“We are obviously disappointed. We received a red card and played an entire half like that. I think if you perform that way you deserve three points,” Asante said. “We are playing well, but at the end of the day you need to take all three points, and that didn’t happen today. We have to keep moving forward.”

On Maccabi’s recent form, the 23-year-old Dutch defender added: “When you play for Maccabi, you need to win every match. That is what we are trying to do. We are working hard, but sometimes we don’t get what we deserve.”

“At the moment, we are on the wrong side of the coin. We need to work hard and wait for things to turn in our favor,” he continued. “I believe 100% that we are capable of doing it.”

On his personal form this season, Asante concluded: “I am trying. In my first season I needed to adapt, to gain confidence and experience. This season I’m trying to give my best, like everyone in the team, and it’s going fairly well.”

Preview

Maccabi arrived at the Netanya stadium for the MD15 WINNER League match against local side Maccabi Netanya aiming to return to winning ways. With his side third in the table with 28 points, Zarko Lazetic will aim to steer Maccabi to victory which would narrow the seven point gap from top spot. But on the back of the recent poor form which saw his side win only one match in the last five league outings – a victory against in form Netanya is vital.

Lazetic made several changes from the side which was held to a 2-2 by Hapoel Petah Tikva last Monday as Tyrese Asante partnered Ali Camara as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika. Noam Ben Harush was named in the right-back role with Roy Revivo completing Maccabi’s defensive line at left-back.

Having recovered from the injury which sidelined him since the victory over Hapoel Haifa, Issouf Sissokho returned to the anchorman role. Ido Shahar, who set up a goal and scored the dramatic late equalizer against Hapoel Petah Tikva joined the Mali midfielder in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz led the team out with the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old was named at the top of the midfield trio. Sagiv Jehezkel who had two goals disallowed against Petah Tikva, started on one wing with Helio Varela on the opposite flank. Saied Abu Farchi will aim to put behind him the penalty miss as he led Maccabi’s attack.

On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Heitor Dos Santos, Kervin Andrade, Elad Madmon, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy, Itay Ben Hemo, Ilay Ben Simon and Osher Davida.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot with pressure on Netanya’s players pinging them in their own half. A Saied Abu Farchi free kick found the head of Sagiv Jehezkel who couldn’t guide his header on target. In the 8th minute Aziz Outtara’s rough tackle on Abu Farchi saw the Netanya defender booked by referee Aviv Klein. In the 15th minute the deadlock was broken as a solo Helio Varela run from the halfway line took the Cape Verde winger past four Netanya players before squaring to Dor Peretz whonsweot the ball home. Three minutes later the hosts were back on level terms at the end of a lethal counter attack. Jehezkel lost possession on the edge of the Netanya penalty area before Rotem Keller charged down the left and cut the ball back for Oz Bilu who side footed home.

The end to end action continued as Noam Ben Harush went into the book for stopping a Netanya counter attack on the half hour mark. Ali Camara was also cautioned by Klein four minutes later for bringing down Bilu deep inside Maccabi’s half. Peretz had the ball in the back of the net on 39 after receiving a through ball from Jehezkel and clipping it past Omer Nir’on. But Maccabi’s celebrations were shortlived as Jehezkel was initially offside when Ben Harush’s pinpoint pass found him behind Netanya’s line of defense. On the brink of halftime Maccabi were reduced to 10 men as Camara was sent off for two bookable offences pulling Matheus Davo who raced clear through.

Second Half

Lazetic shuffled his side after the interval as Ido Shahar made way for Heitor dos Santos at the restart. Roy Revivo moved back to play alongside Tyrese Asante and dos Santos as three central defenders, Abu Farchi and Varela were the two wing-backs on the right and left respectively while Ben Harush pushed into the midfield. Right on the hour mark Melika clawed the ball from under the crossbar to deny Bilu. A minute later Lazetic made his second substitution as Osher Davida came on for Jehezkel with Varela pushing to role of the lonely striker.

Lazetic added a fresh pair of legs into a tired midfield as Ben Harush who worked tirelessly came off on 74 and was replaced by Itamar Noy. Lazetic made his final change on the night as Elad Madmon came on for the closing stages replacing Varela in injury time.

Maccabi continue the WINNER League campaign as Zarko Lazetic’s side face sixth place Maccabi Netanya on MD15.

Maccabi completed their preparations last night with a final practice session at the Kiryat Shalom training complex. Maccabi will aim to get back on the winning track after the 2–2 draw against Hapoel Petah Tikva in the previous round, and will meet an opponent they beat 4-0 earlier this season but has since climbed up the table with 22 points.

Following Hapoel Be’ersheva’s 3–0 defeat to Ironi Tiberias last night, Maccabi know that a victory in Netanya would reduce the gap at the top to four points. Yesterday, Lazetic spoke at the Press Conference and rovided an update, on the fitness of midfielders Kristijan Belic and Issouf Sissokho: “He (Belic) has trained in recent days, as has Sissokho. They are not in perfect condition, but they will be part of the squad.”

On Netanya, Lazetic added: “Netanya are very good in transition, very direct with the ball, especially through midfield. They get into the box with a lot of players and we need to be ready. A lot depends on us, we are Maccabi, even if people think we are not doing well. We will show our character and quality, I’m sure. We need to focus more on ourselves, not the table or the opponent, but on fixing what we need internally, arriving with good energy and belief”.

Despite his young age, Roy Revivo, is one of the most experienced players in Maccani’s squad. Revivo (22) who played 104 matches for Maccabi in all competitions, also represented his country on 51 occasions, featuring 18 times for the national team and 33 more matches at U23, U21 and U19 levels.

