Preview
Three days after winning the Toto Cup with a 3-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa in the Final, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium to begin their State Cup journey against Hapoel Jerusalem.
Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made no less than nine changes from the side that started on Wednesday in Netanya with several players handed a chance to impress.
Simon Sluga replaced Roy Mishpati in goal as the Croatian 31-year-old custodian made his Maccabi debut. Stav Lemkin and Raz Shlomo lined up as the two central defenders in front of Sluga. Tyrese Asante returned to the right back role while Roy Revivo completed Maccabi’s defensive line at left-back. Issouf Sissokho was joined in the engine room by Ido Shahar allowing Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky a much-needed rest with Elad Madmon started ahead of the two to form Maccabi’s midfield trio. Osher Davida and Henry Addo supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation in support of Eran Zahavi who led the line and the team out with the captain’s armband.
On the bench alongside Roi Mishpati, Lazetic named, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Sagiv Jehezkel, Gabi Kanichowsy, Weslley Patati, Ofir Davidzada, Hisham Layous and Dor Peretz.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot with Eran Zahavi winning a free kick in the opening two minutes. The veteran captain stepped up and tried to hit the target but saw his effort blocked by Ayano Preda who was standing in the wall. Henry Addo down the left and Osher Davida on the opposite right flank looked lively as Maccabi threatened from the wings. A well drilled corner in the 8th minute saw Roy Revivo tee-up Davida on the edge of the area. But the winger’s powerful left foot drive which took a wicked deflection off a defender’s head was turned by Nadav Zamir over his crossbar. Tyrese Asante came close to break the deadlock from the resulting corner, but the Dutch defender guided his header wide of the post. In the 12th minute Asante released Davida down the right before he cut inside but saw his left foot curler narrowly miss the target.
Shortly before the half hour mark and Addo counterattack down the left saw the Ghanian slip the ball to Issouf Sissokho whose effort sailed over. right before he cut inside but saw his left foot curler narrowly miss the target. Maccabi continued to dominate as Davida’s cut back on 32 found Elad Madmon whose shot was blocked while a minute later Eran Zahavi had a shot deflected for a corner. Zahavi forced another save from Zamir on 42 as the veteran captain sent a low left foot drive which was equaled by the visiting keeper.
Second Half
With no changes at halftime Maccabi began the second half exactly where they left off – trying to breach Jerusalem’s defense. Revivo fired a powerful drive which Zamir failed to hold onto as he punched the ball away. A minute later the deadlock was finally broken as Madmon carved Jerusalem’s defense open to release Zahavi before the 37-year-old buried the ball in the bottom far corner. Maccabi doubled their lead almost from the restart as Davida broke down the right, released Ido Shahar whose square ball found Madmon at the far post to convert home from point blank range.
Right on the hour mark Maccabi came close to increase the lead even further at the end of a spectacular team effort. Madmon released Davida who slipped the ball for Shahar whose pinpoint cross was met by Addo’s header which was clawed out by Zamir. Lazetic made his first substitution in the 67th minute as Addo bowed out to a standing ovation and was replaced by Hisham Layous.
Maccabi got their world deserved third goal in the 70th minute as a counterattack reached Zahavi who turned provider as he slipped the ball to Davida. With only Zamir to beat and despite the tight angle Davida kept his calm and rolled the ball home to make it 3-0. Lazetic made two more changes as Davida and Revivo received their applauds from the 15,447 as they came off with Sagiv Jehezkel and Ofir Davidzada replacing them on 74.
Madmon and Raz Shlomo were also given their chance to be congratulated by the fans as they were replaced by Gabi Kanichowsky and Idan Nachmias in the 80th minute. Davidzada could have scored the fourth but saw his effort crash against the post in what was the final action of the game.
Maccabi will learn their next opponents as the draw for the round of 16 takes place on Sunday, December 29th at the IFA Headquarters.
