Preview

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium after a three-week absence for the MD29 WINNER League match against Maccabi Netanya. Following the 3-1 victory Hapoel Be’ersheva at Turner, Zarko Lazetic’s side climbed to the top of the standings with 63 points. Lazetic will try guide his charges to a fifth league victory in succession which would increase the lead at the top to five at least until Monday when Be’ersheva face 3rd place Maccabi Haifa.

Lazetic made a single change from the side that won at Turner as Eran Zahavi replaced Dor Turgeman upfront.

Simon Sluga kept his place in goal for the 12th time with Raz Shlomo and Nemanja Stojic lining-up as the two central defenders in front of the Croatian custodian. Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s back-four. Issouf Sissokho remained in the anchorman role with Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz completing Maccabi’s midfield trio. Osher Davida who set up two goals at Turner and Weslley Patati who scored two and set up another supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation. Zahavi was making his 10th league start, seeking to add to his 4 league goals and 7 in all competitions this season.

On the bench Lazetic named alongside goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Stav Lemkin, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Joris van Overeem, Elad Madmon, Ofir Davidzada, Hisham Layous and Ido Shahar.

First Half

Prior to kickoff, two ceremonies were held, the first in memory of Itzik Elgarat (69) a Maccabi fan who was held hostage in Gaza for 510 and was murdered by Hamas. The second ceremony was in memory of former Maccabi and Netanya midfielder, Moshe Gariani, who scored 18 goals in 119 appearances during the 80’s. Maccabi began the match with one mission – scoring an early goal to get the crowd going. Seven minutes from the start the deadlock was broken as Weslley Patati carved Netanya’s defense open with a perfect through ball to Dor Peretz. The midfielder sent a shot come cross in the direction of the far post where Osher Davida tapped the ball home from point blank range.

Seven minutes later Maccabi doubled the lead with a spectacular goal scored by number seven Eran Zahavi. The goal which will compete as one of the goals of the season will also compete as one of the best goals Zahavi scored during his illustrious career. Gabi Kanichowsky brought down on the edge of then area a Tyrese Asante long ball. Kanichowsky then flicked the ball to Peretz who continued with a lopping ball towards Zahavi. The veteran Maccabi striker launched himself in the air and with a spectacular overhead bicycle kick volleyed the ball under the crossbar for his 200th goal in Yellow and Blue. In the 22nd minute Netanya cut the deficit as Itay Ben Shabat rose above Maccabi’s defense to head a cross which beat Simon Sluga as it went in off the crossbar to set the score on 2-1.

Three minutes after the half hour mark, Maccabi restored their two-goal lead. Davida whipped in a pinpoint cross from the left and Zahavi flicked the ball with his head past Omer Nir’on and into the bottom far corner for his second and Maccabi’s third. A Patati cross on 39 was blocked by Netanya’s defense and fell to Revivo whose attempt of a half volley sailed over the crossbar. A minute later referee Yigal Frid awarded Netanya a penalty after Nemanja Stojic was judged to have tripped Daniel Dapaa in the box. But VAR intervened called Frid to the screen before the initial decision was overturned and the penalty cancelled. On the brink of halftime, Sluga was forced to full stretch as he threw himself across goal to claw out a powerful dipping shot by Heriberto Tavares.

Second Half

Lazetic made one change after the internal as Idan Nachmias replaced Tyrese Asante at the restart. A Maccabi counterattack in the 51st minute began with Patati who squared to Kanichowsky before teeing up Zahavi. The 37-year-old lined up his shot from the edge of the area but Nir’on dived to his right and collected with ease. In the 64th minute Lazetic made a double substitution as Joris van Overeem and Dor Turgeman came on for Sissokho and Zahavi.

