Preview

Maccabi returned to league after a three-week-long international break as the team arrived at Green stadium in Nof Hagalil for the MD11 match against Maccabi Bnei Reineh.

On the back of last week’s Europa League 3-1 victory over Besiktas, and with Zarko Lazetic serving a one-match touchline ban following his dismissal against Bnei Sakhnin – Maccabi had some changes both on and off the pitch.

Roi Mishpati whose crucial penalty save against Besiktas helped Maccabi to the victory over the Turkish side, kept his place in goal. Raz Shlomo and Idan Nachmias lined up as the two central defenders in front of the Maccabi keeper. Ido Shahar on the right and Idan Nachmias on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz who both scored against Besiktas together with Joris van Overeem as the anchorman, remained as the influential midfield trio. Henry Addo returned to the starting line up on one wing and Osher Davida on the other supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation with Dor Turgeman leading the attack.

On the bench alongside goalkeeper Simon Sluga, were Roy Revivo, Stav Lemkin, Tyrese Asante, Eran Zahavi, Sagiv Jehezkel, Wessley Patati, Elad Madmon and Issouf Sissokho.

Maccabi’s two assistant coaches, Drazen Bolic and Bojan Leontijevic, guided the side while Lazetic was watching from high up in the stand.

First Half

Backed by the support of around 3,000 traveling fans who arrived at Nof Hagalil, Maccabi began the match on the front foot. Dor Turgeman came close in the 10th minute as he rose above Reineh’s defense but guided his header wide. A minute later Osher Davida curled a left foot dipping shot from the corner of the area which beat the keeper but rattled the crossbar. In the 21st minute Maccabi almost scored in spectacular fashion and at the end of an outstanding team effort. Joris van Overeem chipped the ball to Turgeman who flicked it on to Dor Peretz. Maccabi’s captain on the night who found himself behind Reineh’s but with his back towards goal, tried an overhead kick but saw his effort bounce wide.

Right on the half hour mark and against the run of play Reieneh took the lead after Ezekiel Henty lifted the ball over Nemanja Stojic and rifled his shot past Roi Mishpati and into the bottom far corner. In the 42nd minute Muhamed Usman Edu was given the time and space to charge forward before Mishpati needed a double save to ensure Reineh don’t double their lead.

Second Half

With the team trailing by a goal at halftime, Maccabi made a triple substitution after the interval. Ido Shahar, Osher Davida and Henry Addo were all replaced by Sagiv Jehezkel, Wessley Patati and Elad Madmon at the restart.

Maccabi began the second half, determined to grab an equaliser right from the off. In the opening minute, Reineh’s keeper pushed a close range header over the crossbar, but the referee assistant raised his flag for offside. In the 51st minute, Patati’s dangerous cross picked Peretz’s run, but the captain was fouled as he attempted to head the ball. Referee David Fuxman was called by the VAR to the screen before awarding a penalty. Jehezkel stepped up, sent Omar Nahfaoui the wrong way, and buried the spot kick in the bottom corner to level the score on 52. Six minutes later Maccabi completed the comeback as Van Overeem fed Madmon who slipped the ball to Turgeman on the edge of Reineh’s box. The striker still had his work cut for himself as he skipped past a defender with a drop of a shoulder and then rounded the advancing keeper before sending the ball in to the net.

Maccabi made their fifth and final substitution as Issouf Sissokho replaced Gabi Kanichowsky for the final few minutes. Peretz was inches away from scoring Maccabi’s third with a close range header in injury time but Nahfaoui pushed the ball over his crossbar.