Maccabi Petah Tikva Overcomes Bnei Sakhnin 2-1 in Doha After Second-Half Comeback

Maccabi Petah Tikva secured a 2-1 victory over Bnei Sakhnin on Saturday evening in Doha, marking their first perfect start to the season since 2020 with six points from two matches. The win came after a turnaround fueled by goals from Samuel Owusu and Liran Hazan. Meanwhile, Bnei Sakhnin, coached by Yossi Abuksis, remains with just one point.

Abuksis reflected on the game, noting that the critical moment was just before halftime when Dimitri Kabara’s injury prevented a timely substitution, leading to a defensive error and the equalizing goal for Maccabi Petah Tikva. "We could have made it 2-0 but didn’t, and that moment before halftime took the wind out of our sails," he said. He also mentioned the club’s current limitations in signing new foreign or Israeli players but expressed hope for at least one replacement for an injured foreign player.

Bnei Sakhnin player Hajjaj commented on the team’s strong start and upcoming important match against Beitar Jerusalem, expressing confidence despite the loss and recent personal injuries. He also addressed a recent unpleasant incident involving fans of Maccabi Netanya, emphasizing the desire to focus on football and enjoyment.

Maccabi Petah Tikva’s coach Ziv Arie praised his team’s performance, especially the second half adjustments, and emphasized the importance of building the team through victories. He highlighted the club’s supportive environment under owner Avi Luzon and expressed commitment to helping talented players like Liran Hazan develop further. Hazan himself expressed joy over scoring and winning, focusing on the team’s collective goals and looking ahead to upcoming matches.

The match underscored Maccabi Petah Tikva’s strong start to the season and Bnei Sakhnin’s challenges with injuries and squad depth as both teams prepare for their next fixtures.