Preview:
Maccabi returned to the TSC Arena in Backa Topola for the MD3 Europa League phase home match against Danish side FC Midtjylland. With a draw from the opening match away to PAOK Thessaloniki and on the back of the 3-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb before the international break, Zarko Lazetic’s side will try and get back to winning ways. Their chance of doing so early this week was thwarted by a police decision to call off the Tel Aviv derby against arch city rivals Hapoel, shortly before kickoff due to pyrotechnics used by the home fans. Now, they face a tough Danish side who ranked in the table right behind Zagreb, as like the Croats enjoyed a perfect start to the league phase campaign winning their two opening matches including a victory away to Nottingham Forest.
With several players from the side through injury, Kristijan Belic being the latest casualty having injured his hamstring in training, Lazetic made a few changes to his starting line up.
Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal with Ali Camara and Raz Shlomo lining up as the two central defenders in front of the keeper. Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Issouf Sissokho returned to heart of midfield and was partnered in the engine room by Itamar Noy with Kervin Andrade in a more attacking role. Dor Peretz led teh team out with the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old will aim to add to his tally of 7 goals in all competitions. Osher Davida will supply the width to the side with Elad Madmon upfront leading the attack.
On the bench, Lazetic named goalkeepers Yoav Gerafi and Ofek Melika as well as Heitor, Denny Gropper, Yonas Malede, Noam Ben Harosh, Ben Lederman, Helio Varela, Ido Shahar, Itai Ben Hamo, Saied Abu Farchi and first appearance in the squad for Ilay Ben Simon.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot with Itamar Noy and Issouf Sissokho snapping at the feet of their midfield counterparts stopping Midtjylland’s attempt to break forward. Osher Davida exposed Midtjylland’s defense down the right as the winger’s bursting pace in the 8th minute created a good chance for Dor Peretz whose shot was blocked Philip Billing. Sissokho had a shot from the edge of the area which forced Midtjylland’s keeper Elias Rafn Olafsson to stretch himself and turn the ball for a corner. Macabi continued to dominate as Davida curled a shot which crept to the wrong side of the post on 13.
Sissokho had another effort which sailed over the crossbar before the visitors began to show their quality. Roi Mishpati dominated his penalty area and managed to prevent Midtjylland’s tall player exploit their aerial superiority at corner. At the opposite end, Midtjylland’s defenders managed to head away every cross into the box by Davida or Noy before their goal could be placed under threat. In the 43rd minute Maccabi reached their best chance as Sissokho picked Roy Revivo with a pinpoint ball over the Danes’ defense before the left back who charged into the box took it with one volley. But Ólafsson positioned himself well at the near post to block Revivo’s shot which was making its’ way in and deny Maccabi a well deserved goal. Less than a minute later Midtjylland punished Maccabi and took the lead in spectacular fashion as Victor Bak Jensen sent a cross into the box for Dju Franculino who controlled it with one touch and volleyed home with a second. Raz Shlomo’s claims for a foul in the built up to the goal were waved by Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov who also didn’t award Maccabi an injury time penalty for handball in the box.
Second Half
With no changes after the break Maccabi returned for the second period determined to try and get back in the game. Six minutes after the restart, Jensen came close to double the score as he burst inside from the left and with only Mishpati to beat puled the trigger but saw his effort narrowly miss the target.
A minute after the hour mark Noy had an effort which missed the target while a minute later Lazetic made his first change as he introduced Saied Abu Farchi for Kervin Andrade. Abu Farchi came inches away from scoring the equalizer five minutes after his introduction as the Dor Peretz’s shot struck the post and reached the young striker at the goalmouth but from point blank range the ball hit Abu Farchi and rolled out. Lazetic made a double substitution a minute later as Noy and Madmon bowed out and were replaced by Ben Lederman and Helio Varela.
But in the 71st minute Midtjylland doubled their lead as Aral Simsir’s cross was nodded down Martin Eric into the path of Billing who volleyed home past Mishpati. In the 80th minute Abu Farchi came close once again this time as Revivo picked him with a clever pass only for his powerful header to just miss the frame of the goal.
Lazetic made another two changes as Peretz and Davida were replaced for the closing stages by Ido Shahar and young Ilay Ben Simon who was handed his senior debut.