Revivo, who won 2 league titles at Maccabi acknowledged the recent difficult spell the team is currently undergoing, winning one match in the last five league matches: “We are on a bad streak and want to get back to winning ways, and enter a winning streak. We want to get out of this period and return to winning as we are used to. On a personal level, the situation frustrates me, as I don’t like not winning. It’s felt by all of us. We want to get out of it, and I’m confident it will happen.”

Revivo’ whose side dropped to third in the table, seven points adrift of first place, added: “We really miss the fans. In the two years I have been with the senior side and we won the championship, the fans have meant a great deal. They push us in every match, it’s the atmosphere and the energy, no matter where we play. We miss them and are confident it will work itself out.”

On his perspective of the current situation, Revivo said: “I like to understand things personally. To learn how to cope with them, that’s the mark of a great player: understanding what’s happening in a situation and knowing how to make the best of it.”

Ahead of Sunday’s opponents Netanya, who were beaten by Maccabi 4-0 earlier this season but has since climbed to sixth place, winning seven matches and drawing another, Revivo added: “Netanya is a very good team. There coach Yossi Abuksis is a good coach. The staff has prepared us in the best possible way, and we’re ready.”

On Maccabi’s position in the table in view of the title race, Revivo concluded: “It is always on our minds. We always want to be in first place. There are still plenty of games left.”

When asked whether he receives any tips from his father Haim, who scored 15 goals for Israel in 67 international appearances between 1990-2003 and has played for Celta Vigo, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, Roy revealed: “We don’t talk about it too much. I just prefer to be myself. I like to deal with things on my own and work hard.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC held a ceremony this evening (Thursday) to light the fifth Hanukkah candle at Bloomfield Stadium.

The Club continued a tradition that began following the recent war, welcoming the families of our supporters who lost their loved ones in the murderous October 7th attack and during the fighting, as well as supporters who were injured during the war. Also in attendance were the first-team players, coaching staff, Club employees, and sponsors.

This year’s event conveyed a message of hope and optimism and was hosted by Kayam Boccara, who served as a company commander in the Combat Engineering Corps and was seriously wounded during the fighting in Gaza. The evening was also honored by the presence of Peter Roth, who performed several songs during the moving ceremony.

Club CEO Jack Angelides addressed those in attendance, saying, among other things: “On Hanukkah we speak about light, and today that light comes from the people who are here. Since October 7th, this gathering has become a tradition, a tradition of family and community. It is a community that gives strength to one another, embraces and connects, and provides hope and comfort even in the most difficult moments. As we light the candles, we focus on the strength of our community and on the fact that the light illuminates the path forward, allowing us to keep moving ahead. We are truly grateful for your presence today, and I know that together we will be there for one another.”

Maccabi captain, Dor Peretz also spoke to the families and supporters, saying: “When we stand together, support one another, and give strength, we remind ourselves and those around us of the true meaning of sport, the meaning of values and genuine unity. Thank you for being part of this family. Thank you for your giving, your belief, and your inspiration.”

Nadav Bontzel, brother of Staff Sergeant Amit Bontzel, who served as a fighter in the Paratroopers Reconnaissance unit, said: “Thank you for turning this connection into a strong and lasting tradition. Thank you for standing by our side. May we be granted days of greatness, victories, and joy. May we light the candles in memory of those who are no longer with us and for those who are still here. And may we always, always, remain one family, a strong and united Yellow family.”

The 20-year-old full-back who joined the club from Hapoel Haifa in the summer but waited until the end of November to make his debut league start against Ashdod, said after the match: “First of all, I’m proud of the team for coming back from 2-0. It is not easy with the current situation. We knew we would come back. In my opinion, we looked good throughout the match, moved the ball well, but it didn’t go in during the first half and we conceded to make it 2-0. At half-time we said we’d go out there and not give up, and even at 2-2 this point will be very important at the end of the season. The goal is a bonus, but I leave disappointed with the result because I think we deserved more and looked good. Now we look ahead, there’s a long season.”

Ben Harush, who made his eighth appearance for Maccabi in competitions and has been playing in recent matches as a holding midfielder, added: “I arrived at Maccabi Tel Aviv, the biggest club in the country. It took me some time to settle in. In every training session from the first matchday until now I’ve given everything and waited for my opportunity, and I will continue to give my all. I think I’m improving day by day. The entire club, from things outside training to the staff and the gym, things I didn’t have before, helps me improve every day. Playing now gives me more confidence, and I’m ready for any moment.”

Shahar, who was introduced in the second half, assisted Maccabi’s first goal for Noam Ben Harush on the way to the comeback before scoring a top drawer equalizer admitted after the game: “The most important thing didn’t happen today, and that’s a win. A goal is ultimately a small bonus for me, but in the end we wanted to win. I’d give up that goal for a victory.”

He then referred to the match itself: “We need to win every game here. Despite the result, I truly think we had a good game, actually a very good one. If I’m not mistaken, we had over 30 shots on goal; we should have scored more. The first two times they got to our goal, they scored. A bit of bad luck, there are periods when things go against you and it’s harder, but we’ll do everything to rise above it. We’ll stay in the fight until the very end, and I’m sure that even if it doesn’t look rosy right now, by the end of the season it will be sweet.”

Shahar then spoke about the recent spell which kept Maccabi seven points adrift of top spot, as he added: “It’s not an easy time. All I can promise the supporters and the club from here is that we’ll do everything to win every match and bring home the championship.”

Finally, Shahar addressed the rest of the campaign : “We will try to be the best we can be, and not for a second will we give up or take our foot off the gas. Every one of us looks at ourselves in the mirror, as players, as staff, and everyone who works at the club. I’m sure everyone will do their very best so that we win the championship at the end of the season.”