Preview:
Maccabi arrived at Green stadium for the MD9 WINNER League match against bottom of the table Maccabi Bnei Reineh aiming to record their second victory in succession. Last week’s 3-1 victory over Kiryat Shmona left Zarko Lazetic’s side with 17 points from 7 matches thanks to the Tel Aviv derby which was cancelled with its’ outcome will be decided by the IFA disciplinary court.
Injuries and suspensions led the Serbian coach to make changes as Heitor Dos Santos replaced Mohamad Ali Camara as the second central defender alongside Raz Shlomo. Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defense that lined up in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati.
Issouf Sissokho in the anchorman role was partnered once again by Ido Shahar in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz, led the team out with the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old who scored his sixth league goal and eighth in all competitions will seek to increase his season tally. Osher Davida on one wing and Elad Madmon on the other supplied the width to Maccabi formation with Saied Abu Farchi continued to lead the attack and seek his debut Maccabi league goal against Bnei Reineh where he spent last season on loan.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Yoav Gerafi, Lazetic named Kervin Andrade, Sagiv Jehezkel, Denny Gropper, Noam Ben Harosh,Ben Lederman, Helio Varela, Itamar Noy, and Ion Nicolaescu.
Prior to kick off Maccabi Bnei Reineh held a ceremony for Abu Farchi who scored 4 league goals and six in all competitions during a season long loan spell last year.
First Half
Backed by more than 3000 traveling fans that gave the players a feeling as if this is a home match – Maccabi began the match determined to score an early goal. Saied Abu Farchi, showed no sign that the ceremony Bnei Reieneh did for him before kickoff would influence his game as he tried curling a shot in tbe second minute. But the young forward’s attempt narrowly missed the target as the ball crept wide of Gad Amos’ post. Maccabi continued to press with Issouf Sissokho and Ido Shahar battling hard at the center of the field. Roy Revivo released Osher Davida in the 11th minute with a pinpoint cross yet the winger’s left foot effort struck the side netting.
Heitor Dos Santos carried the ball out of defense and charged through the middle on 27 before picking Elad Madmon who shrugged off a tackle to break into the box. But the forward who scored a penalty against Kiryat Shmona last week tried squeezing the ball under Amos yet saw the keeper manage to save. Roi Mishpati was drawn into the action on 36 as he was alert to collect Aleksa Pejic’s fierce drive that deflected off a defender and slightly changed direction. Inside injury time Sissokho tried his luck with a long range effort which sailed high over the crossbar before referee Gal Leibovic blew his whistle for halftime,
Second Half
With no changes after the break it took Maccabi eight minutes to launch a serious chance on goal. Madmon carved Reineh’s defense with a perfect through ball to Davida who was clear through on goal. Davida tried shooting with his weak right foot but Amos managed to save. Three minutes later Davida charged into the box from the right but was brought down by Reineh’s defender Junior Pius before Leibovic awarded a penalty. Ido Shahar stepped up sent Amos the wrong way and swept the spot kick home to open the score with his fifth goal of the campaign.
Reineh came close on 72 as Iad Khalaili broke into the box from the left and sent a square ball that rolled across the face of goal. A minute later at the opposite end Dor Peretz fed Noy who skipped past two defenders and forced Amos to turn the ball out for a corner. The resulting corner saw Maccabi awarded another penalty as a defender tugged Raz Shlomo and removed his shirt before Leibovic pointed at the spot once again. This time round it was Madmon who blasted the penalty home to double the score with his second penalty in two matches. Lazetic made two more changes in the 81st minute as Davida and Madmon bowed out to a standing ovation as they were replaced by Helio Varela and Sagiv Jehezkel.
Nicolaescu came close on 87 as he chested down a Revivo cross but his effort was blocked out for a corner. Kervin Andrade replaced Peretz for the closing stages as Lazetic made his fifth and final change. The Venezuelan midfielder almost made an immediate impact as his cross was met by a powerful Nicolaescu headed which Amos managed to claw out. Reineh were reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute as Owuwu Kwbena was sent off for two bookable offences. Inside injury time Tyrese Asante released Varela with a diagonal through ball but the Cape Verde international sent his shot wide of the target.
