Category: First Team
Keane: “This is a type of match where the opponent has nothing to lose”
Nachmias: “The gestures of the fans gave my love to Maccabi another boost”
Idan Nachmias, marked his 14th appearance in all competitions this season by featuring at right back in the 1-0 victory over Hapoel Be’ersheva that helped Maccabi return to the top of the table. The 26-year-old defender who was named by Robbie Keane as a full-back on the right side of defense from where he played a key role in Maccabi’s goal said after the match: “You all know I am always here for the team and will give my best in every game, at every position regardless of where I am asked to play. The coaching staff spoke to me during the week and told me I might start at right-back against Be’ersheva. Even though I was asked to push in to a three central defenders position when the team goes forward, I wasn’t supposed to go forward but identified the opportunity and wasn’t afraid to push on for the goal. When I launched the cross I was hoping Eran or Milson would score so I would get an assist.” Nachmias, whose regular position is a central defender, admitted: “I really tried focusing on my actions and keep it simple because this role is new to me. I am delighted I could play at another position because all my career I played at center back. I think I did a good so the biggest positive for me is the clean sheet.”
On the game evolved against Be’ersheva, Nachmias said: “We managed to scrape the three points with our teeth. We had a dip in form towards the end but this is natural after missing the penalty as momentum can shift. I am happy we managed to hang on and not concede in those minutes or later-on in the game. We defended quite a bit and sometimes one needs to know how to win such tight matches.”
On the fans display at Bloomfield prior to kick off, where more than hundred Maccabi fans murdered or killed since the start of the war were honored, Nachmias said: “This gesture by the fans was extremely emotional. I explained to Enric Saborit, who was standing next to me, what it was all about, as we were both moved by it. Such gestures are something this club knows to do, and I mean the fans and the club. During the war all the players rose to the occasion as we went everywhere attending funerals and memorial services in a bid to try and console families of fans. We are still in touch today with some families. Personally, I am still in contact with the father of Adir Portugal R.I.P as well as Ariel Zohar whose family were murdered. The club ensured we remain part of all this, so as far as I am concerned my love to Maccabi received an even bigger boost. Those gestures the fans are doing to other fans who lost their lives during this war makes me emotional time after time.”
Keane: “I liked our determination to fight”
Maccabi beat Be’ersheva 1-0
Keane made three changes from the side that beat Netanya as Matan Baltaxa replaced the injured Raz Shlomo to partner Enric Saborit at the heart of defense. Roy Revivo returned to his role on the left side of defense while Idan Nachmias was drafted in at right back. Ido Shahar’s man of the match performance against Netanya saw him keep his place and join Joris van Overeem and Gabi Kanichowsky in the midfield engine room. Felicio Milson and Yonas Malede also kept their places on the wings with Eran Zahavi returning to lead the attack as well as the team out with the captain’s armband.
On the bench Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishai Cohen, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Ofir Davidzada, Dor Peretz, Kiko Bondoso, Eden Kartzev and Osher Davida.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot with pressure on Be’ersheva’s players right from the off. Felicio Milson’s frantic pace saw him skip past Mariano Bariero’s tackle near the halfway line to charge forward in the fourth minute. But the Angolan winger who broke into the area was blocked by a combination of a defender and goalkeeper Niv Eliasi before he could get a shot on target. Yoni Stoyanov blasted a shot which sailed high over the crossbar in the 10th minute. Two minutes later, Milson, became the first player to go into the book of referee Roi Reinshreiber for a mistimed tackle on Bariero.
Maccabi continued to pile the pressure forcing the visitors to make mistakes as in the 20th minute Eden Shamir lost his footing deep inside his own half. Yonas Malede picked the ball and tried slipping it for Eran Zahavi allowing Beersheva’s defense to recover. Seven minutes later Milson continued to run riot down the wing and his cut-back ultimately reached Gabi Kanichowsky whose shot was saved by Niv Eliasi. A minute after the hour mark at the opposite end Roi Mishpati was drawn into the action as Maccabi’s keeper was at full stretch to push out Antonio Sefer’s powerful left foot drive.
Keane was forced to make his first change in the 40th minute as Malede limped off clutching his hamstring and was replaced by Osher Davida.Davida’s impact was almost instant as Milson gave a 1-0 lead a minute later. Idan Nachmias, picked Davida unmarked with a perfect cross before the winger sent a volley which Eliasi couldn’t hold onto. Milson was quick to react as he stuck in his boot and fired home the opener to send Bloomfield stadium into raptors.
Second Half
Be’ersheva’s coach Elyaniv Barda made his first change after the interval as Eitan Tibi replaced Miguel Vitor at the restart. Two minutes later Maccabi were awarded a penalty as Milson floated a cross into the area towards Zahavi who was taken out by Eliasi. Zahavi stepped up to take the spot kick and sent it to the left of the keeper who managed to save the penalty and deny the veteran marksman from doubling Maccabi’s lead.
Keane made two more substitutions in the 66th minute as Van Overeem and Zahavi bowed out and we’re replaced by Dor Peretz and Dor Turgeman.
