Maccabi Haifa Suffers Humiliating 5-2 Defeat, Coach Admits Team Isn't 'There Yet'

Maccabi Haifa experienced a significant setback on Monday, losing 5-2 to the reigning champions at Sammy Ofer Stadium. The team arrived in strong form, having won their previous five league matches and leading the Israeli Premier League. However, a disastrous second half saw them concede five goals, including three within a few minutes, after a promising first half and a good start to the second.

Coach Barak Bakhar described the loss as a "slap" and a "big test" that revealed the team is not yet at the level it aspires to be. He attributed the collapse to "mistakes" and a red card that effectively ended the game. Bakhar acknowledged that Maccabi Haifa "helped Beersheba look great" and that they paid for numerous errors, including conceding two goals from set pieces, which was particularly disappointing given their strength in that area with players like Andrea Novkovic and Tsunami.

Despite the disappointment, Bakhar is looking ahead, stating that the next game against a strong home team presents another opportunity to prove their capabilities. "We need to go back there," he said, referring to the team's previous high standard.

Captain Kangi Gura apologized to the fans for the result and expressed the team's deep disappointment and frustration. He acknowledged the fans' support and stressed that one game does not define them. Gura noted that while the team was dominant in the first half, the game slipped away in a ten-minute span in the second. He emphasized the need to learn from the loss and return stronger, stating that neither the recent winning streak nor this defeat are definitive.

Looking at their record against other top teams, Gura admitted that not winning is a problem but reiterated that both the winning streak and the current loss are not defining moments. The focus now is on the next game to demonstrate their true strength.