Category: First Team
Davida: “We must continue focusing on ourselves”
Osher Davida’s 13th minute goal at the Green stadium in Nof Hagalil took his seasonal tally to three goals in all competitions and set Maccabi on course for a 3-2 victory away to Bnei Reineh. The 23-year-old forward who joined Maccabi in the summer from Standard Liege and scored his second league goal of the season, said at the end of the match: “The first thing I take from here is the three points which are firmly in our pockets. The second thing was our start of the match which was fantastic, we took an early 2-0 lead, played well but then when they scored and went to 2-1 I don’t know what happened, but it made us go back and experience minutes where we were not so good. We scored the third on the brink of halftime to go 3-1 but in the second half made our lives difficult lost concentration and conceded the 3-2. From that stage onwards it was a tough match, very untidy, plenty of fouls with long balls on a difficult pitch. We weren’t as good as we were last week, but at the end of the day, big teams would lose points here and the important thing is that we won this match.”
Davida, whose last goal was in the State Cup away to Hapoel Hadera at the end of January, spoke about his first season at the club: “It took me a while to score this goal, as I didn’t have too many chances, but the goal came from the pressure we did and a mistake by their keeper for which I am grateful. After scoring the goal I experienced a burst of emotions. I am delighted to continue receiving my place in the starting line-up for the past few matches and I simply wish to continue proving to the coach that I deserve to play. I think I am capable of doing a lot more, I can do more and I hope that this goal against Reineh will give me that necessary push forward.”
Peretz: “It’s a super important victory”
Dor Peretz scored his 18th goal in all competitions this season as the 28-year-old midfielder said at the end of the first victory over Bnei Reineh this season: “To win this match was super important, especially now when we reached this stage of the season. It is a super important match as now we can be happy from the result. In terms of our ability, I think the first 20-25 minutes were good but after that we had some good spells yet I am sure we can play better football, more aggressive with more passion. Gladly we came out with the victory which is most important.”
On his personal numbers this season, Peretz said: “This is something which is evident on the pitch, but I am happy to reach quite a few chances. Robbie gives me a lot of credit to play in a position I am used to. I am delighted with this but we are not at the stage of summing things up just yet. We will wait for that until the end of the season.”
Ahead of the season run-in which leaves Maccabi with five matches to play, Peretz said: “On my side we will do everything and continue in the same way that got us here so far. We will focus on ourselves as this is the only way for us.”
Keane: “We needed to show character which is what we did”
MACCABI BEAT REINEH 3-2
Preview
Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to the Green stadium at Nof Hagalil, the stadium they were held to a 2-2 by this season’s surprise package Bnei Reineh on a cold night in January. This time round, with the Passover holiday and temperatures well into the 20’s – Maccabi had a strong following of around 3,500 fans for the Saturday early kick off.
Robbie Keane, whose side has a comfortable seven-point-lead at the top of the table ahead of second place Maccabi Haifa, will aim to record a victory against the side it couldn’t beat on two occasions this season. Having served his one-match touchline-ban against Hapoel Haifa last week, Eran Zahavi was back in the side as the veteran marksman led Maccabi’s attack in what was Keane’s only change.
Roy Mishpati kept his place in goal just behind an unchanged defensive line that had Enric Saborit and Raz Shlomo as the two central defenders.
Roy Revivo on the right and Ofir Davidzada on the left completed Maccabi’s back-four. Eden Karzev named by Keane in the anchorman role with Gabi Kanikowsky who scored his 9th goal and added his 10th assist in last week’s 4-0 victory at Bloomfield, was also named in midfield. Dor Perez who scored his 17th in all competitions last week completed Maccabi’s strong midfield trio.
Felicio Milson, whose goal tally reached 7 last week, was named by Keane on one flank with Osher Davida supplying the width on the other. Upfront, Zahavi will try and add to his 35 goals in all competitions against a side he couldn’t find the back of the net in two attempts.
On the bench, Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishai Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Dan Biton, Yonas Malede, Eyal Golasa, Matan Baltaxa and Ido Shahar.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot pinging Bnei Reineh in their own half. Ten minutes from the start Reineh’s coach, Sharon Mimer, was forced to make his first change after Eyad Hutba landed awkwardly on his shoulder, limped off and was replaced by Ashraf Rabbah. In the absence of their influential captain, the hosts looked vulnerable in defense and were punished almost instantly. Osher Davida exploited a mix-up between Gad Amos and his defense as he took the ball around the keeper to give Maccabi an early 13th minute lead.
