Maccabi continued its preparations for the 2026/27 campaign at the Training complex of the Serbian FA at Stara Pazova outside Belgrade. Kenny Miller’s charges played their first of three pre-season matches and beat Armenian side that finished fourth in their domestic table last season. Dor Peretz that finished last season with the league’s top goal scorer award, continued where he left off as the 31-year-old Maccabi captain scored the winner in the 71st after a Shahar Rosen assist.
Both clubs previously met during the 2021/22 Europa Conference League group stage, when Maccabi recorded a 4-1 victory before drawing the reverse fixture 1-1.
First Half
Saied Abu Farchi who started upfront could have opened the score four minutes from the start, but an Alashkert defender managed to clear Ilay Ben Simon’s cross.
In the 20th minute Abu Farchi was brought down by a defender just outside the box only for Ido Shahar’s free kick to be blocked by the Armenian’s wall. Three minutes later, the extremely hot weather conditions rather than a commercial ‘hydration break’ saw the referee send both sets of players for a water break. When play was resumed Maccabi continued to look dangerous going forward as a minute after the half hour mark Lotem Asres and Kristijan Belic exchanged passes, but the Serbian midfielder sent his shot wide of the target.
Alashkert’s best chance came in the 42nd minute but Ofek Melika charged out of his goal and pulled a spectacular save to keep his goal sealed.
A minute later a Maccabi counterattack down the right saw Sagiv Jehezkel whip in a cross for Abu Farchi whose header sailed wide.
Miller made nine changes after the interval sharing the minutes between the entire squad with only Asres and Ben Simon remaining on the pitch for the second period.
Two minutes after the restart, Osher Davida charged down the right and slipped the ball in for Peretz whose effort was saved by the keeper.
Ben Simon, this time in a more central role carved Alashkert’s defense open with a perfect through ball to Davida but once again the keeper produced a fine save. Orel Baye, who caused Alashkert’s defense all sorts of trouble down the left teed up Asres on 57 but his effort was blocked.
Maccabi continued to threaten as a Baye telling cross on 62 was headed by Peretz from the goalmouth against the post.
In the 71st minute the deadlock was finally broken and Peretz got his goal. Shahar Rosen was given the time and space down the left before squaring for Peretz who drilled in his shot and reward Maccabi for their efforts.
Peretz could have doubled his tally on 77 as he was played through by Davida but once again the keeper managed to save his attempt of a chip.
In the 86th minute Davida came close himself only for his curled left foot shot to narrowy clear the crossbar.
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Maccabi Tel Aviv: Ofek Melika (Roi Mishpati 46), Sagiv Jehezkel (Noam Ben Harosh 46), Ali Camara (Tyrese Asante 46), Raz Shlomo (Itay Ben Hamo 46), Noam Schwartz (Shahar Rosen 46), Kristijan Belic (Itamar Noy 46), Ido Shahar (Dor Peretz 46), Lotem Asres (Issouf Sissokho 67), Anis Porat Ayash (Osher Davida 46), Ilay Ben Simon (Porat Ayash 80), Said Abu Farchi (Orel Baye 46).
