Preview
Four days after the 2-1 victory over Hapoel Haifa at Bloomfield, Maccabi arrived at Tuner stadium for the MD13 WINNER League match which will conclude the first league round. With his side two points adrift of Hapoel Be’ersheva in the table, Zarko Lazetic arrived at this top of the table clash as he is missing several players through suspension and injuries. Ido Shahar, who was sent off against Hapoel Haifa and fellow midfielders Issouf Sissokho and Kristijan Belic were all out for this match. In addition to players, Maccabi’s fans were also absent from Turner as they were serving a one-match ban following an IFA Disciplinary punishment.
Ofek Melika who started against Ashdod and Hapoel Haifa kept his place in goal. Ali Camara and Heitor dos Santos lined up as the two central defenders in front of Melika with Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completing Maccabi’s defensive line. Noam Ben Harush who completed 90 minutes against Ashdod and Haifa, was pushed into the midfield to join Itamar Noy in the engine room. Dor Peretz led the team out wit the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old who scored 7 league goals and is leading Maccabi’s scoring charts will aim to add to his tally. After scoring a dramatic late equalizer at Ashdod and the opener against Haifa, Saied Abu Farchi, will try continue his purple patch by finding the net at Turner as well. Osher Davida, who hasn’t scored since the 4-0 victory away to Hapoel Petah Tikva in mid September was named on the opposite flank. Ion Nicolaescu, led Maccabi’s attack as the 27-year-old Moldovan striker will also try end a barren run which has also been stretched since the 4-1 MD3 victory over Iroi Tiberias on September 13th.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Lazetic named Kervin Andrade, Sagiv Jehezkel, Raz Shlomo, Elad Madmon, Ben Lederman, Helio Varela, Itay Ben Hemo and Ilay Ben Simon.
First Half
A backdrop of 16,000 Be’ersheva fans who filled every corner of Turner Stadium didn’t phase Maccabi as they began the match on the front foot. In the opening minute Noam Ben Harush picked Osher Davida on the right flank before the winger cut inside and began a mazy run leaving three opponents behind him. Davida’s shot was ultimately blocked by a Be’ersheva defender for a corner which was then cleared. Two minutes later at the opposite end Ofek Melika’s attempt of a clearance reached Dan Biton who slipped it to Igor Zlatanovic whose effort saw Melika recover and save. Helder Lopez flashed a shot which rolled across the face of goal before Dan Biton forced Melika to palm away another powerful shot. In the 15th minute Lazetic was forced to make his first change as Ion Nicolaescu went down after a rough tackle by Djibril Diop as the Moldovan striker was replaced by Sagiv Jehezkel.
In the 23rd minute however Be’ersheva took the lead as Biton fed Zlatanovic who sent a powerful low drive that beat Melika at the bottom corner.
Maccabi continued to press in a bid to score an equalizer as in the 44th minute Dor Peretz released Saied Abu Farchi who burst into the box and from a tight angle sent a shot come cross that beat Niv Eliasi but rolled across the face of goal. A minute into the six of added the fourth official signaled for Jehezkel chested a ball down just outside the area and unleashed a powerful drop kick that beat Eliasi but narrowly missed the top corner.
Second Half:
Maccabi began the second half just like the first one with a good goalscoring opportunity. Jehezkel fed Revivo whose initial left foot shot was blocked before picking the rebound and sending a shot with his right which Eliasi parried for a corner.
In the 54th minute Itamar Noy dispossessed a Be’ersheva defender on the edge of the area before trying to break through. But Be’ersheva’s defense and their keeper Eliasi managed to block and clear. Just before the hour mark a Heitor dos Santos slip awarded Biton the ball but Melika pulled two stunning saves to keep out Zlatanovic from doubling Be’ersheva’s lead.
Maccabi continued to push forward as a Davida counter attack on 63 saw the winger unleash a left foot pile driver that Eliasi managed to save.
Referew David Fuxman showed the yellow card for the first time in the game booking Tyrese Asante for a mistimed tackle on 66.
Three minutes later Noy was also cautioned for a foul on Kings Kangwa just inside Maccabi’s half.
In the 80th minute Helio Varela replaced Davida as Lazetic introduced the Cape Verde winger for the closing stages.
Lazetic made a double substitution in the 89th minute as Noy and Asante bowed out and were replaced by Kervin Andrade and Elad Madmon.