Four minutes after his introduction Turgeman received a long ball from Stojic and with one touch killed it dead to break into the area before he was brought down by Nikita Stoyanov. Frid pointed at the spot before the 21-year-old striker stepped up and blasted the penalty home to score Maccabi’s fourth his 17th goal of the season. Lazetic made another double change as Kanichowsky and Davida bowed out to a standing ovation with the duo replaced by Ido Shahar and Elad Madmon. Shahar almost scored three minutes after he came on as the diminutive midfielder reacted first to a loose ball but his close range toe poke could only find the side netting. In the 90th minute Patati had the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman raised his flag for offside denying the Brazilian a fifth.

Preview

Maccabi returned to league after a three-week-long international break as the team arrived at Green stadium in Nof Hagalil for the MD11 match against Maccabi Bnei Reineh.

On the back of last week’s Europa League 3-1 victory over Besiktas, and with Zarko Lazetic serving a one-match touchline ban following his dismissal against Bnei Sakhnin – Maccabi had some changes both on and off the pitch.

Roi Mishpati whose crucial penalty save against Besiktas helped Maccabi to the victory over the Turkish side, kept his place in goal. Raz Shlomo and Idan Nachmias lined up as the two central defenders in front of the Maccabi keeper. Ido Shahar on the right and Idan Nachmias on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz who both scored against Besiktas together with Joris van Overeem as the anchorman, remained as the influential midfield trio. Henry Addo returned to the starting line up on one wing and Osher Davida on the other supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation with Dor Turgeman leading the attack.

On the bench alongside goalkeeper Simon Sluga, were Roy Revivo, Stav Lemkin, Tyrese Asante, Eran Zahavi, Sagiv Jehezkel, Wessley Patati, Elad Madmon and Issouf Sissokho.

Maccabi’s two assistant coaches, Drazen Bolic and Bojan Leontijevic, guided the side while Lazetic was watching from high up in the stand.

First Half

Backed by the support of around 3,000 traveling fans who arrived at Nof Hagalil, Maccabi began the match on the front foot. Dor Turgeman came close in the 10th minute as he rose above Reineh’s defense but guided his header wide. A minute later Osher Davida curled a left foot dipping shot from the corner of the area which beat the keeper but rattled the crossbar. In the 21st minute Maccabi almost scored in spectacular fashion and at the end of an outstanding team effort. Joris van Overeem chipped the ball to Turgeman who flicked it on to Dor Peretz. Maccabi’s captain on the night who found himself behind Reineh’s but with his back towards goal, tried an overhead kick but saw his effort bounce wide.

Right on the half hour mark and against the run of play Reieneh took the lead after Ezekiel Henty lifted the ball over Nemanja Stojic and rifled his shot past Roi Mishpati and into the bottom far corner. In the 42nd minute Muhamed Usman Edu was given the time and space to charge forward before Mishpati needed a double save to ensure Reineh don’t double their lead.

Second Half

With the team trailing by a goal at halftime, Maccabi made a triple substitution after the interval. Ido Shahar, Osher Davida and Henry Addo were all replaced by Sagiv Jehezkel, Wessley Patati and Elad Madmon at the restart.

Maccabi began the second half, determined to grab an equaliser right from the off. In the opening minute, Reineh’s keeper pushed a close range header over the crossbar, but the referee assistant raised his flag for offside. In the 51st minute, Patati’s dangerous cross picked Peretz’s run, but the captain was fouled as he attempted to head the ball. Referee David Fuxman was called by the VAR to the screen before awarding a penalty. Jehezkel stepped up, sent Omar Nahfaoui the wrong way, and buried the spot kick in the bottom corner to level the score on 52. Six minutes later Maccabi completed the comeback as Van Overeem fed Madmon who slipped the ball to Turgeman on the edge of Reineh’s box. The striker still had his work cut for himself as he skipped past a defender with a drop of a shoulder and then rounded the advancing keeper before sending the ball in to the net.

Maccabi made their fifth and final substitution as Issouf Sissokho replaced Gabi Kanichowsky for the final few minutes. Peretz was inches away from scoring Maccabi’s third with a close range header in injury time but Nahfaoui pushed the ball over his crossbar.