In the 22nd minute a spectacular team effort saw Maccabi double their lead as Dor Peretz, Gabi Kanichowsky and Eran Zahavi exchanged flicks on the edge of the area before Zahavi slipped the ball to Kanichowsky. With only the keeper to beat, the diminutive midfielder swept the ball home to double Maccabi’s lead and take his tally to 10 goals in all competitions this season. Three minutes later Reineh showed why they are in the top playoff as Keys Ghanem managed to latch on a ball Roy Mishpati spilled, before teeing up Mohamad Osman who blasted home to cut the deficit.
On the stroke of halftime as the fourth official signaled four minutes of added time, Maccabi restored their two-goal lead at the end of another spectacular team effort. Felicio Milson picked the ball down the left flank and squared to Kanichowsky who teed-up Peretz. The 28-year-old sent a low powerful drive that beat Amos to find the bottom corner and make it 3-1 with his 18th goal of the season.
Second Half
The second half began with Maccabi looking composed while Reineh looked dangerous on the counter-attack. In the 54th minute however, Keys Ghanem took advantage of a mistake by Raz Shlomo as he charged into the box. Despite pressure from Enric Saborit and Mishpati charging off his line to try narrow the angle, Ghanem calmly clipped the ball past the keeper to cut the deficit. With the score at 3-2 and in-order to try and stabilize his defense, Keane, reacted instantly as he replaced Shlomo with Idan Nachmias.
In the 75th minute Keane added a fresh pair of legs as he made his second change with Dor Turgeman coming on for Zahavi. Three minutes later Maccabi’s defense struggled to clear a corner before Mishpati needed a double save to catch Noaf Bazea’s powerful shot from the edge of the area.
In the 83rd minute Peretz rose high to head a corner which was caught by Amos on his line while at the opposite end a minute later Bazea rattled the base of Mishpati’s post with a fierce half volley. Keane made two more changes as Avishai Cohen replaced Davida while Eyal Golasa came on for Eden Karzev.
Turgeman could have put the game to bed on 88 after Kanichowsky stole the ball from Reineh’s defense and released the young forward. But with only the keeper to beat, Turgeman rushed his shot and fired the ball high and wide. Seve minutes were added to the regular time, but Maccabi managed to hang on and celebrate the precious three points which increased the gap at the top to 10. Now attention will turn to Bnei Sakhnin as Maccabi continue their journeys with the second of three away trips in succession at Doha next Monday.
Yavruyan, Shivhon, Zahavi: 5 goals at Green stadium
Watch: Keane ahead of Bnei Reineh
Good deeds in Yellow: food packaging for passover
Legendary goalkeeper Haim Levin dies at 87
Maccabi Tel Aviv FC are today deeply saddened by the death of Haim Levin one of the greatest goalkeepers in the club’s and Israel’s history. Levin was Maccabi’s goalkeeper for nine seasons during the 60’s and was regarded as one of the best in Israel’s footballing history.
After short spells at Hapoel Petah Tikva, Hapoel Hadera, Hapoel Kfar Sava and Maccabi Haifa, Levin, joined Maccabi in the summer of 1960.
Levin faced a battle to fill the gloves of another former legend, Avraham Bendori, but in his third season at the club made the number jersey his own.
In the 1963/64 season, Levin won his first title at Maccabi winning the State Cup after a victory in the replayed final against Hapoel Haifa. The following season, Levin helped Maccabi win the State Cup once again with a fine display in the 2-1 victory over Bnei Yehuda. Levin added another Cup to his trophy cabinet in the 1966/67 season before playing his part in Maccabi’s 11th championship in the club’s history.
In 1969, Levin kept a clean sheet for 120 minutes against South Korean side Yangzee FC in the Final of the Asian Champion Club Tournament which was held in Bangkok, Thailand. Dror Bar Nur’s winning goal helped Maccabi and Levin win a first international trophy.
Internationally, Levin, won 22 caps for Israel and was the first-choice goalkeeper during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico.
“Zahavi told me – ‘Go do what you know'”
Dor Turgeman scored his 8th league goal against Hapoel Haifa and 11th in all competitions this season as the forward helped Maccabi to a 4-0 victory at Bloomfield. Turgeman, who stood in for the suspended Eran Zahavi said at the end of the game: “We are delighted with the three points and are already looking at the next game. The goal was important but the clean sheet we kept is just as important for us” Turgeman said.
“I am delighted with the chance I received and I am happy that I managed to score” he said, “Eran and I speak a lot and I am earning loads from him. Before the game he told me: ‘Go do what you know and I am happy it happened.”
Turgeman, who made his 45th appearance for Maccabi in all competitions this season, said of the competition for places: “Obviously I’d like to play more and be on the pitch all the time, but the coach ultimately decides. Every time I will get a chance I will always give everything on the pitch and I am happy it worked today.”
