Maccabi Haifa Secures Fifth Straight Win, Temporarily Tops League

Maccabi Haifa continued their strong run with a fifth consecutive victory, defeating Maccabi Petah Tikva 2-1 away on Saturday. This win, their third consecutive comeback victory, propelled them to at least the temporary top of the Israeli Premier League. The team fell behind early to a goal from Or Inbrom in the 13th minute, but rallied in the second half. Eitan Azulay equalized in the 62nd minute, and Noam Steifman scored the winner four minutes later, both goals coming from corner kicks. Maccabi Petah Tikva suffered their fifth straight loss and remains in the relegation zone.

Maccabi Haifa coach Barak Bakhar expressed satisfaction with the result, noting the team's growing confidence in coming back from deficits. "We had an important win with a less good performance this time," Bakhar stated, acknowledging the team's ability to secure a win even when not playing at their best. He highlighted the effectiveness of set pieces, attributing their success to good delivery and height advantage. Bakhar also commented on the recent signing of Eli Dasa, praising his professionalism and versatility.

Regarding the league standings, Bakhar mentioned the pressure the team faced but emphasized their patience in integrating new players. He sees potential for further improvement and stressed the importance of winning games even when the team isn't performing optimally. The coach also credited the home crowd for their support, particularly during the equalizer, stating that the fans provide significant confidence.

Steifman described his winning goal as a childhood dream come true, emphasizing that it was a planned play they had practiced. He acknowledged the crowd's impact, calling them an "extra player." Maccabi Petah Tikva coach Ziv Arie attributed the loss to the two set-piece goals, lamenting his team's defensive struggles. He noted that his team created chances but failed to convert, and expressed uncertainty about his approach for the next game, focusing on improving the defense.

Lior Kassa, on loan from Maccabi Haifa to Maccabi Petah Tikva, expressed mixed feelings about returning to play against his parent club. He felt his team deserved more from the match and acknowledged the team's current poor run of results, attributing the loss partly to bad luck and a focus on improving defensively.