Preview:

Four days after beating Hapoel Be’ersheva 1-0 Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the rescheduled MD1 WINNER League match against Hapoel Jerusalem.

Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made no less than seven changes from the side that won on Saturday as goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Raz Shlomo and midfielders Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz keeping their places. New signing Nemanja Stojic who made his debut appearance as a second half substitute on Saturday, partnered Shlomo at the heart of defense to make his first start. Roy Revivo on the left and Idan Nachmias at right-back completed Maccabi’s back-four in front of Mishpati. Nachmias was deputized to the right-back position in place of Sagiv Jehezkel who underwent surgery on his fractured cheekbone which would sideline him from several weeks.

Joris van Overeem returned to the anchorman role, right behind Kanichowsky and Peretz, to complete Maccabi’s midfield trio. Lazetic named Hisham Layous on one wing, with Brazilian winger, Wesley Patati handed his debut appearance in Maccabi’s colors on the opposite flank. Eran Zahavi who just like Patati was an unused substitute against Be’ersheva, led the line and team out wearing the captain’s armband.

On the bench Lazetic named Ofek Melika, Tyrese Asante, Dor Turgeman, Elad Madmon, Ofir Davidzada, Issouf Sissokho, Ido Shahar, Nir Bitton and Osher Davida.

Prior to kick off Maccabi paid tribute to Matan Hozez who left the club to join Hapoel Jerusalem earlier this season having won 6 titles and scoring 11 goals in 111 appearances in all competitions

First Half

The early kick off match influenced the fans who gradually trickled into Bloomfield stadium, but it seemed to have affected Maccabi’s players took their time to dominate. Four minutes into the game, new Brazilian signing, Wesley Patati, could have celebrated his Maccabi debut with a goal as he stepped-up to take a free kick from near the byline. Maccabi’s players lined-up in the box, but Patati had something else on his mind as he sent a dipping cross that was tipped over the crossbar by Jerusalem goalkeeper Nadav Zamir.

Two minutes later, Idan Nachmias, who normally causes a threat from set-pieces, fired a shot on goal only for Zamir to equal the shot. Eran Zahavi, who led Maccabi’s attack, had an effort blocked on the edge of the area by a Jerusalem defender as did Patati minutes later.

The visitors came close in the 20th minute as Jelle Duin managed to ghost through Maccabi’s defense and get on the end of a free kick in the middle of the area. But with only Mishpati to beat, Duin, miscued his effort straight at the keeper. The thought of conceding must have shaken Maccabi’s players as they reached their best chance so far on 25. An exchange of passes deep inside Jerusalem’s half saw Joris van Overeem tee-up Dor Peretz whose powerful shot was saved by Zamir. Jerusalem’s keeper was quick on his feet to keep out Gabi Kanichowsky’s rebound as well to keep his goal locked.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 38th minute with Roy Revivo opening his account for the season. Layous managed to keep in a Zahavi which almost threatened to go out before cutting the ball back for Kanichowsky. The diminutive midfielder carved the visitors’ defense to release Revivo with the left-back surprising Zamir with his less dominant right foot as he buried the ball in the bottom near corner.

Patati who continued to look dangerous cutting inside from the right and onto his left foot whipped in another cross which eluded Jerusalem defense and keeper before bouncing off the base of the post.

Second half:

Raz Shlomo who felt his hamstring in the first half but stayed on, was replaced at the restart by Tyrese Asante. IN the 51st minute Van Overeem was booked by referee David Fuxman who also cautioned Nemanja Stojic three minutes later. Jerusalem had their claims for a penalty waived by the referee on 55 after Revivo collided with an opponent in the box. A minute later the visitors were reduced to 10 men after Yao Eloge was booked for a foul and picked another for dissent after clapping to protest the initial decision.

