changed the lineup for four defensive players.
The club complimented the players who came off the bench, especially Or Inbrom, who was praised for the ability he showed after he managed to worry the team members a bit in light of the bad period he experienced recently, following which he also found himself out of the squad for the third time in a row. We also noted in Petah Tikva the game of the young Eitan Azulai, who received the credit in the lineup and managed to meet the task well, while the team also praised the significant addition that Arad Bar brought with him as he rose from the bench to the center of the field.
Luzon also complimented his players on the ability, especially in the second half, so the hosts had control for most of the minutes of the game. “There was only one team on the field in the second half,” said one of the team’s players, “we had to score the second goal, but sometimes it doesn’t work out the way we want. Also to lose. “
The one who was a significant factor in the game ending in an equal distribution of points is the Maccabi Petah Tikva goalkeeper Eric Janko, Who recorded a number of particularly impressive saves in the second half. “It was a very difficult game,” Janko concluded at the end. “There was direct competition for the top playoff, so I think it is a reasonable result in the circumstances and we will continue with the face forward to Maccabi Haifa. I am happy with the last period, I really feel good in the team, I feel trusted. “And I bring the results, so just keep going. I think if we don’t get to the top playoffs it will be a disappointment. We did an amazing season and if we don’t screw between the six big teams as we marked ourselves there will be some disappointment. We look from game to game and do everything to win each one.”
Along with the mixed feelings about their game and the fact that they failed to win, Petah Tikva at least took comfort in the result of the draw between Hapoel Beer Sheva and Kiryat Shmona, who are also in the race for a ticket to the big six. “We remained in the same situation and that is important. We are dependent on ourselves, if we just do what is incumbent on us we will achieve the goal. The final game against KS will be a cup final.”
As mentioned, the club is aiming for the completion game from the 19th round which was supposed to take place last month but was postponed due to the spread of the corona among the players of the northern team and is set for a new date to March 10, next Wednesday. At Maccabi Haifa at the Sami Ofer Stadium. Who is still unclear whether he will play in this match is Daniel Flesher, who felt the twin muscle in half and was replaced. The brake came up to play after he made a second vaccination to Corona and the club will test whether it had any effects or whether he will need a rest.