Maccabi Haifa Coach Praises Novakovic After Comeback Win

Maccabi Haifa secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Hapoel Ironi Tiberias on Saturday, coming from behind after conceding two goals to secure the win just before the international break. Coach Barak Bakhar highlighted the team's character in the comeback, acknowledging defensive errors but praising the quality of the players brought in.

Bakhar specifically lauded new signing Andrija Novakovic, stating that the Serbian striker "lifts the others" and that his personality is a "big bonus" for the team. Novakovic, who joined from Italy's second division, also expressed his satisfaction with the club and the fans, calling Maccabi Haifa "the biggest team in Israel." He celebrated his goal with an homage to Luca Toni, a player he admires.

Despite the win, Bakhar noted that the team still makes mistakes and needs to improve coordination, especially with new players integrating into the squad. He expressed confidence in the team's quality and the competition for places within the roster.

On the opposing side, Tiberias coach Alon Ziv lamented his team's excessive turnovers and unforced errors, which he believes cost them the game. He acknowledged that his team played well for significant portions and even took a 2-1 lead, but ultimately failed to secure any points, leaving them deep in the relegation zone.

Tiberias goalkeeper Ido Sharon echoed Ziv's sentiments, feeling the team deserved more from the match despite a poor start.