Green Failure: Maccabi Haifa Crushed 3:0 by Ironi Kiryat Shmona
Barak Bakhar's side suffered their second Toto Cup defeat. Niv Gabay (7'), Amadou Sagna (23'), and Ariel Sheretzky (33') scored, while Omri Glazer and Tsunami were substituted due to injuries.
Green failure: Maccabi Haifa fell apart with a 3:0 loss to Ironi Kiryat Shmona.
Barak Bakhar's group did not show up for the match and recorded a second loss in the Toto Cup. Gabay (7'), Sagna (23'), and Sheretzky (33') scored, while Omri Glazer and Tsunami were injured and substituted.
Tomer Havaz | 20:00
Maccabi Haifa players disappointed (Roi Kfir)
Toto Cup - Round 2
4463 spectators
Tuesday, 28/07/2026, 20:00
Ironi Kiryat Shmona — Maccabi Haifa — 3:0
Scorers: Niv Gabay (7'), Amadou Sagna (23'), Ariel Sheretzky (33').
Referee: Aviad Shiloah (Score: 6).
Critic's Opinion
Outstanding player: Ariel Sheretzky (Score: 8). Continues his peak season from last year with a tremendous goal.
Disappointing player: Nigel Lonwijk (Score: 3). A nightmare debut. Not the way a new signing should start.
Match Summary
Maccabi Haifa is in trouble: if the loss in the derby wasn't enough, now came the second failure, as the Greens surrendered 3:0 to Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Although the result looks painful, in practice the northerners looked much better and were worth several more goals. At the end of the match, the Haifa players approached the crowd, who responded with boos and chants of "disgrace".
This time it is impossible to say the new signings didn't play, as two of them were directly to blame for the goals conceded. Maccabi Haifa is in big trouble ahead of the season opener; the defense looks unprepared, the midfield did not influence the game at all, and the attack barely threatened Daniel Tannenbaum. A match that serves as a red alert for Barak Bakhar and his staff.
On the other side, Shay Barda's group danced on the pitch in the first half. Niv Gabay scored first (7') after a serious mistake by Nigel Lonwijk, Amadou Sagna doubled the lead (23'), and Ariel Sheretzky with a missile to the top corner (33') set the final score.