Keane made two more substitutions in the 66th minute as Van Overeem and Zahavi bowed out and we’re replaced by Dor Peretz and Dor Turgeman. Beersheva tried desperately to level the score as they sent men forward as well as launcing the ball into the area. But Mishpati dominated his penalty area showing his aerial superiority intercepting all their attempts in mid air. Keane made his two final changes in the 81st minute as Shahar and Milson were replaced by Avisahi Cohen and Eden Kartzev. Enric Saborit was booked for stopping an Alexander Quinones counter attack before Mishpati was at full stretch to keep out Imran Omar’s dangerous free kick which was naking its’ way into the top corner.
Helder Lopes came inches away from drawing level as he managed to get at the end of an Amir Ganah cross only to see his close range effort roll out. The fourth official signalled five minutes of added as Maccabi’s players were battling for every loose ball in order to protect their lead.
Revivo ahead of Be’ersheva: “We will be aggressive and energetic.”
Maccabi will host Hapoel Be’ersheva on Saturday for a top of the table MD22 ONE ZZERO League clash at Bloomfield (20:00). Roy Revivo who scored a spectacular free kick against Maccabi Netanya earlier this week, faced the media ahead of the game between the two sides currently ranked second and third.
Revivo, who scored his senior debut goal against Ashdod doubled his tally for the season with a free kick against Netanya, revealed: “When I was with the Israel U19’s with Ophir Haim the player who took the free kick was Thai Abed who has an amazing shot. I asked Ophir to let me take one every now and then as I also have a good shot. At the end of one training I told him that if I score one now he should let me take one at a match and he said ‘go for it’. Tomer Zarfati who was Netanya’s keeper against us this week, was in goal and I scored. He told me that he is not sure whether he would let me take a free kick and until today he hasn’t done so as I never had a go. At the game against Netanya, I told myself that I will try and received the support of Sab (Enric Saborit) who encouraged me to go take it.”
On the comparison to the free-kicks technique of his father Haim Revivo, Roy said: “From a young age I have been going into YouTube, clicking my father’s name and watch the things he did whilst playing for Fenerbahce or Galatasaray and see what it is all about. It is always fun to score goals, especially to be able to run to the fans and experience that madness, nothing can beat that.”
Following Maccabi’s 5-1 victory over Netanya and the recent run of results, Revivo said: “There is no secret behind us wanting to win every match. We don’t like to draw let alone to lose. We set ourselves a target after a complex spell of not winning matches to get back to winning ways, be aggressive and energetic. I am delighted we got that victory.”
Despite his young age and the first full-season with Maccabi’s senior side, Revivo, who already played 32 matches in all competitions in this campaign, remained with his feet on the ground: “After victories I tend to have 24 hours where I am enjoying the win and then open a clean slate ahead of the next match. Every match stands on its own but in football we all know that anything can happen. We will approach this match like we did against Netanya, be aggressive, energetic and follow the instructions of the coaching staff.”
On the style of play Maccabi will approach, Revivo summed up: “We all knew that the playing surface in Netanya wasn’t the best with the ball bouncing everywhere especially in the center of the pitch. Sometimes it is worth taking risks, send the ball forward and battle for the second and third balls whilst being aggressive. It proved successful.”
Conference League: Maccabi face Olympiacos
Maccabi Tel Aviv would line-up against Olympiacos Piraeus of Greece in the Conference League Round of 16 following the draw which took place at UEFA’s Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday. Robbie Keane’s side will play at the 33,334 capacity Georgios Karaiskakis stadium before hosting the return leg at a neutral following the decision to relocate matches from Israel due to the current situation.
Olympiacos, who are currently third in the Greek Super League, featured in the EUROPA League this season, beat Hungarian side Ferencevaros 2-0 on aggregate to reach the Round of 16.
This will be the second time both clubs lock horns as Maccabi played Olympiacos in the 2010/11 campaign.
The winners of the eight ties advance to the Quarter Finals, with the draw scheduled for Friday 15 March. The losers are out of 2023/24 European competition. Ties level after 180 minutes will go to extra time irrespective of the number of goals each team has scored at home and away. If the teams still cannot be separated after the additional 30 minutes, the tie goes to a penalty shoot-out.
Watch: Robbie Keane ahead of Be’ersheva
From Zahavi to Zohar: 5 spectacular goals against Be’ersheva
The morning after the 5-1 league victory away to Maccabi Netanya, Robbie Keane’s charges lined-up against second division side Hapoel Kfar Sava at Kiryat Shalom.
Henry Addo made his first outing for Maccabi since joining the club in the January transfer window. The Ghanian forward was handed a chance to play on one wing while Yonatan Cohen who was named by Keane on the opposite flank opened the scoring with less than a minute on the clock.
Matan Baltaxa doubled Maccabi’s lead before Cohen scored his second shortly before the 35 minute halftime whistle was sounded.
A Kfar Sava defender converted an Addo square ball into his net to give Maccabi a four goal lead before Daniel Elmalah beat Daniel Tenenbaum with a low drive to cut the deficit. In the 70th and final minute Eyal Golasa released Osher Davida whose clinical finish sealed the score at 5-1.
