Stav Lemkin celebrated his 27th appearance for Maccabi Tel Aviv with a solid performance in the 6-1 victory over Maccabi Netanya. The defender who joined the club on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk this summer, helped Maccabi record its’ 22nd victory of the season. With two matches left until the end of the 2024/25 season, Maccabi’s emphatic victory took the point tally to 74 points. Maccabi Haifa’s 4-1 defeat at Turner saw Hapoel Be’ersheva’s two-goal advantage cancelled but Maccabi remain second in the standing after winning one match less.
Lemkin, who was substituted in the 78th minute, admitted he wasn’t aware of what was happening elsewhere: “When I was on the pitch, I was fully focused on what was happening in the game. When I came off to the bench, that is when I heard all the drama that was going on at Turner stadium. It really was a special evening,” Lemkin added, “We focused on ourselves, and there was a chance to score more goals, so we tried to go for it. After the 4-1, we were really just thinking about how to keep pushing and scoring more, because we are aware of the situation — we’re not blind.”
Lemkin who played as a left sided central defender, said of his position: “This was the first time this season I played as a left-sided center-back. The coach spoke to me about it the day before, and I felt I could handle it. At the end of the day, it is a position I’ve played in the past. Of course, it is easier to play there if you are left-footed, but there are aspects of that role that are more comfortable for a right-footed defender, like cutting inside, carrying the ball, making passes — and I really felt good out there.”
On the competition for places in the starting line-up, Lemkin said: “All our central defenders are national team players. The competition is very tough. Everyone deserves to play, and I understood that when I was sitting on the bench. I always felt I could contribute more. I’m happy I got the chance to prove myself and play.”
