Preview
Maccabi arrived at the Netanya stadium for the MD15 WINNER League match against local side Maccabi Netanya aiming to return to winning ways. With his side third in the table with 28 points, Zarko Lazetic will aim to steer Maccabi to victory which would narrow the seven point gap from top spot. But on the back of the recent poor form which saw his side win only one match in the last five league outings – a victory against in form Netanya is vital.
Lazetic made several changes from the side which was held to a 2-2 by Hapoel Petah Tikva last Monday as Tyrese Asante partnered Ali Camara as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika. Noam Ben Harush was named in the right-back role with Roy Revivo completing Maccabi’s defensive line at left-back.
Having recovered from the injury which sidelined him since the victory over Hapoel Haifa, Issouf Sissokho returned to the anchorman role. Ido Shahar, who set up a goal and scored the dramatic late equalizer against Hapoel Petah Tikva joined the Mali midfielder in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz led the team out with the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old was named at the top of the midfield trio. Sagiv Jehezkel who had two goals disallowed against Petah Tikva, started on one wing with Helio Varela on the opposite flank. Saied Abu Farchi will aim to put behind him the penalty miss as he led Maccabi’s attack.
On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Heitor Dos Santos, Kervin Andrade, Elad Madmon, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy, Itay Ben Hemo, Ilay Ben Simon and Osher Davida.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot with pressure on Netanya’s players pinging them in their own half. A Saied Abu Farchi free kick found the head of Sagiv Jehezkel who couldn’t guide his header on target. In the 8th minute Aziz Outtara’s rough tackle on Abu Farchi saw the Netanya defender booked by referee Aviv Klein. In the 15th minute the deadlock was broken as a solo Helio Varela run from the halfway line took the Cape Verde winger past four Netanya players before squaring to Dor Peretz whonsweot the ball home. Three minutes later the hosts were back on level terms at the end of a lethal counter attack. Jehezkel lost possession on the edge of the Netanya penalty area before Rotem Keller charged down the left and cut the ball back for Oz Bilu who side footed home.
The end to end action continued as Noam Ben Harush went into the book for stopping a Netanya counter attack on the half hour mark. Ali Camara was also cautioned by Klein four minutes later for bringing down Bilu deep inside Maccabi’s half. Peretz had the ball in the back of the net on 39 after receiving a through ball from Jehezkel and clipping it past Omer Nir’on. But Maccabi’s celebrations were shortlived as Jehezkel was initially offside when Ben Harush’s pinpoint pass found him behind Netanya’s line of defense. On the brink of halftime Maccabi were reduced to 10 men as Camara was sent off for two bookable offences pulling Matheus Davo who raced clear through.
Second Half
Lazetic shuffled his side after the interval as Ido Shahar made way for Heitor dos Santos at the restart. Roy Revivo moved back to play alongside Tyrese Asante and dos Santos as three central defenders, Abu Farchi and Varela were the two wing-backs on the right and left respectively while Ben Harush pushed into the midfield. Right on the hour mark Melika clawed the ball from under the crossbar to deny Bilu. A minute later Lazetic made his second substitution as Osher Davida came on for Jehezkel with Varela pushing to role of the lonely striker.
Lazetic added a fresh pair of legs into a tired midfield as Ben Harush who worked tirelessly came off on 74 and was replaced by Itamar Noy. Lazetic made his final change on the night as Elad Madmon came on for the closing stages replacing Varela in injury time.
