Preview:
Maccabi returned to Bloomfield for their MD10 WINNER League home match against Maccabi Petah Tikva, which was played on an unusual Friday afternoon, with an early kick-off at 14:00. Just four days after guiding his side to a convincing 5-0 victory away to Hapoel Ramat Gan, Kenny Miller will be looking to extend Maccabi’s lead at the top of the table. Unbeaten and sitting on 23 points, Maccabi hold a one-point advantage over both Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Be’ersheva, who meet each other on Sunday. A victory over Petah Tikva would ensure Maccabi remain top of the table heading into the international break.
Miller made one change to the side that defeated Ramat Gan, with Issouf Sissokho returning to midfield in place of Itamar Noy. The defense remained unchanged as Raz Shlomo and Ali Camara lined up as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika while James Tavernier and Sagiv Jehezkel kept their places on the right and left respectively.
Sissokho was joined by Gabi Kanichowsky in the engine room while Dor Peretz completed Maccabi’s midfield trio. Helio Varela and Osher Davida were named as the two wingers aimed at supplying ammunition for Elad Madmon who scored against Ramat Gan and kept his place upfront.
On the bench alongside Noy and goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Miller named Ester Sokler, Dan Glazer, Shahar Rosen, Hisham Layous, Ido Shahar, Itai Ben Hamo and Noam Levi.
First Half
Under the unfamiliar winter sunshine of a Friday afternoon in Tel Aviv, Maccabi kicked off their early encounter against Maccabi Petah Tikva at Bloomfield Stadium, with the stands gradually filling up. Issouf Sissokho had the first chance of the game in the second minute as the ball fell to him on the edge of the area, but the Malian midfielder sliced his shot wide. Seven minutes later, Dor Peretz had appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Yoni Klez after the Maccabi captain was brought down on the edge of the area by Petah Tikva goalkeeper Dor Hevron, who had rushed off his line. At the opposite end Petah Tikva caught Maccabi’s defense off guard as Yao Eloge burst forward before Ofek Melika came off his line to block Jose Cortes. The deadlock was finally broken in the 19th minute as Sissokho released Sagiv Jehezkel into the area, before the 31-year-old calmly rolled the ball into the far corner to give Maccabi the lead.
Maccabi almost doubled their lead five minutes later as a long clearance out of defence by Dor Peretz released Helio Varela, who burst forward before flashing his shot across the face of goal.
A minute after the half hour mark, Melika was forced to dive to his left and push for a corner a Liran Hazan snap shot from the edge of the area.
In the 42nd minute, Hevron produced a spectacular save to deny Dor Peretz’s volley following a cross from Jehezkel.
A minute later, Maccabi’s defense struggled to clear a Samuel Owusu cross which fell to Idan Cohen whose volley required Melika to make a double save on his goal-line.
Second Half
With no changes made at the interval, both teams emerged for the second half with their starting line-ups intact, but it was the visitors who drew level in the 52nd minute. Sagiv Yehezkel miscued a backpass which fell to Guy Dezent, who was brought down by Raz Shlomo, prompting referee Yoni Klez to award a penalty. Guy Hadida stepped up and sent Ofek Melika the wrong way to slot home the equaliser. Miller responded with a triple substitution as Ido Shahar replaced Gabi Kanichowsky, Ester Sokler came on for Elad Madmon, while Osher Davida limped off and was replaced by Hisham Layous.
On the hour mark, Layous made an immediate impact as he cut inside and unleashed a left-footed effort which was gathered by the Petah Tikva keeper. Three minutes later, James Tavernier’s cross reached Jehezkel at the far post, but his close-range effort crashed against the post. Miller made his fourth substitution as Itai Ben Hamo replaced Ali Camara on 65.
In the 77th minute, Helio Varela’s dipping cross reached Layous at the far post, but his volley was denied by another spectacular save from Hevron. A minute later, Varela twisted and turned in Petah Tikva’s area before Hevron blocked with his foot the Cape Verde winger fired on goal. The rebound reached Tavernier whose attempt of a volley sailed across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.
In the 89th minute, Maccabi were rewarded for their efforts as Shlomo carved open Petah Tikva’s defence with a through ball to Jehezkel, whose perfectly weighted square pass found Sokler to sweep home and restore Maccabi’s lead.
Itamar Noy replaced Peretz in the 90th minute as Miller a fresh pair of legs into the midfield for the closing stages.
But three minutes inside injury time Eitan Tibi silenced Bloomfield as the veteran former Maccabi defender headed in from a corner to level the score.
