Preview:
Maccabi arrived at the new stadium in Rehovot for the WINNER league curtain raiser away to Hapoel Jerusalem which was relocated from Teddy stadium due to the condition of the pitch. Three days after the first leg of the Conference League Play-Off in Lugano and four days before the return leg in Batumi, Kenny Miller and his charges put aside their European aspirations in favor of the domestic campaign.
Kenny Miller made a couple of changes in defense from the side which lost 2-1 at Lugano as Itai Ben Hamo and Noam Ben Harosh replaced Ali Camara and Tyrese Asante at the heart and on the right of defense. Raz Shlomo partnered Ben Hamo as the second central defender while Roy Revivo returned to the side after serving his one-match touchline ban following his dismissal in the Super Cup. Itamar Noy was named as the anchorman in Maccabi’s engine room together with Ido Shahar who scored the goal in Lugano and captain Dor Peretz.
On the wings Miller named Osher Davida on one wing with Helio Varela on the opposite flank. Ester Sokler, made his Maccabi league debut upfront as the Slovenian striker who scored against CSKA Sofia will aim to open his domestic account as well.
On the bench alongside Camara and Asante, Miller named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, as well as Dan Glazer, Ori Azo, Issouf Sissokho, Hisham Layous, Saied Abu Farchi and Ilay Ben Simon.
First half:
A sold out Rehovot stadium packed to its’ 5000 capacity supplied a perfect backdrop for the opening league match of the 2026/27 season. But Maccabi couldn’t have wished for a worse start to the match as with less than a minute after referee Gal Levy got the match underway Hapoel Jerusalem took the lead. Jerusalem launched men forward before the ball was pushed to Vitalie Damascan whose low shot on the turn rolled in beyond the reach of Ofek Melika.
It took Maccabi 20 minutes to bounce back from the goal which was scored after only 37 seconds before creating the first chance. A Noam Ben Harosh cross into the box was brought down by Ido Shahar whose attempt of a half volley cleared the crossbar. Three minutes later a Shahar square ball across the face of goal was cleared for a corner. Jerusalem’s defense failed to clear the resulting corner which fell to Osher Davida who floated a cross into the danger zone. Roy Revivo rose above the hosts’ defense to nod in Davida’s cross and restore parity.
Four minutes after the half hour mark Dor Peretz exchanged passes to carve Jerusalem’s defense open and break into the box before picking Helio Varela. The Cape Verde winger who was left unmarked in a glorious position to score blasted his right foot shot high over the crossbar. Four minutes later Itamar Noy released Peretz through but as Maccabi’s captain charged towards goal, he was charged down by a Noam Melamoud challenge. In the 41st minute Davida tried his luck with a low drive from just outside the box which Nadav Zamir needed two attempts to catch. A foul on Varela near the corner of the area on 42 saw Levy award Maccabi a free kick which Revivo curled Peretz head onto the crossbar. Ester Sokler pounced on the rebound but was fouled by Melamoud before Levy awarded a penalty. Peretz stepped up sent Zamir the wrong way successfuly converted the spot kick and put Maccabi in front on the stroke of halftime.
Second half:
Kenny Miller made no changes after the restart while his Jerusalem counterpart Lior Zada made two substitutions introducing Ilay Madmon and Ohad Almagor. While Miller was preparing to make a double change of his own three minutes after the hour mark Varela charged half the length of the pitch before cutting the ball back for Peretz who slid in to score Maccabi’s third. Varela picked an injury and limped as Miller made a triple substitution with Shahar and Sokler also coming off while Dan Glazer, Hisham Layous and Saied Abu Farchi all stepping in. In the 67th minute both substitutes combined as Layous broke down the left and cut the ball for Abu Farchi who clipped it over Zamir to score Maccabi’s fourth. Maccabi’s blitz continued in the 71st minute as Davida found Ben Harosh deep inside Jerusalem’s box before the right back picked Peretz who slotted in the fifth to complete a haltrick on the night. Raz Shlomo made way for Ali Camara and four minutes later Peretz was given a standing ovation as he was replaced by Ilay Ben Simon.
Maccabi’s celebrations were dampened on 76 as Melika charged out of his penalty area before fouling an opponent who was clear through. Levy reached out to his back pocket and sent the young keeper off. As Miller completed his five substitutions, Abu Farchi put on the pink jersey and went in goal for the closing stages. Inside injury time Jerusalem cut the deficit as Almagor curled in a free kick which proved too accurate and powerful for Abu Farchi to save. Abu Farchi raised a massive cheer deep inside injury time as he saved a Yanai Distalfeld shot seconds before Levy blew the final whistle to end the eventful contest.
