Maccabi Haifa Defender Nigel Lonwijk Blamed for Early Goal in Debut Match
In Maccabi Haifa's Toto Cup match against Ironi Kiryat Shmona on July 28, 2026, new defender Nigel Lonwijk made a costly error just seven minutes into his debut. The Dutch center-back lost possession to young striker Niv Gabai, who was loaned from Haifa to Kiryat Shmona this summer. Gabai capitalized on the mistake and scored an easy, well-executed goal against his parent club. This early setback followed Haifa's opening loss to Hapoel Haifa in the Toto Cup, intensifying pressure on the team to secure their first official win of the 2026/27 season. After conceding, Lonwijk changed his boots on the field. Sports commentators on Sport 5 criticized the defender's mistake, likening it to a beginner's error in the FIFA video game series.
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