Eran Zahavi whose penalty in the dying seconds of the first half completed Maccabi’s comeback on the way to a 2-1 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem at Bloomfield, said at the end of the game: “Before heading for the Semi Final of the Cup it was important record a victory” Zahavi said, “Our form wasn’t the best but we played matches before when we played amazing but didn’t take the three points – this time it was the other way round. We didn’t play poorly, we could have scored another two or three more goals in the first half and make our lives easier.”

The 35-year-old who scored his 20th league goal and 26th in all competitions added: “One should know how to kill off matches like that and then rest with the ball. We are struggling to do so and then continue doing things at a more simple and lighter energy. I hope we could manage to improve that.”

Zahavi, who played upfront alongside Dor Turgeman, said of the young striking partner: “He had a good game, he ran a lot, worked very hard and created some good chances, played well with the ball and well without it. Dor still has plenty to improve but he has an amazing potential. If he keeps on working hard I am convinced he could help us in the future.”

Ahead of Wednesday’s State Cup Semi Final against Beitar Jerusalem at Sammy Ofer stadium, Zahavi said: “Every title is important for Maccabi Tel Aviv. We are out of the (league) title race so the State Cup is the only trophy we are left to fight for. We really want it and will do everything to try and win. But we have no intentions to look too far ahead, as our sights or on Wednesday, which will have a totally different atmosphere than what we had here tonight. Wednesday will be a completely different story.”

 

Preview

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD33 ONE ZERO League match against Hapoel Jerusalem aiming to return to winning ways following the two draws against Ashdod and Maccabi Netanya.

Ziv Ariye’s surprise package are ranked fourth in the table, 19 points adrift of Maccabi and were also the last side to inflict Aitor Karanka a defeat on MD25 earlier last month.

The suspension of Dan Glazer who is serving a one-match touchline ban, and Djordje Jovanovic nursing an injury, forced Maccabi’s coach Aitor Karanka to make several changes from last week’s side which was held to a 0-0 draw at Netanya.

Ofir Davidzada returned from suspension to the left side of defence with Andre Geraldes returning to his original role at right-back. Enric Saborit and Derrick Luckassen both lined-up as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper, Daniel Peretz, to complete Maccabi’s back four.

Eyal Golasa stepped into the midfield engine room alongside Dor Peretz with Gabi Kanichowsky and Parfait Guiagon supplying the width on the right and left respectively. Upfront, Eran Zahavi led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the injury to Jovanovic saw him partnered with 19-year-old Dor who is still seeking his debut league goal.

On the bench alongside goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Karanka named Dan Biton, Joris van Overeem, Sheran Yeini, Yonatan Cohen, Eylon Almog, Maor Kandil, Shahar Piven and Matan Hozez.

First Half

Less than two minutes after the start Maccabi found themselves trailing to an early goal following an Enric Saborit mistake which saw Cedric Don intercept a back pass towards Daniel Peretz and slot the ball past the advancing keeper.
Maccabi came close to level the score almost instantly as Turgeman released Andre Geraldes down the right flank before his cut-back found Parfait Guiagon in the middle of the area. The Ivorian’s initial shot was initially blocked by Omer Agbadish before his second attempt was saved by goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo allowing his defence to clear.

The dual between Guiagon and Adeleye continued in the 10^th minute as well, this time Jerusalem’s Nigerian keeper pushed out the Ivorian’s dangerous shot from outside the area.    

Maccabi continued looking dangerous down the right as Geraldes kept on tearing down the left side of the visitors’ defence in the 13^th minute with another square ball reaching Turgeman who failed to connect.

A Maccabi counter attack in the 17^th minute saw Guiagon carve Jerusalem’s defence open to release Eran Zahavi but the veteran forward sent his shot wide.

Two minutes later, Maccabi’s pressure on Jerusalem’s defenders forced an error as an attempt of a clearance fell to Gabi Kanichowsky on the edge of the area. Kanichowsky slid the ball to Zahavi whose back-heal teed-up Turgeman only for the youngster to be denied by the crossbar.

Maccabi’s blitz on Jerusalem’s goal finally paid off in the 21^st minute as Ondre Baco’s clearance was intercepted by Kanichowsky near the corner of the box before a square ball to Guiagon was then sent into the top corner with a clinical finish.

Maccabi continued to attack down the channels with Geraldes causing Jerusalem all sorts of problems down the right. The Portuguese right-back who had an attempt of a cross blocked by Jorsdan Botaka before his header from the touchline found Turgeman whose close range header was caught by Adebayo. Turgeman was at it again right on the half hour mark as his shot on the turn from the edge of the area narrowly missed the target.

On the stroke of halftime Maccabi were awarded a penalty after Saborit managed to redeem his earlier mistake as his header struck the hand of Baco inside the area. Zahavi stepped up and successfully fired the spot kick to complete the comeback with his 20^th league goal of the season.

Second Half

Aitor Karanka made no changes to personnel after the break, while his counterpart Ziv Ariye made a double change at the restart, introducing two of Maccabi’s loannees – Nadav Niddam and Roy Revivo for Noaf Bazea and Ofek Biton.

Turgeman’s persistence and good work down the left flank on 53 released Ofir Davidzada for a close range shot which was pushed for a corner by Adebayo. Derrick Luckassen came close as he headed the resulting corner over the crossbar.

