Maccabi Tel Aviv Concedes Earliest Goal in Years Under Mitchell Goldhar Era

Maccabi Tel Aviv suffered a rare defensive collapse on August 23, 2026, conceding a goal just 38 seconds into their match against Hapoel Jerusalem in Rehovot. Vitali Damshkan scored the earliest goal the club has allowed since Mitchell Goldhar took ownership, marking a significant low point for the team’s defense. Historically, under Goldhar’s tenure, Maccabi Tel Aviv has typically maintained clean sheets during the opening minutes of their games.

Despite competing in the Conference League playoffs against Lugano and having already secured advancement by eliminating Sheriff Tiraspol, Maccabi chose not to postpone their league opener. This decision led to key players Tyrese Asante and Mohamed Ali Kamara remaining on the bench, while Noam Harush and Itay Ben Hamo started the match. The last time Maccabi conceded a goal in the first minute of their season opener was 13 years ago, during the 2013/14 season.

Reviewing recent seasons, Maccabi Tel Aviv usually conceded their first goal well into the game or even after several matches. For example, in the 2025/26 and 2024/25 seasons, the first goals were conceded only in the third game, after 189 and 264 minutes respectively. The 2023/24 season saw the first goal conceded in the 94th minute of the opening game, while in 2022/23 it was after 274 minutes. This early concession in 2026 starkly contrasts with the team's recent defensive records.

This early goal raises questions about the team’s defensive readiness and lineup choices at the start of the season. The club will likely need to reassess its defensive strategies and player selections moving forward to avoid similar setbacks.