Preview:
A month after hosting the Super Cup at Bloomfield, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the Toto Cup match against Hapoel Jerusalem. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, who secured qualification to the Conference League phase and is facing a crucial Europa League Playoff tie against Dynamo Kyiv made several changes to his starting line up.
Ofek Melika, was named in goal for the first time since his sending off against Pafos in the Champions League. Heitor partnered Ali Camara at the heart of defense as two central defenders who joined in the summer, caught their first glimpse of Bloomfield stadium. Noam Ben Harush and Denny Gropper made their first start as the two full-backs on the right and left respectively. New signing Kristijan Belic was handed his Maccabi debut as the Dutch born Serbian midfielder was named as the anchorman. Ben Lederman, who was an unused substitute in the Super Cup against Be’ersheva, made his first Bloomfield outing in midfield with Itamar Noy completing the midfield engine room. Saied Abu Farchi made his debut start for Maccabi on the wing while Sagiv Jehezkel led the team out wearing the captain’s armband on the opposite flank. Dor Turgeman led the line as the young striker is still aiming to score his first goal of the campaign.
On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Avishay Cohen, Raz Shlomo, Yonas Malede, Nemanja Stojic, Elad Madmon, Ido Shahar, Itay Ben Hemo, Osher Davida.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot attacking Hapoel Jersualem from wide positions as Sagiv Jehezkel and Saied Abu Farchi exposed the visitors’ defense. In the 13th minute Abu Farchi who sent a dangerous cross which was intercepted by the keeper minutes earlier, decided to try have a go himself. The 19-year-old broke into the box and from a tight angle drilled a low drive that went in off the post for his first Maccabi competitive goal. Dor Turgeman came close to double the score as he fired a thunderbolt over the crossbar.
Referee Aviv Klein sent both teams for a water break right on the half hour mark as seconds after the players returned Itamar Noy flashed a shot wide of the post. Four minutes later Dor Turgeman had a solo effort which forced Ben Gotodin to a full stretched save. Turgeman came even closer on 40 as he picked a Sagiv Jehezkel pass took the ball around the keeper and sent a chip which struck the side netting. Maccabi continued to look dangerous as Noam Ben Harush was denied by Gorodin. A combination of the Jerusalem keeper and his crossbar denied Abu Farchi from scoring a close range header.
Second Half
Lazetic made a single substitution after the interval as Abu Farchi made way for Davida after the restart. Jerusalem’s coach Ziv Ariyeh made four changes at the restart but it was Ben Lederman who came close to score, yet his close range effort sailed over.
Noy limped off on 57 and was replaced by Ido Shahar but four minutes later the 7402 fans were on their feet. Turgeman on his 120th game for Maccabi was awarded for his efforts as he managed to beat Gorodin and score his first goal of the season. Turgeman and Belic were given a standing ovation as they were replaced by Elad Madmon and Yonas Malede on 66.
Madmon rattled the crossbar with a powerful drive from inside the area that beat Gorodin in the 76th minute as Maccabi came close to score a third. Gropper who worked tirelessly down the left flank came off and was replaced by Avishy Cohen for the final few minutes. The visitors were awarded a penalty after Davida was adjusted to have fouled Ohad Almagor before Guy Badash stepped up and successfully converted the spot kick past Ofek Melika.
