Preview:
Maccabi returned to the Miriam stadium in Netanya for the MD5 WINNER League match against Maccabi Netanya with a 100% record from the first four matches. A month after beating Netanya 1-0 in a Toto Cup Semi Final, Maccabi will face Ronny Levy’s side that is currently 8th in the table with 5 points.
After yet another emphatic victory in the Tel Aviv derby (4-1) Miller made no changes to his starting line-up. Ofek Melika kept his place in goal behind an unchanged defense. James Tavernier, Ali Camara, Raz Shlomo and Noam Ben Harosh were all named as Maccabi’s back-four. But shortly before kickoff Miller was forced to make a change as Camara limped out of the warm-up and was replaced in the starting line up by Tyrese Asante. Maccabi’s midfield which looked so impressive also remained intact as Issouf Sissokho, Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz were all named in the engine room. Helio Varela and Osher Davida were assigned to the wings while Ester Sokler led the line.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Miller welcomed Sagiv Jehezkel back into the squad after recovering from a long-term injury. Dan Glazer, Elad Madmon, Itamar Noy, Hisham Layous, Ido Shahar, Itai Ben Hamo and Ilay Ben Simon completed the list of players on the bench.
First half:
The Netanya stadium was full to its’ capacity with the East stand filled with Maccabi fans in Yellow and Blue while the West stand with home fans in Yellow and Black. Eight minutes after referee Aviv Klein got the match underway, Maccabi came close to open the score as Gabi Kanichowsky slipped the ball into the path of Noam Ben Harosh who beat his man but fired his shot over the crossbar.
In the 19th minute Miller was forced to make another change as Helio Varela limped off with a groin injury and was replaced by Ido Shahar. Five minutes after the half hour mark Maccabi were given a glorious chance to score after Benny Feldman slipped deep inside Netanya’s half. Ester Sokler pounced on the loose ball and raced clear through but with only Netanya’s keeper Samu to beat. But the Slovenian striker saw his effort saved by the Portuguese keeper who charged off his goal-line.
Deep inside injury time Maccabi were awarded a corner and after Netanya’s defense failed to clear the danger, the ball was judged to have struck the arm of a defender. Klein didn’t hesitate as he awarded a penalty before Dor Peretz stepped up and successfully drilled the penalty to score his 8th league goal and 12th in all competitions which sent Maccabi to halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Second half:
Miller made no changes after the break while his Netanya counterpart Ronny Levy introduced Isaac Rodriguez for Maor Levy at the restart. The introduction of the Brazilian winger revived the hosts as he picked the ball deep inside his own half before skipping past an Osher Davida challenge. Rodriguez then fed Bassam Zarora who burst forward and released Oz Bilu into the box. Bilu then gave Ofek Melika no chance as his clinical finish saw the ball roll into the corner to level the score. Netanya managed to get the ball in Melika’s net within two minutes as Matheus Davo stripped Tyrese Asante of the ball and released Zarora who swept his shot past Melika. But the referee assistant raised his flag for offside to deny Netanya’s quick comeback.
Davo came close two minutes after the hour mark as he rose high to meet Bilu’s cross but failed to keep his header down. Miller reacted with a minute later with a double substitution as he replaced Sokler and Osher Davida with Hisham Layous and Elad Madmon. The duo, who both scored a goal and set up another in the derby came in to try and revive Maccabi’s attacking play which seemed to be broken by Netanya’s efforts. In the 70th minute Madmon tried a right foot effort from outside the box which didn’t trouble Samu too much. A minute later Madmon slipped the ball to Peretz who tried to pull the trigger but was fouled by Bakary Konate. This time round James Tavernier stepped up and after Samu saved his initial spot kick, the veteran English defender blasted in the rebound to restore the lead with his debut Maccabi goal.
Maccabi came close to increase the lead on 76 as Gabi Kanichowsky won a challenge inside Netanya’s half before releasing Madmon who burst forward but was denied once again by Samu.
Kanichowsky blasted a shot high over the crossbar on 82 shortly before Miller made another double change introducing Itamar Noy for Peretz and Sagiv Jehezkel for Shahar. Two minutes later it was Netanya’s substitute Aleksei who blasted his shot over.
As the fourth official raised his sign and indicated five minutes of added time Maccabi conceded a free kick after Layous tripped Eylon Almog but the defence managed to hang on until the final whistle was heard.
