Preview
A month after recording a 3-1 victory away to Hapoel Be’ersheva to clinch the Super Cup, Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Miriam stadium in Netanya for the Toto Cup Semi Final against Maccabi Netanya. On the back of Thursday’s EUROPA League 3rd qualifying round 3-1 victory away to CSKA Sofia which wasn’t enough to see Maccabi through, and four days before the Conference League Playoff away to FC Lugano, a place in the Toto Cup Final is at stake.
Miller made four changes from the side which won in Sofia as Ali Camara was not available through injury while Roy Revivo who was sent off against Be’ersheva was serving a one-match touchline ban. Itai Ben Hamo stepped in to partner Raz Shlomo at the second central defender while Tyrese Asante and Noam Ben Harosh completed Maccabi’s back-line in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika. Issouf Sisokho and Itamar Noy were named in Maccabi’s engine room with Dor Peretz captaining the side in a more attacking role. Osher Davida who set up two goals in Sofia and Helio Varela who bagged one goal, supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation. Saied Abu Farchi led the line as the 20-year-old forward will continue his goal scoring run of four goals in five matches this season.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Miller named Ester Sokler, Dan Glazer, Noam Schwartz, Shahar Rosen, Hisham Layous, Ido Shahar, Lotem Asres and Ilay Ben Simon.
First Half
Both sides sold their entire ticket allocation a fact which saw the Netanya stadium almost full to it’s capacity. Maccabi began the match on the front foot abd came close to score inside the opening minute as a Helio Varela cut back reached Dor Peretz whose effort was saved by the keeper. Netanya who are dangerous on the break almost punished Maccabi early on as Matheus Davo latched on a Raz Shlomo pass which was blocked and charged forward. The Brazilian striker raced clear through but fired his shot across the face of Ofek Melika’s goal. In the sixth minute Issouf Sissokho was cautioned by referee Aviad Shiloah after he was judged to have raised his foot too high.
Melika gave Miller and GK coach Dean Kiely a scare as he went down clutching his shoulder, but the young keeper recovered. Osher Davida rifled a left foot shot over the crossbar on 15 but two minutes later Maccabi translated its dominance to a well taken goal which came at the end of a team effort. Saied Abu Farchi carved Netanya’s defense open as he released Peretz whose square ball left Varela in front of goal. The Cape Verde winger kept his calm and drilled his shot beyond the reach of of Samu to break the deadlock with his second goal in the last two outings. Itamar Noy almost doubled Maccabi’s lead with an uncharacteristic header as he rose in the box to meet Varela’s cross but guided his header wide of the post. On the stroke of halftime Maor Levy floated a pinpoint cross into the box where Davó was left unmarked but Netanya’s forward sent his header over the crossbar.
Second Half
Miller made one change after the break as he added a fresh pair of legs into the midfield introducing Ido Shahar for Noy at the restart. Netanya increased the pressure to try and level the score as Dolev Haziza and Bassam Zarora tested Melika from outside the box. Miller made a double change on the hour mark as Davida and Abu Farchi both bowed out and were replaced by Ilay Ben Simon and Ester Sokler. Ben Simon could have scored with one of his first touches on 64 but the young midfielder blasted his shot over the crossbar from close range.
Miller was forced to make another change as Sissokho limped and was replaced by Dan Glazer in the 66th minute. Netanya came close to level the score twice in the space of five minutes as Melika charged off his goal-line to narrow the angle of Davó while Karem Javer fired across the face of goal shortly after. Miller made his fifth and final change as Shahar Rosen came on for Varela who received a standing ovation by the Maccabi fans in the East stand. Rosen almost set up Maccabi’s second with an accurate left foot cross into the path of Sokler but the Slovenian striker couldn’t fully connect and the chance was wasted.
