Maccabi’s midfielder who scored an injury time goal in the 3-0 victory over Moldovan outfit Petrocub said at the end of the match at Bloomfield: “We should have shown a better ability without a doubt. We dominated large parts of the game but we lost too many balls and made unnecessary mistakes that could cost us dearly in the future. I am happy the game ended the way it did and ultimately this is a good start which is very satisfying.”

Peretz, whose injury time goal gave Maccabi a three goal cushion ahead of next week’s return leg in Kishinev: “When all the team is showing good form, we all benefit from that and everyone could score.”

Peretz refused to get carried away by the fact his side recorded two convincing victories on the bounce as he added: “This is our first game since the victory we recorded a Turner last week and we should keep our feet on the ground, not het carried away and look forward towards next week’s return leg in Moldova”.

Preview:

Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the first time this season as the 2023/24 Conference League qualifying campaign begins with a home tie against Petrocub Hincesti of Moldova. Robbie Keane who guided Maccabi in his first match in charge to a 6-1 victory away to Be’ersheva – was given a chance to experience Bloomfield stadium for the first time.

With owner Mitch Goldhar watching from the stands, Keane, kept the same team that beat Be’ersheva at Turner stadium. Daniel Peretz kept his place in goal making his 101^st appearance for the club with an unchanged four-man defense Infront of him. Yvann Macon, who made his debut for Maccabi at Turner, was handed his home debut at right-back. Enric Saborit and Nir Bitton were the two central defenders in front of Peretz while Ofir Davidzada completed the back-four on the left. Joris van Overeem started as the anchorman of Keane’s midfield with Dor Peretz and Dan Biton completing the midfield trio. Yonatan Cohen and Eylon Almog supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation while Eran Zahavi spearheaded the attack wearing the captain’s armband.

On the substitutes bench, Keane, named Roi Mishpati, Roy Revivo, Dor Turgeman, Gabi Kanichowsky, Parfait Guiagon, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Derrick Luckassen, Shahar Piven, Saied Abu Farchi, Ido Shahar and Djordje Jovanovic.

First Half

Maccabi began the match with pressure on the visitors right from the off as Robbie Keane’s charges attacked Petrocub who found it difficult to even cross the halfway line. In the opening five minutes Maccabi created no less than four chances, the best of which was an Eylon Almog snapshot from the edge of the area which crept wide.

In the 13th minute Maccabi were awarded for their efforts and Biton who scored the sixth and final goal at Turner last week, scored the opener. The diminutive midfielder was fouled near the corner of the Peteocub area before picking himself up and curling the resulting free kick which goalkeeper Cristian Avram could only palm into his own goal.

But despite the 20,091 fans who braved the hot and humid weather conditions to jump in delight, Biton’s goal seemed to have had the opposite effect. Maccabi didn’t capitalize on the lead while the visitors enjoyed several good moments which required Nir Bitton to make a double block.

Two minutes after the half hour mark Almog should have doubled the score after he was released by Yonatan Cohen. The winger skipped passed a defender inside the area but with only the keeper to beat somehow managed to miss the target. Within a minute, Eran Zahavi, got into the action only for Avram to pull a stunning save to deny the veteran marksman from opening his account.

A nice combination between Joris van Overeem, Biton and Cohen almost led to a Maccabi’s second in the 39the minute. Biton who found himself unmarked inside the area but sent his shot across the face of goal and wide. Maxim Cozocaru was the first player to be booked by the referee for a foul on van Overeem on the stroke of halftime. While seconds later Daniel Peretz was forced to make his first save equaling the shot Mihail Platica. Before the referee sent both teams to their respective dressing to recover during halftime, Almog saw yellow for a foul on Cojocaru.

Second Half

With no changes after the break Almog and Biton exchanged passes to carve Petrocub’s defense open on 59. But from a comfortable position Almog miscued his shot high over the crossbar. Two minutes later Biton tried catching Avram off guard with a shot from the halfway line which sailed wide. Maccabi continued to dominate with van Overeem, Dor Peretz and Biton snapping at the heels of Petrocub’s players. Right on the hour mark Almog came close once again as he was put through by Biton only for Avram to deny his effort and block the ball for a corner.

In the 62nd minute Maccabi doubled their lead as Zahavi showed once again how lethal he is. Three days after his 36^th birthday, Zahavi picked the ball on the edge of the area, dragged the ball passed one defender and rifled a left foot drive that went in off the post to make it 2-0 and score his 18th Maccabi goal in Europe.

Gabi Kanichowsky came on for Cohen on 65 as Keane made his first change while Dor Turgeman replaced Almog in the 71st minute.

The visitors almost exploited an uncharacteristic mistake by Daniel Peretz as his clearance fell to Platica while he was left stranded outside of the box. But the Petrocub midfielder who had an open goal at his mercy, missed the target from long range. Zahavi came close to double his tally on the night as he rose high to meet Ofir Davidzada’s cross but guided his header wide of the far post on 79.

In the 85^th minute Keane made a triple substitution as Davidzada, Van Overeem and Zahavi all came off and were replaced by Roy Revivo, Eyal Golasa and Djordje Jovanovic.

Inside injury time a spectacular team effort led to Maccabi’s third which was scored by Dor Peretz after a Jovanovic assist. The full time whistle sent the players and staff to celebrate the result as Maccabi now take a three-goal-lead for next week’s return leg in Kishinev.