Preview
Maccabi arrived at Teddy stadium ahead of the WINNER League MD14 match away to Hapoel Jerusalem which would open the second round. Following the two draws in the previous two matches against Hapoel Hadera and Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi are currently fourth in the table, level on points with Maccabi Haifa, but two behind Beitar Jerusalem and six adrift of leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made several changes to his starting line-up. Roi Mishati, who saved an injury time penalty to secure a 2-1 victory over RFS Riga in the Europa League last week, started in goal. Nemanja Stojic, scorer of the winning goal in Belgrade on Thursday lined up alongside Stav Lemkin as the two central defenders in front of Mishpati, Idan Nachmias on the right and Sagiv Jehezkel on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive back-four. Issof Sissokho who made a substitute appearance against RFS, joined Joris van Overeem and Dor Peretz in midfield allowing Gabi Kanichowsky to rest on the bench. Weslley Patati who assisted twice against the Latvian side and Osher Davida suppied the width on both wings. Eran Zahavi led the line and the team out wearing the captain’s armband aiming to add to his four goals this season.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Simon Sluga, Lazetic named Roy Revivo, Tyrese Asante, Dor Turgeman, Gabi Kanichowsky, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Hisham Layous and Ido Shahar.
First Half
Backed by around 4000 fans who arrived at Teddy stadium and offered their vocal support from the moment the players emerged from the warm-up. Two minutes from the start Idan Nachmias sent a cross into the area and Sagiv Jehezkel who ghosted behind Jerusalem’s defense at the far post, headed wide from close range. Shortly after it was Jehezkel again as Osher Davida released Dor Peretz down the right before the midfielder picked Jehezkel whose shot from the edge of the area was blocked by a defender.
Jehezkel continued to look lively down the left as he dribbled into the area in the 20th minute before releasing a shot that struck the side netting. Eran Zahavi had his first sight on goal right on the half hour mark but his snap shot from the edge of the area was easily collected by Jerusalem’s keeper Nadav Zamir. Six minutes later Maccabi’s pressure paid off as Jerusalem’s defense struggled to clear the danger before the ball fell to Joris van Overeem. The midfielder who waited three years for his debut Maccabi goal, found the back of the net with a clever shot to score his second in six weeks. Zahavi came close to double Maccabi’s lead after Weslley Patati was fouled on the edge of the box. But the veteran marksman narrowly missed the target as he flashed his free kick to the wrong side of the post.
Second Half
Four minutes after the restart Jerusalem were back on level terms as Matan Hozez left two defenders behind before firing into the top corner. Patati tried restoring Maccabi’s lead with two shots in the space of two minutes but both his left and right foot efforts sailed high and wide. Lazetic reacted with a double substitution as he introduced Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Turgeman for Zahavi and Sissokho in the 63rd minute.
The change paid off almost instantly as Nemanja Stojic won possession deep inside Jerusalem’s half before releasing the ball forward. A Turgeman shot struck the hand of Yonatan Laish before Sapir Berman pointed at the spot. Jehezkel stepped up and successfully converted the spot kick to restore Maccabi’s lead. Boosted by the goal Maccabi pushed forward and increased their lead on 69 as Davida charged down the right and squared to Peretz who tucked the ball home from point blank range for his first league goal this season and fifth in all competitions. Peretz bowed out to a awarding ovation as he was replaced in the 78th minute by Ido Shahar while Elad Madmon came on for Davida. Jerusalem cut the deficit in the ne 90th minute as Samba Diallo beat Roy Mishpati with a fierce low drive to make it 3-2. Inside injury time Lazetic made his fifth and final substitution as Henry Addo came on for Patati.
