Preview
Maccabi arrived at the Petah Tikva stadium ahead of the rescheduled MD1 fixture against newly promoted side Hapoel Petah Tikva which was postponed due to the involvement in Europe.
Zarko Lazetic’s side that scored four goals in each of their opening two league matches against Maccabi Netanya (4-0) and Ironi Tiberias (4-1) will aim to try and maintain their 100% record. Lazetic who is aware of the demanding fixture schedule in the league and in Europe, made five changes from the side that won at Nof HaGalil three days earlier. Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal with Heitor stepping in to partner Ali Camara as the two central defenders in front of the keeper. Denny Gropper made his first Maccabi league start since joining the club in the summer as he was named at left-back with Tyrese Asante completing the back four on the right. Issouf Sissokho returned to the heart of midfield after shaking off an injury as the Mali midfielder partnered Kristijan Belic in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz, led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old will try continue his good form that saw him score 5 goals in all competitions so far. Sagiv Jehezkel who also scored one of the goals against Tiberias and added an assist, kept his place on the wing while Osher Davida returned to the starting line up on the opposite flank. Elad Madmon led the line as the 21-year-old who is one appearance short of his 50th Maccabi appearance will be seeking to increase his overall tally of 6 goals in all competitions since joining the club last season.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Ofek Melika, Lazetic named: Roy Revivo, Kervin Andrade, Raz Shlomo, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy, Ido Shahar and Ion Nicolaescu.
First Half
Around 6000 Maccabi fans made the short trip to Petah Tikva and gave the team the feeling as if this is a home fixture. Four minutes from the start Petah Tikva’s Idan Cohen was booked by referee Aviad Shiloah for tugging Sagiv Jehezkel’s shirt and preventing a counterattack. Four minutes later Dor Peretz forced a save from Petah Tikva’s keeper Omer Katz before Maccabi’s captain blasted the rebound high and wide.
At the opposite end Roi Mishpati was tested for the first time in the 15th minute as Noam Gissin picked the ball on the left before cutting inside and releasing a low drive which was equaled by the keeper. The deadlock was finally broken in the 19th minute as Peretz’s pressure on Petah Tikva’s defense saw the Maccabi captain gain possession and slip it to Osher Davida. The winger on his 100th appearance for Maccabi cut inside and blast a left foot drive that found the bottom far corner.
Right on the half hour mark Elad Madmon carved Petah Tikva’s defense open to release Denny Gropper who timed his run to perfection. With only the keeper to beat, Gropper, could have celebrated his Maccabi debut start with a goal, but Katz charged off his line and managed to block with his feet.
Second half
It took Maccabi a few minutes to gain composure after the interval as Petah Tikva appeared for the second half determined to try level the score. A Davida dangerous cross was missed by Peretz and Jehezkel. Kristijan Belic and Issouf Sissokho dominated the center of the pitch not giving their Petah Tikva opposite numbers an inch. In the 56th minute Jehezkel fed Peretz with a clever pass before Maccabi’s captain drilled in a low drive that beat Katz at his near post to double the lead.
Maccabi came close to score the third on 73 as Jehezkel carried a counterattack with a numerical advantage going forward as he slipped the ball to Peretz who was blocked for a corner. A minute later Lazetic made his first changes, introducing both Roy Revivo for Gropper and Kervin Andrade for Madmon.
In the 81st Jehezkel and Belic came off to a standing ovation as they were replaced by Ido Shahar and Itamar Noy. Less than a minute later Maccabi increased their lead even further. Davida won the ball deep inside Petah Tikva’s half before dribbling into the box and cutting back for Peretz who blasted home the third. Peretz received his standing ovation as he was replaced by Ion Nicolaescu for the closing stage. In the 89th minute Shiloah awarded Maccabi a penalty for a stamp in the box on Revivo. Shahar stepped up and successfully blasted the spot kick past Katz to score Maccabi’s fourth goal on the night and seal convincing 4-0 victory. Maccabi will now have three more days to recover and prepare for Saturday’s next league match at home to Hapoel Jerusalem.
