Preview

Three days after the painful State Cup exit to Bnei Reineh, and a week after the 2-2 draw away to Ironi Tiberias, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium with a bid to return to winning ways.

Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made eight changes from the side that was beaten in the Cup against Netanya that were ranked seventh with 23 points before the weekend. Netanya, that were beaten 2-1 when both teams met earlier this season, won their last 3 league matches against Beitar Jerusalem 3-0, Kiryat Shmona 1-0, Bnei Sakhnin 4-0 and suffered only 2 defeats in their last 8 matches to Hapoel Be’ersheva 0-1 and Macccabi Haifa 2-1.

Roi Mishpati returned to goal, with Idan Nachmias and Nemanja Sojic lining-up in front of the Maccabi custodian. Tyrese Asante on the right and Ofir Davidzada who was making his 240th appearance for Maccabi completed the back-four on the left.

Joris van Overeem and Issouf Sissokho were both named in Maccabi’s engine room with Dor Peretz leading the team out with the captain’s armband completed the midfield trio.

Weslley Patati and Osher Davida were the wide men in Maccabi’s formation, responsible for supplying the ammunition for Dor Turgeman who led the attack.

On the bench, Lazetic named Simon Sluga, Roy Revivo, Stav Lemkin, Eran Zahavi, Raz Shlomo, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Hisham Layous and Ido Shahar.

Prior to kickoff Maccabi held a minute of applauds to former player, Youth team coach and first Team Manager, Avraham Meltzman, who passed away last week at the age of 78.

First Half

In a bid to try and grab an early goal, Maccabi began the match with pressure on the visitors right from the off. A Karem Jaber foul on Weslley Patati inside the opening five minutes and on the edge of the area earned the Netanya captain a yellow card and Maccabi a free kick which Dor Turgeman blasted straight at the wall. Two minutes later as Patati found Osher Davida near the goalmouth gave the winger an attempt to tap home but instead was side footed across the face of goal. Minutes later, a pinpoint Turgeman cross fell to Joris van Overeem who ghosted behind Netanya’s defense, yet the Dutch born midfielder couldn’t release a shot on target.

In the 20th minute Roi Mishpati cancelled Netanya’s pressure as he picked Van Overeem unmarked in the middle of the park. Van Overeem slipped the ball to Davida who burst forward and was pulled down by a defender inside the box. Referee Orel Grinfeeld didn’t hesitate and pointed at the spot before Turgeman kept his calm and blasted in the penalty to put Maccabi in front on 22. Three minutes after the half hour mark Davida carved Netanya’s defense open as he released Van Overeem. The midfielder’s attempt of a cutback was blocked by Aviv Kanril arm as Grinfeeld awarded another penalty. This time it was Patati who took the spot kick, buried it in the bottom corner to double the lead. Two minutes later Bloomfield erupted for the third time as the majority of the 20,080 fans were cheering for another goal. Dor Peretz and Turgrman managed to trap Netanya’s defenders inside their own box. Turgeman shrugged off the challenge and with only Omer Nir’on to beat blasted home his second on the night and Maccabi’s third on 37.

Second Half

With no changes at halftime Maccabi continued to look dangerous and came close to increase their lead. In the 55th minute Peretz had a low drive saved by Nir’on, Turgeman’s reacted first to the rebound and dribbled past two defenders on the byline before squaring the ball into the danger zone. Davida and Van Overeem attempted to shoot yet saw their efforts blocked on the goal line. Patati, who looked lively throughout, pulled the trigger and so did Tyrese Asante but on both occasions their efforts lacked accuracy.

Lazetic made a triple change four minutes after the hour mark as he introduced Stav Lemkin, Ido Shahar and Eran Zahavi for van Overeem, Issouf Sissokho and Turgeman.

A Zahavi backheel flick on 72 released Peretz into the area but the midfielder’s effort struck the side netting. In the 77th minute Netanya cut the deficit as Maxim Plakuschenko released Raz Meir whose square ball allowed fellow substitute Daniel Dapaah to slot home and set the score at 3-1.

Lazetic made two more changes as Ofir Davidzda and Davida bowed out to a standing ovation and were replaced by Roy Revivo and Hisham Layous on 78. In the 83rd minute Revivo played his role in Maccabi’s fourth with Patati slipping Peretz into the box. Peretz’s cut-back saw Revivo let the ball run to Zahavi who blasted in his 4th league goal and 7th in all competitions.

Attention will now turn back to Europe as Maccabi will travel to Norway ahead of Thursday’s EUROPA League MD7 against Bodo/Glimt.