Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at NK Celje’s Z’dežele Stadium in Slovenia ahead of the Conference Playoff return leg with a 4-1 lead from last week’s first leg in Tel Aviv. Robbie Keane’s side knew that only a sporting disaster at the 13,059 capacity stadium would prevent them from securing a place in the group stage draw which takes in Monaco on Friday. In the absence of Dor Peretz and Eyal Golasa who remained in Israel due to illness and injury, Keane made a couple of changes from the side that recorded a 4-1 victory over Ashdod in the league earlier this week.
Roy Mishpati who made his debut appearance for Maccabi in goal, kept his place as the 30-year-old custodian made his debut appearance for the club in Europe. Enric Saborit and Derrick Luckassen both started as the two central defenders with Yvan Macon and Roy Revivo completing the back four on the right and left respectively.
Nir Bitton stepped into the midfield in the anchorman role, pushing Joris van Overeem to the right while Dan Biton completed the midfield trio on the left. Dor Turgeman who scored Maccabi’s fourth goal against Celje was handed his debut start in Europe with Milson occupying the other position on the opposite flank. Eran Zahavi, whose hattrick at Celje last week helped the side to the position they are now led the line wearing the captain’s armband.
On the bench Keane named goalkeepers Daniel Tenenbaum, Tomer Alon, Idan Nachmias, Dan Glazer, Yonatan Cohen, Gabi Kanichowsky, Sheran Yeini, Ofir Davidzada, Eylon Almog, Sayid Abu Farchi and Ido Shahar.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the back foot with the hosts desperate to cut the three goal deficit and get back in the tie early on. Aljosa Matko starting the match as one of two strikers for Celje had his claims for a penalty waived by referee Jeremie Pignard in the opening minute.
Eleven minutes later Celje took the lead as Yegor Prutsev’s trickery saw him break into Maccabi’s box and fire a low drive that beat Roi Mishpati. But as the ball struck the base of the post, Matko, pounced on the rebound and tucked the ball home from close range and give Celje a 1-0 lead on the night and 4-2 on aggregate. Boosted by their lead Celje pushed forward as three minutes later Luka Bobicanec tried his luck with a ling range effort that Mishpati collected with ease.
Joris van Overeem was the first player to go into the referee’s book for fouling an opponent in the 27th minute. Right on the half hour mark Maccabi survived a scare Zan Karnicnik managed to find himself with only Mishpati to beat somehow fired his shot wide of the target. Two minutes later Maccabi came close as Dor Turgeman was denied by the crossbar after his surprising powerful drive beat Matjaz Rozman.
Right on the half hour mark Maccabi survived a scare Zan Karnicnik managed to find himself with only Mishpati to beat somehow fired his shot wide of the target. Two minutes later Maccabi came close as Dor Turgeman was denied by the crossbar after his surprising powerful drive beat Matjaz Rozman.
Second Half
The halftime whistle sent Robbie Keane and his charges to regroup in the dressing room during the interval, at the end of which he made two changes. Gabi Kanichowsky and Yonatan Cohen came on at the restart replacing Nir Bitton and Turgeman.
Maccabi responded almost instantly as Kanichowsky won possession on the edge of the area and slid the ball to Zahavi who turned his marker and fired a shot forcing Rozman to make his first save.
Two minutes later both substitutes combined as Cohen received the ball down the right flank before feeding Kanichowsky who fired in a left foot shot past Rozman to level the score on the night and restore Maccabi’s three goal aggregate lead.
Dan Biton almost put Maccabi in front within two minutes as he broke into the area but saw his effort strike the upright.
Cohen tried his with a long range effort in the 58th minute but couldn’t keep his shot down as the ball sailed high over the crossbar. Mishpati was booked for time wasting in the 61st minute as Maccabi continued to look dangerous going forward.
Five minutes later Maccabi moved the ball around Celje’s box as Kanichowsky, Biton, Zahavi and Cohen exchanged passes before Cohen once again fired high and over. Celje struck the underside of the crossbar before the ball landed on the goalline and bounced out with Mishpati beaten.
Saied Abu Farchi was handed his Maccabi debut replacing Zahavi inside injury time.
