Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Maccabi Haifa defeated Kiryat Yam SC 2-0 in a pre-season friendly on 14 July, with Pedrão and Navot Ratner scoring either side of half-time at the Ketzef training complex.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Maccabi Haifa dominated possession from the first whistle. Eitan Azulai tested the Kiryat Yam goalkeeper with a long-range effort inside two minutes, and the warning signs were there. Iyad Khalaili danced past three defenders on the edge of the box in the 22nd minute, forced a save, and Azulai tucked home the rebound — only for the linesman's flag to cut the celebration short.
Cedric Don struck the post from Yair Mordechai's interception on 29 minutes, but the breakthrough finally arrived on 35. Azulai swung a precise free-kick from the left flank towards the six-yard box, and Brazilian centre-back Pedrão rose highest to power a header home from close range.
Mordechai turned provider five minutes later, threading Guy Melamed through on goal, but the striker's effort cannoned off the woodwork. Maccabi Haifa went into the break 1-0 up but knowing they should have been further ahead.
Bakhar made five changes at half-time, introducing Adam Grimberg, Goni Naor, Silva Kani, Ali Mohamed and goalkeeper Sharif Kiouf. Grimberg was immediately involved, firing goalwards on 50 minutes only for a Kiryat Yam defender to clear off the line. Kani then crossed for Khalaili, whose shot deflected off a defender and hit the post on 58 minutes.
Six more substitutes followed on the hour mark — including Ratner, Ehud, Agba, Lusky, Baruch and Hura — and the youthful energy told. Lusky forced a sharp save from 25 yards on 81 minutes, and three minutes later the second goal arrived. Grimberg slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Ratner, who drove into the box and slotted calmly past the goalkeeper to seal the 2-0 win.
The turning point
The goal just before half-time was critical. Kiryat Yam had held firm for 35 minutes, but Azulai's set-piece delivery and Pedrão's aerial dominance broke the deadlock when Maccabi Haifa's pressure most needed converting. From that moment, the visitors controlled the tempo and could rotate freely.
Key performers
Pedrão — The Brazilian defender, returning from a long-term meniscus injury that kept him out for 394 days, marked his pre-season with a commanding header. Solid in the air throughout his hour on the pitch.
Eitan Azulai — The creative hub in midfield. His set-piece delivery for the opener was inch-perfect, and he was involved in most of Haifa's best first-half moves.
Adam Grimberg — Introduced at half-time, the midfielder provided the assist for Ratner's clincher and went close himself with a shot cleared off the line. His energy drove the second-half performance.
Navot Ratner — The young substitute showed composure beyond his years for the second goal, taking Grimberg's pass in his stride and finishing low past the goalkeeper.
Player of the match: Pedrão.
By the numbers — interpreted
Maccabi Haifa's 2-0 scoreline undersells their dominance. The woodwork was struck three times (Don 29', Melamed 40', Khalaili 58'), a legitimate goal was disallowed for offside (Azulai 22'), and a goal-line clearance preserved Kiryat Yam's clean sheet for 50 minutes. The visitors' 20-player rotation — 11 starters, five at half-time, six more on 60 minutes — prioritised fitness distribution over chasing a bigger scoreline, which is typical of mid-July pre-season scheduling.
What it means
Maccabi Haifa continued their pre-season build-up with a second win, following a 2-1 victory over Scottish side Dundee on 4 July and a 3-3 draw with Hungarian side Paks on 8 July. Bakhar's side now turn their attention to competitive action: the Toto Cup group stage begins on 25 July against Hapoel Haifa, followed by trips to Kiryat Shmona (28 July) and a home fixture against Ironi Tiberias (4 August) before the Israeli Premier League season kicks off.
For Kiryat Yam SC, who compete in Israel's second-tier Liga Leumit, the friendly offered a valuable test against top-flight opposition as they prepare for the 2026-27 campaign.
Verdict
A professional, controlled workout for Maccabi Haifa against a limited opponent. The scoreline could have been wider, but Bakhar will be more pleased with the clean sheet, the minutes distributed across the squad, and the sharpness of returnees like Pedrão. The green machine is building momentum ahead of the Toto Cup and league kick-off.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 21 Jul 2026