Preview

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the final home match of the regular season against Beitar Jerusalem aiming to extend their run of five victories in succession and the unbeaten league run of 8 matches. In the wake of the team’s good form, and after giving rest to several key players during Thursday’s State Cup match against Maccabi Jaffa, Maccabi’s coach Mladen Krstajic made a single change from the side that beat Hapoel Nof Hagalil 3-1 last week.

Idan Nachmias returned to side at the heart of defence as the partner of Enric Saborit right in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Sheran Yeini replaced Maor Kandil at right-back with Ofir Davidzada completing the back-four on the left.

Dan Glazer kept his place as the midfield anchor-man as he was joined by Eyal Golasa while Gabi Kanichowsky and Dan Biton completed the four-man midfield.

Djordje Jovanovic who scored a brace against Nof Hagalil joined Stipe Perica as the two front-men were aiming to extend their striking partnership that saw them score 4 and 9 league goals respectively.

Prior to kick-off, Jovanovic, who joined Maccabi in January was presented with the League’s Player of the Month award for his performances during February. The match which was dedicated to the legends of the 30’s and saw Maccabi play with a Blue and White retro-kit, also mentioned former midfielder, Eli Fuchs, who won 5 League Championships and 4 State Cups between 1941-1954, and passed away 30 years ago at the age of 68.

First Half

The electric atmosphere created by a packed Bloomfield stadium didn’t seem to bother the visitors who arrived with a bolstered five-man defensive line. Maccabi controlled the opening stages as a Dan Glazer effort in the 13th minute was blocked by Beitar’s captain Ofir Kriaf who threw his body across to prevent the shot from entering the danger zone. Two minutes later Jerusalem’s keeper, Itamar Nitzan, was drawn into the action as he was required to show his upper body strength to deny Djordje Jovanovic whose shot was too powerful to try and catch.

A Jovanovic cut-back into the path of Eyal Golasa on 18 was cleared for a corner before the midfielder could send a shot on target as Maccabi continued to look dangerous. Referee Yigal Frid booked Beitar’s forward Yarden Shuah for a reckless challenge on Enric Saborit in the 25th minute while Ofir Davidzada was lucky to avoid a yellow card himself. Maccabi kept pushing forward in a bid to breach Beitar’s defence as a Sheran Yeini cross from the right on 28 saw Jovanovic rise high but send his header wide. Three minutes later, Jovanovic sent a cross towards Stipe Perica but the tall Croat couldn’t guide his header on target.

On the stroke of halftime Maccabi came close as Perica charged forward for a counter attack but his square ball which was directed at Golasa was intercepted by Nitzan for the last move of the first half.

Second Half

With no changes at the interval, the second half began where the first one left off as a minute after the restart Gabi Kanichowsky chested the ball down for Jovanovic whose shot from the edge of the area was deflected for a corner.

In the 55th minute Biton curled a cross towards Perica who was ghosted in at the far post, but the striker sent his header crashing against the side netting.

Frid waved Golasa’s claims for offside in the 58th minute before Krstajic made a double change introducing Tal Ben Chaim for Sheran Yeini and Matan Hozez for Golasa.

Within three minutes the deadlock was broken as the combination of Biton and Perica led to the opener. The diminutive midfielder sent an accurate corner into the centre of the box before Perica rose above Beitar’s defence to send his header beyond the reach of Nitzan. Bloomfield erupted once again in the 66th minute Jovanovic scored the goal of the game and one of the contenders for goal of the season. Perica broke forward through the middle and fed Kanichowsky whose attempt of a back-heal flick reached Jovanovic who curled a powerful accurate right foot shot that gave Nitzan no chance and doubled Maccabi’s lead on the night.

Beitar managed to claw their way back into the game in the 70th minute as a Liran Rotman effort deflected off the boot of Richmond Boyake to wrong-foot Daniel Peretz and cut the lead to 2-1.

Krstajic was forced to make another change as Enric Saborit limped off and was replaced in the 71st minute by Matan Baltaxa. Peretz needed to stretch himself to catch a dangerous Boyake effort as Beitar’s goal seemed to have given them a new lease of life. A Kanichowsky shot-come-cross in the 80th fell to Hozez who slid-in at the far post but narrowly missed the target from close range.

Biton bowed out to a standing ovation and was replaced by Avi Rikan while Brandley Kuwas came on for Perica as Krstajic made his final two changes on 85.

Deep inside injury time Maccabi scored the third as Kuwas charged down the left, cut the ball to Jovanovic who fired a shot which Nitzan spilled before Hozez side-footed the ball into the open goal.

Frid’s final whistle began the celebrations of Maccabi’s players with the 27,331 fans who arrived at Bloomfield stadium and cheered for long minutes following the 15th league victory. The three points gained for the sixth time in succession, took Maccabi’s point tally to 50, two behind second place Hapoel Be’ersheva and 6 behind leaders Maccabi Haifa. Next week, Maccabi face 7th place Hapoel Hadera that hasn’t given-up hopes of reaching the top Playoff on the closing day of the regular season.