Six minutes after the hour mark, Lazetic reacted as he made his second change of the game introducing Elad Madmon for Layous who bowed out to a standing ovation. Patati had a powerful shot from inside the area saved by Zamir who punched the shot out. Despite their numerical disadvantage Jerusalem continued to try catch Maccabi off guard in transition. A last gasp Kanichowsky tackle ended one of those counter attacks as Maccabi’s defense was almost caught on 75. Three minutes later Lazetic reacted with a double substitution as Osher Davida came on for Patati while Dor Turgeman replaced Zahavi adding fresh legs for the closing stages.

But Jerusalem were back on level terms in the 84^th minute as they took an early free kick to catch Maccabi’s defense napping. Ohad Almagor charged down the right and sent a square ball that rolled across the face of goal before being slotted home at the far post by fellow substitute Yonatan Laish. Stojic almost restored Maccabi’s lead a minute later as his shot from outside the area beat Zamir but sailed to the wrong side of the post. Seconds after the fourth official indicated 7 minutes of added time, Mishpati was at fill stretch to push Hozez’s left foot shot over the bar.

Four minutes inside injury time however Maccabi scored the winner at the end of a spectacular team effort. Kanichowsky slipped the ball to Turgeman whose backheel flick released Revivo into the box before the left turned provider as he sent a square ball across the face of goal. Peretz couldn’t connect as the ball rolled towards the back post where Davida pounced on it to sweep in the winner. Issouf Sissokho came on for Dor Peretz shortly before the final whistle ended the contest with a third victory in three league matches.

December 8, 2004. Sold out Ramat Gan Stadium. It’s not every day that Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters get a chance to see fan favorite Koby Moosa try to stop the Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero. That same evening Maccabi Tel Aviv ended their European campaign in their first ever foray into the exclusive competition. Following an unsuccessful first round of matches that included three losses, Nir Klinger’s charges then defeated Ajax 2:1 with the help of the club’s top tournament goal scorer, Baruch Dego.

A win over Juventus, which was not even a thought before the group stages began or even a draw coupled with an Ajax loss would be good enough for Maccabi to advance to the UEFA Cup from third place in the group.

Klinger  decided to make a number of changes to his starting lineup including replacing keeper Liran Strauber in goal with Gal Nir. Moshiko Mishaelof played beside Oren Zitoni and Tamir Cohen in the back as Klinger decided to go with five midfielders in order to deal with the pressure from Cannavaro, Kapo, Pavel Nedved and Del Piero. As the opening whistle was blown, Maccabi had their first opportunity of the match when Zitoni’s 20 meter effort passed by Antonio Chimenti’s goal and signaled to all that this would be the Yellow-and-Blue’s best match of the tournament.

As Roy Makaay gave Bayern Munich a 1:0 lead over Ajax in Germany, Maccabi’s Cameroonian striker Emile M’Bamba fell in the box after a push from Jonathan Zebina good for a foul. French referee Alain Sars pointed to the penalty spot where Dego would coolly convert for his fourth goal of the campaign. 1:0 for Maccabi as the score would remain that way until the half sending the fans into pandemonium. Meanwhile in Munich, Ajax evened the score at 1:1 as they entered the break with the UEFA Cup spot still wide open with forty-five minutes to go.

The second half began with inspired defending by Maccabi. With Juventus pouring on the pressure in front of Gal Nir’s goal, Moosa, Strool, Giovanini and Abu Siam were able to withstand wave after wave of Bianconeri attack. That was until the 71st minute. Substitute Zambrotta’s perfectly placed free kick was headed down by Zalayeta right to the magical feet of Del Piero who scored from close range to draw Juve even at 1:1.

Ajax then took a 2:1 lead in Germany and Maccabi found themselves looking up at third place in the group. Bayern would knot up their match at 2:2, however in Ramat Gan Giovanini’s brilliant header was knocked away by Chimenti denying Maccabi victory as the fans applauded their effort but collected one point only that would not be enough to finish in third.