Maccabi Haifa Suffers 3-0 Loss to Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Team Faces Internal Review

Maccabi Haifa experienced a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Ironi Kiryat Shmona in the Toto Cup on July 28, marking their second loss in four days in the competition. Similar to their previous derby loss, Haifa conceded three goals in the first half and displayed a worrying defensive performance. Coach Barak Bachar identified major issues in the defense and midfield, with repeated dangerous chances for Kiryat Shmona players against goalkeepers Omri Glazer and Glen Alwin.

Defender Nigel Lonwijk, making his debut, was notably underwhelming, allowing the first goal by Niv Gabai. Despite efforts to encourage him, his performance was poor. Most players, except for Bronninio who showed some promise, were below expectations. The squad heavily relied on youth players from last season’s youth team, including Eyad Halaily and Itay Ahuad. Glen Alwin also debuted as the second-choice goalkeeper and made several saves to prevent a heavier defeat.

Following the match, Bachar took responsibility and expressed optimism for improvement, but the club acknowledged that the derby loss was not an isolated setback. The team stressed the need for better performance from the current roster and criticized the players’ lack of aggression and commitment compared to their opponents. The club hopes the return of key players Yila Betay, Yarin Levi, and Andrea Novakovic will help turn things around.

About an hour after the game, sporting director Lior Refaelov met with Bachar and his staff to analyze the match and discuss urgent changes. New foreign players are expected to play a significant role this season. Midfielder Eitan Azulai disappointed the coaching staff with his nervousness, yellow card, and ball losses. The players faced boos from fans after the game, reflecting growing impatience and demand for improved results and performances.