Preview:
Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at the Tony Bezzina stadium in Paola for the first leg of the Europa League 3rd qualifying round against Hamrun Spartans of Malta.
Ten years after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Maltese side Hibernians in the Champions League 2nd qualifying round first leg at this exact venue, Maccabi, will aim to leave a different impression. Maccabi’s captain Dor Peretz who was an unused substitute in that match, is the only survivor of Slavisa Jokanovic’s 2015/16 squad that won the return leg at Bloomfield 5-1 on the way to the Champions League group stages. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made several changes from the starting line-up that was beaten 1-0 by Pafos in Serbia last week that ended this season’s Champions League hopes, as he aims to guide the side to the Europa League phase.
Roi Mishapti, who was one of three keepers to feature for Maccabi last week started in goal. With Yoav Gerafi is recovering from his hamstring injury and Ofek Melika serving his one-match touchline ban, young Shalev Sa’adya and Idan Trau were named as the two substitute keepers on the bench. Mohamed Ali Camara and Nemanja Stojic lined up as the two central defenders in front of Mishpati while Tyrese Asante and Roy Revivo completed Maccabi’s defensive line on the right and left respectively.
Issouf Sissokho in the anchorman role was joined by Ido Shahar with Dor Peretz led the team out with the captain’s armband to form a strong midfield trio. Sagiv Jehezkel started on one flank and Weslley Patati on the other with Ion Nicolauescu making his official debut start in Yellow and Blue.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Saadya and Trau, Lazetic named Heitor, Dor Turgeman, Raz Shlomo, Denny Gropper, Younas Malede, Elad Madmon, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy and Osher Davida.
First Half
Hamrun Spartans gave Maccabi an early scare as N’Dri Phillippe Koffi headed a corner which narrowly missed the target inside the first two minutes. Four minutes later Weslley Patati carved the Maltese defense open as he released Sagiv Jehezkel with a long diagonal ball. Jehezkel burst forward but his attempt to clip the ball over the advancing keeper from close range sailed wide of the post. Ion Nicolaescu was cautioned by Estonian referee Kristo Tohver for a tussle with an opponent over possession leaving the Moldovan striker bewildered. Hamrun continued to look dangerous from set pieces as Eder and Saliou both flashed headers across the face of Roi Mishpati’s goal. Issouf Sissokho’s last gasp tackle managed to deny Hamrun a good chance after a confusion in Maccabi’s defense. At the opposite end, Roy Revivo came close on 22 as he dribbled into the box before shooting past goalkeeper Henry Bonello but a Hamrun defender cleared off his line.
Second Half
With no goals before the break, Lazetic made a change as Elad Madmon replaced Ido Shahar at the restart.
Sissokho was also cautioned for a foul on Thioune that stopped a Hamrun counter attack in the 53rd minute.
Right on the hour mark Camara lost his footing just inside Maccabi’s half conceding possession Joseph Mbong who charged foreard. But Mishpati rescued Maccabi from conceding as he managed to block the Hamrun striker to keep his goal locked. Lazetic reacted with another substitution as Osher Davida and Dor Turgeman came on for Jehezkel and Nicolaescu on 63.
Four minutes later Hamrun came even closer as Maccabi’s defense cleared a corner into the path of Koffi who flashed a shot wide. In the 70th minute the hosts were awarded a penalty after Thioune was fouled in the box. Koffi stepped up sent Mishpati the wrong way to give Hamrun the lead in the 71st minute. Patati tried his luck from outside the box two minutes later but his effort sailed high and wide.
Maccabi were back on level terms in the 79th minute as a Davida corner fell to Roy Revivo. The talented left back kept his calm, chested the ball and slotted his shot home. The equalizer gave Maccabi a new lifeline as Dor Peretz headed a Revivo cross wide on 81.
Lazetic made his final two changes as Itamar Noy and Raz Shlomo came on for Camara and Patati for the closing stages. Noy added some bite into the midfield as he won the ball and slipped it to Peretz who shot over the crossbar.
nside injury time Maccabi snatched the winner as Revivo fed Turgeman who flicked it to Madmon. With only the keeper to beat, Madmon buried the ball in the bottom corner to celebrate another injury time goal.
