Maccabi Tel Aviv opened their Ligat Ha'al title defence with a 5-2 win over Hapoel Jerusalem on Sunday, but the story of the night belonged to a forward who spent the closing quarter of an hour standing between the posts.
Sayed Abu Farhi, the 20-year-old attacker on the verge of a reported $6 million move to MLS side Colorado Rapids, was thrown in as an emergency goalkeeper after Ofek Melika was sent off for a professional foul in the closing stages, with Maccabi having already used all three substitutes.
Abu Farhi had already come off the bench and scored himself before pulling on the goalkeeper's jersey to see out the final minutes. "I fulfilled a dream of my father, and maybe my uncles too, who are goalkeepers themselves," he said afterwards, according to ONE.
The night had started badly for the champions. Vitalie Damascan put Hapoel Jerusalem ahead inside the first minute, but Maccabi hit back through Roy Revivo before the break and were level, then in front, once captain Dor Peretz converted a stoppage-time penalty. Peretz added two more after half-time to complete his first hat-trick in the Israeli top flight, with Ohad Almagor grabbing a late consolation for the visitors.
It was against Abu Farhi's looming exit, not just the scoreline, that his comments carried most weight. Reports in Israel have Colorado Rapids agreeing terms in principle with Maccabi Tel Aviv worth around $6 million, with the deal said to be finalised and awaiting MLS approval.
"What happens behind the scenes stays behind the scenes. I hope it ends soon," Abu Farhi said of the transfer talk, before turning to those questioning his focus amid the speculation. "They can say what they want, we'll see at the end of the season," he said. "This is who I am, my nature — I give 100% in every moment."
He was careful, too, to leave the club on good terms regardless of how the move plays out. "Maccabi Tel Aviv will always stay in my heart. Only Maccabi is in my mind," he said.
Manager Kenny Miller praised the youngster's willingness to fill in wherever needed but stopped short of confirming it was a farewell appearance. "He deserves credit, he scored a goal and came on with a wonderful attitude. I'm not the man who will say if this was his last match," Miller said.
Peretz, for his part, acknowledged the noise around his teammate without adding fuel to it. "We hear, like you do, that there are offers. We hope the best for him. He's a wonderful player if he stays, but his development matters to the club and to everyone," he said.
For now, Abu Farhi remains a Maccabi Tel Aviv player, and one with an unlikely new line on his CV: a competent, if brief, career as a Ligat Ha'al goalkeeper.
