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In a heart-wrenching opening match of the Europa League, Maccabi Tel Aviv fell 2-1 to Portuguese side SC Braga, with two late goals overturning the Israeli club’s lead and leaving them empty-handed over the weekend.
Despite controlling the match for much of the game, Maccabi succumbed to a dramatic comeback in the closing moments. Zarko Lazetic’s squad took an early lead in the 30th minute through a well-placed penalty by Osher Davida.
The spot kick was awarded after Maccabi midfielder Dor Peretz was tripped in the box by Braga’s goalkeeper, Matheus Magalhaes, allowing Davida to calmly convert and give his team a 1-0 advantage.
Maccabi ended the first half ahead, having displayed solid defensive resilience led by central defender Nemanja Stojic, who anchored the back line with a commanding performance.
The yellow-and-blue continued to shine defensively in the second half, keeping Braga at bay for most of the match. However, the hosts relentlessly pushed for an equalizer.
Their breakthrough came in the 88th minute when Portuguese forward Bruma found the back of the net, bringing the sides level.
The match took another twist deep into stoppage time when a Raz Shlomo handball in Maccabi’s penalty area resulted in a second chance for Braga to score.
Bruma stepped up once again, converting the penalty in the 95th minute to complete the comeback and secure three points for the Portuguese side.
Maccabi’s frustration was evident as two players, Gabi Kanichowsky and Tyrese Asante, were sent off with red cards before the final whistle.
Despite the bitter defeat, Maccabi coach Lazetic chose to focus on the positives, praising his team’s efforts. “I see only positive things, and well done to my players,” Lazetic remarked post-match.
“They did everything right in the first half; we had the ball a lot. In the second half, we dropped a bit. The defense was good, but there were moments when we needed to kill the game. Unfortunately, this is football, and my players gave everything today.”
In domestic play, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Israel Premier League match was played behind closed doors due to ongoing security concerns across the country. The Homefront Command restricted fan attendance at several stadiums over the weekend.
Maccabi Haifa Dominates Kiryat Shmona
Elsewhere in the Israel Premier League, Maccabi Haifa cruised to a 4-0 victory against Ironi Kiryat Shmona, with Dean David scoring a brace in an emphatic away performance.
Haifa took the lead early when a cross from Dolev Haziza deflected off Kiryat Shmona’s Noam Cohen for an own goal in the 13th minute.
David doubled the advantage off a short corner from Lior Refaelov and added his second of the game in the 72nd minute.
Five minutes later, Oleksandr Syrota completed the scoring, converting a pass from Dia Saba.
“It was very difficult to play without an atmosphere – it reminded me of playing during COVID with no fans,” Haifa coach Barak Bachar commented, lamenting the absence of supporters.
Jerusalem Teams Triumph
In other matches, Beitar Jerusalem claimed a 2-0 victory over Bnei Reineh, with Myron George and Yarden Shua scoring second-half goals.
Meanwhile, Hapoel Jerusalem dismantled Maccabi Petah Tikva 4-1, with Don Cedric netting a brace to lead the capital city club to a dominant win.
As the Israel Premier League continues under unusual conditions, teams like Maccabi Tel Aviv will hope to recover from their Europa League heartbreak and refocus on their domestic campaigns.