Karanka made his first change in the 58th minute with Eyal Golasa and Kanichowsky both bowing out and replaced by Joris van Overeem and Dan Biton. Guiagon came off to a standing ovation by the majority of the 11,743 fans as he was replaced by Matan Hozez in the 70^th minute.

Van Overeem went into the referee’s book for a mistimed tackle on Don a minute later. While a misunderstanding between Dor Peretz and Geraldes in the 85^th minute left Revivo inside the area with only Daniel Peretz to beat. But Revivo who has yet to score a goal at senior level, rushed his shot allowing the keeper to recover and deny the young left-back from scoring a late equaliser against his own club.

Karanka made another double change in the 89th minute as Saborit and Turgeman were replaced by Shahar Piven and Eylon Almog for the closing stages. Almog’s instant impact almost led to the third as his good work on the edge of the area saw Biton send a square ball but Hozez failed to reach the ball which rolled across the face of goal.

The full time whistle confirmed Maccabi’s victory over one Jerusalem side as the team now sets its sights on Wednesday’s State Cup Semi Final against Beitar Jerusalem.

Maccabi hosts fourth placed Hapoel Jerusalem on MD33 of the ONE ZERO League as shortly before the encounter at Bloomfield (20:00) Eyal Golasa faced the media and spoke ahead of the match.

On Jerusalem, which suffered only a single defeat in their last four matches of the Playoff of which they beat Ashdod, Maccabi Netanya and Maccabi Haifa before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Hapoel Be’ersheva last week, Eyal Golasa said: “They are a side which plays very good football and one can see that in every game they play. We prepare for them accordingly and know it will not be an easy task. We played them in the last month and we will come to do everything we can in order to take all three points. We know what we need to improve in our game and know how we are supposed to play against them. Hopefully, we will manage to do so.”

Despite Maccabi maintaining an unbeaten record in the Playoffs, failure to record a victory in the last two matches led Golasa to say: “This is not the results we wished to have ahead of this game but we are putting this aside, working hard in training and know we have an extremely tough match on Saturday.”

When asked about the lack of goals from players other than Eran Zahavi (19) and Djordje Jovanovic (15), Golasa, who scored 3 league goals just like Enric Saborit, Parfait Guiagon and Gabi Kanichowsky, replied: “In my eyes it is a combination of things. We are working on this in training, finishing in front of goal and other things which could help us at matches and I hope that it could be seen on the pitch. We are feeling relaxed, with no pressure and working well, preparing properly with a good vibe so it should be seen.”

In his 7th season at Maccabi, the 31-year-old midfielder who made 23 league appearances this season and 30 in all competitions, added: “I am a player who is used to play in almost every match, but this is the reality at Maccabi – we have an excellent squad of players and one has to live with that. My role is to work hard and to be always be ready when called upon.”

Golasa, whose contract runs out in the summer and was asked about his future, dismissed any claims that the matter is concerning him: “I wouldn’t like to talk about next season as it is irrelevant. I would like to play for as many games as possible, to prove myself and help the team. We will do a summary at the end of the season and see what happens next.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem faced each other in the league 75 times of which Maccabi won 46, lost 17 while 12 other encounters ended in a draw. The total goal tally between the two sides is 137 goals scored and 69 conceded.

In terms of home matches, Maccabi hosted the Jerusalem side on 37 occasions winning 23 losing 6 and drawing 8 with a goal tally of 71-33.

Both teams faced each other in the Playoffs only twice in the past. Jecki Zarfat and Avi Pitusi scored the goals which awarded Maccabi to a 2-1 victory in the 1988/89 season which had only single Playoff round and was the last time Maccabi played in the bottom Playoff. The second Playoff encounter took place earlier this season as Djordje Jovanovic and Eran Zahavi were on target on the way to a 2-0 victory at eddy stadium.

Maccabi recorded their highest victory over Hapoel Jerusalem (8-1) on MD6 of the 1991/92 season. Eli Driks (3), Meir Melika (2), Avi Nimni, Avi Cohen (Jerusalem) and an own goal by Yigal Menachem scored Maccabi’s goals.

Of the 213 players who featured for Maccabi against Hapoel Jerusalem over the years, Miko Belo, made the most league appearances in that fixture featuring in 32 encounters.

Of the 54 Maccabi players who scored against Hapoel Jerusalem, Giora Spiegel and Avi Nimni, scored 10 goals each to lead the scorers chart in that fixture.

Thirteen players featured for both clubs in the top flight over the years: Liran Strauber, Haim Levin, Ruslan Barsky, Dan Roman, Ran Dzilovsky, Micky Ben Shitrit, Ntzah Masubi, Shaul Cohen, Rafi Cohen (GK), Yehoshua Denishevsky, Dor Jan and Eduardo Gurerro. Maccabi’s on loan midfielder Nadav Niddam completes the list while Roy Revivo who also joined the Jerusalem side on loan in January, has yet to feature for Maccabi in the league.

Maccabi’s official podcast brings you another new and particularly fascinating episode which is all Eran Zahavi. Number 7 arrived at the studio and sat down for a chat which lasted more than an hour with Lior Timor returned to some of the stories behind his career.

Zahavi recalls, amongst other things, some of his important moments at Maccabi, gives a behind the scenes insight to the significant negotiations in his life, speaks about the two coaches who played a key role in the upgrade to his Maccabi career, and reveals what went into his head during that derby which never ended. If you had any doubts – this is an episode you can’t afford to miss.

You are welcome to watch the episode here on the App or listen to it On: Spotify or Google Podcasts in the links here below: