Maccabi Tel Aviv recorded an important and emotional victory this evening (Tuesday) at Bloomfield Stadium as they beat leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva.

Dor Peretz enjoyed some memorable moments during his time at Maccabi Tel Aviv but the injury time winner he scored at Bloomfield against Hapoel Be’ersheva will go down as one he will never forget. The 30-year-old captain scored the only goal of the game that led Maccabi to victory over the Be’ersheva that kept his side’s championship dreams alive. After the final whistle, Peretz faced the TV cameras and said: “I had the privilege of celebrating an unforgettable moment today. I’ve had a few moments like this at Bloomfield, not many, and this is one I’ll never forget. These feelings and this moment are something very powerful.”

Peretz, who is the most experienced player in the side, and has won a fare share of trophies at Maccabi, is aware his side are back in the title race: “Two weeks ago I stood here and the gap in the table was 10 points. I was asked then whether Maccabi Tel Aviv were out of it and if the race was over.”

Despite the doubts surrounding the team, Peretz made it clear that belief inside the dressing room never wavered: “I believe everything is always open. In the end, our goal is to keep going, one game at a time. That’s our main objective right now.”

Preview

On the back of two victories in their opening Playoff matches, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD29 WINNER League encounter against Hapoel Be’ersheva. After losing the previous three encounters with Be’ersheva this season, the Super Cup in July (1-2), the MD13 league match at Turner (0-1) and the final match of the regular season at Bloomfield (1-3) a fortnight ago – Maccabi will seek their first victory.  

The fact Be’ersheva dropped a two-goal lead to Beitar Jerusalem when both teams met at the weekend, saw Maccabi move within six points from second place and eight from the summit. Ronny Deila, will still face Be’ersheva for the corresponding fixture at Turner on MD35 and then for the State Cup Final at Teddy stadium on May 26th. But if Deila wishes to keep Maccabi’s chances of defending the league title, he must record a first victory over one of the two sides ranked above Maccabi in the table. While Deila will be forced to do so without two of his regular starters Roy Revivo and Tyrese Asante as the two influential full-backs are both serving a one-match touchline ban following the yellow cards they picked during the 3-1 victory away to Maccabi Haifa. Heitor dos Santos was named by Deila as the replacement of Asante on the right while Sagiv Jehezkel was named on the opposite flank at left back. Ali Camara also returned to the side as the Guinean central defender recovered from injury and partnered Raz Shlomo in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika at the heart of defense.

As opposed to the absentees in defense, Deila welcomed back from suspension Dor Peretz as the 30-year-old captain will lead the team out with the captain’s armband. Maccabi’s top goalscorer in the league (13), joins Ido Shahar who trails Peretz by one goal in the league but also scored 15 in all competitions. Issouf Sissokho completes Maccabi’s midfield trio as the 24-year-old Malian slotted into the anchorman role. Emir Sahiti and Helio Varela were named by Deila on the wings with Saied Abu Farchi leading the attack. The 19-year-old who scored a spectacular goal at Haifa will aim to add to his tally of 11 goals in all competitions this season.

On the bench Deila also welcomed Osher Davida back from suspension as the winger will wait for his chance alongside Roi Mishpati, Kervin Andrade, Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy and Itai Ben Hamo.

First Half

Bloomfield stadium was packed to capacity for the top of the table clash as a sea of yellow and blue surrounded 3/4 of the stadium while the visitors had their north section also filled with red fans. Be’ersheva took the early initiative, but it was Maccabi that came close to draw first blood. Dor Peretz slipped the ball for Emir Sahiti who twisted and turned before whipping in a cross for Ido Shahar who couldn’t connect.

The visitors tried playing their game, pressing Maccabi in their own half while Deila’s side looked dangerous going forward. Helio Varela on the left and Emir Sahiti on the right kept causing Be’ersheva’s defenders all sorts of problems with their bursting pace. In the 16th minute a counterattack saw Saied Abu Farchi charge down the left, but his square ball was cleared away by Djibril Diop. Sagiv Jehezkel was the first player to be booked by Sapir Berman and Issouf Sissokho was also shown the yellow card shortly after. Or Blorian was booked at Be’ersheva for a challenge on Peretz on the half hour mark while two minutes later, Abu Farchi almost exploited a mistake in Be’ersheva’s defense. Abu Farchi intercepted a Guy Mizrahi back pass but couldn’t gain full control allowing Niv Eliasi to charge off his line and collect.

Sahiti tried a dipping shot from outside the box which was directed straight at Eliasi. Kings Kangwa almost managed to find an opening but Heitor dos Santos recovered on time and hooked the ball away. Mohamad Abu Rumi curled a left foot shot which crept wide of Ofek Melika’s left post. Mizrahi found Zahi Ahmad unmarked on 38 but his attempt to curl the ball and beat Melika missed the target. While the tempo was frantic none of the teams could find an opening as Berman’s halftime whistle sent the two sets of players to regroup in the dressing rooms and prepare for the second period.

Second Half

No changes were made after the interval as the second half began just like first one. Two minutes after the restart, Berman decided not to caution Jehezkel for a challenge on Mizrahi which could have left Maccabi with 10 men for the rest of the match. Maccabi and Be’ersheva didn’t create any clear chance before the visitors made a triple change on the hour mark as Shai Elias, Abu Rumi and Javon East all made way for Eliel Peretz, Amir Ganah and Igor Zlatanovic. Deila reacted with two changes of his own as Noam Ben Harush and Elad Madmon came on for dos Santos and Abu Farchi four minutes later. Ben Harush stepped into the left side of defense while Jehezkel pushed across to right back. In the 72nd minute Deila made another double change as Jehezkel and Shahar were replaced by Itamar Noy and Osher Davida. Within a minute Madmon burst forward and charged towards the area before unleashing a shot which narrowly missed the top corner. Melika pulled two stunning saves as he first denied Ganah before punching away a Kangwa thunderbolt.

Melika was at full stretch once again on 83 as he turned Ganah’s powerful shot for a corner. Maccabi pressed forward with the support of the fans who could feel Be’ersheva were there for the taking. Eliasi intercepted a Varela cross in the 85th minute before Davida could make contact. Two minutes later Madmon dispossessed Diop and charged towards the box but his initial effort was saved by Eliasi before Noy dragged the rebound wide. Deila added more firepower as he introduced Kervin Andrade for Sissokho on 86 as he tried to grab a late winner. The diminutive Venezuelan midfielder almost had an immediate impact. While Maccabi pressed forward Andrade gained control inside the box before sending a spectacular pass across the face of goal which was missed by Davida. Inside added time Ali Camara was booked a fact which would see him serve a one match suspension against Beitar Jerusalem on Saturday.

In the final minute of stoppage time, with virtually the last kick of the game, the match delivered its most dramatic moment. Sahiti’s pinpoint cross from the right picked out Varela inside the box, and the Cape Verde winger unleashed a powerful effort that Eliasi did well to parry. But Peretz, timing his run to perfection, was quickest to react, pouncing on the rebound and volleying into the empty net to seal the victory. The majority of the 24,069 fans at Bloomfield were on their feet as the stadium erupted into pure euphoria.    

Both teams met each other 138 times of which Maccabi won 65, Be’ersheva won 33 while 40 matches ended in a draw with a total goal tally of 194-119.

Maccabi faced Be’ersheva 26 in 26 Playoff matches, all of which in the Top Playoff. Maccabi won 11 of these encounters, Be’ersheva won 6 while 9 matches ended in draws.

Maccabi hosted Be’ersheva in 9 playoff matches at Bloomfield Stadium and have an unbeaten record winning 5 and drawing 4.

Fifty-one players featured for both clubs as Sagiv Yehezkel previously played for Be’ersheva while Ofir Davidzada, Matan Baltaxa, Eliel Peretz, Guy Mizrahi and Dan Biton previously played for Maccabi.

Throughout history, a total of 334 Maccabi players played against Be’ersheva. Sheran Yeini holds the appearance record against Be’ersheva with 34 matches, while Dor Peretz is second with 29 appearances to his name.

Eighty-seven Maccabi players scored goals against Be’ersheva. Benny Tabak leads the goal scoring charts with 9 goals while Eli Driks and Eran Zahavi share the second place with 8 goals to their name.

Be’ersheva is the opponent that had the most opponents sent off against Maccabi with a total of 25 red cards. Maccabi Haifa is second with 22 players sent off against Maccabi and Hapoel Petah Tikva are third with 20.

The 24-year-old midfielder who joined Maccabi in the summer from Hapoel Haifa, played a key role in inflicting Maccabi Haifa a second defeat in 10 days. Noy, who spent two seasons at Sammy Ofer, stepped into the shoes of suspended captain Dor Peretz, helped Maccabi collect three points but sets his sights on Tuesday’s clash against Be’ersheva: “We need to win there as well, and only then can we talk further. I think we worked very well as a team. We stuck to our way and did exactly what we needed to do. We followed the game plan, remained very focused, and everyone was committed together to achieve the goal.”

On winning without captain Dor Peretz: “Dor is a very important player, our captain, and he doesn’t need many words. But we have a very talented group here. We’re in a good process, and I feel we are improving from game to game. This was a significant step to continue that process and to arrive with confidence for the match against Be’ersheva.”

Responding to the suggestion that the first half was the team’s best of the season, Noy said: “Thank you for the compliments. As I said, we’re going through a process, and I’m glad it looks that way from the outside. We did what was required, and now we move on to the next match. It’s always enjoyable to come to Sammy Ofer, the atmosphere is amazing, and it’s great to win here. Being at Maccabi Tel Aviv is a completely different experience, to win here with Maccabi in such a big match is a great feeling, and I’m very happy about it.”

On the improvement since the defeat to Be’ersheva, Noy added: “We look and feel good. We’re trying to take it game by game. We haven’t beaten Be’ersheva yet this season, and we’re coming into Tuesday’s match with a lot of energy and a desire to show that we are a strong team that belongs at the very top. The burden of proof is on us. Today’s win gave us a lot of confidence and showed good football, now we need to bring that into the next game.”

Ido Shahar scored his 8th league goal and 15th in all competitions this season as Maccabi recorded their 16 victory of the season.

Shahar, a product of Maccabi’s Youth Academy who played at the Under 19 side which is named after Shahar Brickman sent his condolences to the Brickman family following the death of former Maccabi chairman Gideon Brickman who passed away last week. “I would like to send my condolences to the Brickman family on Gideon’s passing. Everyone knows what kind of person he was for Maccabi. I hope we managed to give them a little bit of comfort” Shahar said after the match.

The midfielder who dedicated his goal to Ido Daniel (RIP), a Maccabi fans who died from cancer last month, wore a shirt with his picture, explained: “Ido Daniel was an amazing kid from Kibbutz Kfar Menachem. His family and he were Maccabi fans. I visited them during the shiva and received so much strength and a feeling that’s hard to explain. Even when he didn’t leave the house, the only place he would go to was Bloomfield, and those two hours of escape meant everything to him. I promised the family I would make a small gesture for them.”

On Maccabi’s convincing victory on the night, Shahar said:

“We had a big victory. To be honest, we lifted that cloud over us, that until the start of the playoffs we hadn’t beaten any big team. I’m happy we’re on a good run. We feel good as a team. We’re still in third place, eight points behind, that’s a lot. We need to stay focused and do the job match by match.”

As Maccabi moved within six points from Beitar Jerusalem and eight behind leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva that arrive at Bloomfield on Tuesday, Shahar said: “You should never write off Maccabi, but I understand why people think that way because of the gap. We still have a lot to play for, we want to make the fans happy. There’s a cup final, and in the league we’ll do everything as long as there’s a chance. We hope to make the fans happy again in the match against Be’ersheva on Tuesday.”