Preview:
A week after securing qualification with a victory over Sheriff Tiraspol, Maccabi returned to the stadium in Batumi for the first leg of the EUROPA League third qualifying round against CSKA Sofia.
Kenny Miller, welcomed into the squad new signing Ester Sokler but is missing both his full-backs Sagiv Jehezkel and Roy Revivo who didn’t travel.
As a result, Itai Ben Hamo started at right back while Shahar Rosen, started at left-back. The 23-year-old grandson of former Maccabi legend Zvika Rosen was handed his debut and start and European debut. Raz Shlomo and Ali Camara lined-up as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika to complete Maccabi’s back-four.
Issouf Sissokho in the anchorman role was joined by Itamar Noy and Ido Shahar in Maccabi’s midfield engine room. Dor Peretz led the team out with the captain’s armband as the 31-year-old was position in a slight more attacking role. Helio Varela was named by Miller on the flank supplying the width to Maccabi’s formation and hopefully some ammunition to Saied Abu Farchi who led the line. On the bench alongside goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Miller, named Tyrese Asante, Ster Sokler, Kervin Andrade, Dan Glazer, Elad Madmon, Noam Ben Harosh, Ori Azo, Noam Schwartz, Lotem Asres, Ilay Ben Simon and Osher Davida.
First half:
Maccabi started the game well and could have had a perfect start inside the opening minute. Saied Abu Farchi carved the visitors’ defense with a perfect diagioal through ball to Helio Varela who found space down the right. The Cape Verde winger sent a low cross into the path of Dor Peretz who was let down by his touch allowing CSKA Sofia to clear. A minute later at the opposite end, Leandro Godoy found himself inside the box but Ali Camara blocked the striker’s shot. In the ninth minute however the visitors capitalized on a misplaced Itai Ben Hamo pass before Godoy broke forward squared to Maks Ebong whose accurate shot beat Ofek Melika. In the 18th minute Maccabi were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area after Ido Shahar was fouled by Bruno Jordao who was consequently booked. Despite the tempting position to have an attempt on goal, Maccabi’s attempt of a free kick was blocked by the wall. CSKA doubled their lead just before the half hour mark as Maccabi’s attempt to clear a corner fell to Godoy’s whose powerful volley beat Melika to make it 0-2.
Maccabi’s defense was exposed once again in the 42nd minute this time by Ioannis Pittas who found himself infront of Melika but Maccabi’s keeper got the upper hand and saved the shot.
The halftime whistle sent both teams to regroup in the dressing rooms as Maccabi will try and get back into the game.
Six minutes after the restart Asante tried his luck with a long range effort which cleared the crossbar. In the 58th minute the Dutch defender delivered a dangerous cross which didn’t find a teammate as the ball crept wide of the post.
A minute after the hour mark Peretz met an Ido Shahar corner with a header which missed the target.
Miller made another double substitution on 66 as Ester Sokler was handed his Maccabi debut replacing Abu Farchi while Osher Davida came on for Shahar.
In the 76th Miller made his fifth and final change on the night as Elad Madmon replaced Helio Varela. Less than a minute after his introduction, Madmon should have cut the deficit at the end of a spectacular team effort. Issouf Sissokho lifted the ball over the Bulgarians’ defense before Sokler nodded in down for Madmon. With his first touch since coming on, the 22-year-old forward somehow managed to hook the ball over the crossbar right from the goalmouth.
In the 90th minute CSKA added a third as Joel Zwarts was given the time and space to carry the ball near Maccabi’s penalty area before curling a left foot shot which game Melika no chance. Inside injury time Sofia’s keeper Fedor Lapoukhov managed to punch away an Asante flick following Davida’s free kick to ensure Maccabi will have a three goal deficit for the return leg next week.
