Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Bloomfield stadium knowing that anything besides a shocking upset would deny them a seventh appearance in a European group stage, as they host Shakhter Karagandy of Kazakhstan for the Conference League Playoff return leg. The 2-1 victory in last week’s first leg in Kazakhstan has but all secured Maccabi’s passage into the inaugural Conference League group stage. Patrick van Leeuwen included his two new signings Stipe Perica and Dan Biton in his squad yet kept the duo on the bench alongside Daniel Tenenbaum who returned to the squad after recovering from a back injury and COVID.

With Daniel Peretz in goal, van Leeuwen didn’t make a single change from the side that played in Kazakhstan as Idan Nachmias partnered Louis Hernandez at the heart of defence and together with Andre Geraldes and Enric Saborit, completed the back four.
The midfield trio remained unchanged as Sheran Yeini led the team out with the captain’s armband as he lined-up alongside Dan Glazer and Avi Rikan who scored the equaliser at the Astana Arena. Upfront, Eduardo Guerrero, Tal Ben Chaim and Osama Khalaila all kept their places to lead the attack in a bid to guide Maccabi to a seventh appearance in a European group stages in 10 years.

First Half

Maccabi began the match at Bloomfield in the same way in which they played the first leg in Kazakhstan – dominating the play in an attempt to break through Shakhter’s bolstered defence. In the 12th minute they seemed to have done so as Tal Ben Chaim released Enric Saborit into the area. The Spanish left back charged forward before trying to lift the ball over Igor Shatskiy only to see it land on the roof of the net. Eduardo Guerrero had his claims for a penalty waved by referee Nikola Dabanovic after being tripped in the area by a Shakhter defender. But in the 18th minut the deadlock was finally broken as Idan Nachmias rose high to head Ben Chaim’s pinpoint corner past Shatskiy for his debut Maccabi goal.

Avi Rikan tested Shatskiy with a powerful drive from the edge of the area which the visiting keeper could only punch out on 24.

Maccabi tried attacking Shakhter from the wings as Ben Chaim’s crosses from the left caused the visitors all sorts of problems. In the 40th minute a Ben Chaim cross that was punched by Shatskiy fell to Dan Glazer whose half-volley from the edge of the area beat the keeper to double the score.

Second Half

Right on the hour mark van Leeuwen made a triple change as Matan Hozez replaced Ben Chaim, Sheran Yeini bowed out and was replaced by Eden Shamir, while Osama Khalaila came off allowing Stipe Perica to make a 30-minute debut.

Two minutes later, Nachmias needed treatment and was replaced by Matan Baltaxa at the heart of defence. Dan Biton became Maccabi’s fifth substitute in the night as he made his renewed debut at Maccabi replacing Guerrero on 78.

Daniel Peretz was forced to stretch himself for the first time to push out a Yeskendir Kybyaray header following an Edin Rustemovic cross on 83. A minute later, Biton raced three quarters of the length of the pitch before teeing up Rikan whose shot went wide.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Shakhter Karagandy at Bloomfield (20:30) leading by 2-1 from last week’s first leg in Kazakhstan and aiming to complete the task by qualifying to the Conference League group stages. Maccabi’s midfielder, Dan Glazer, spoke at the pre-match press conference about the preparations for the game: “We have a good result from last weeke’s first leg as we managed to bring the decider back to Bloomfield”.

The 24-year-old still has a vivid memory of the second half two-minute comeback at the Astana Arena: “It was proven here last season and in the previous years that this is a team that has a very strong character. The goal we conceded woke us up and reminded us we need to always remain focused. At this stage of the competition one has to get the results in addition to improving our form. We will show better ability in the future – I have no doubt about it.

With growing numbers of people in Israel being infected in COVID and the threat of football being played behind closed doors, Glazer added: “Let me use the opportunity to ask the fans to be responsible and follow the instructions of the Health Ministry. Once in the stadium, wear a mask at all times. The last match I sat in the stands, it was not comfortable or pleasant but still – let us make sure that fans remain in the stadium so we don’t go back to the dark age of matches behind closed doors”.

“It was very exciting to wear the captain’s armband on the night. It was of great importance for me. There are several captains here ahead of me, but with the situation we had today I was privileged to have done so. As a young player who grew up at the club from the age of 6, to wear the captain’s armband in front of our home fans at Bloomfield was very emotional for me and a day I will cherish for as long as I live”.

Pregame

Three days after the Conference League Playoff first leg against Shakhter Karagandy in Kazakhstan, and four days before the return leg at Bloomfield that would decide who qualifies and enters the group stage draw – Maccabi Tel Aviv lined-up to face Hapoel Jerusalem for a Toto Cup match.

Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen rested a lot of his first team players giving a chance for some of the younger members of the squad, as well as several youth team players a chance to impress on the big stage.

Andreas Gianniotis, whose last appearance for Maccabi was in July 2020 on the final day of the 2019/20 season, returned to goal. Matan Baltaxa and Idan Nachmias were named as the two central defenders in front of Giannniotis while Guy Mizrahi was handed his senior debut at right-back and Ofir Davidzada completed the back-four on left side of defence.

Eden Shamir, who made a substitute debut appearance and celebrated it with a goal away to Karagandy on Thursday, was handed his home debut at Bloomfield. Eden Kartzev and Ido Shahar completed the midfield engine room while Ronen Hanzis, was also handed a debut a start on one of the wings. Matan Hozez, led the team out with the captain’s armband while Eylon Almog led the line from the striker’s role.

Sheran Yeini, Osama Khalaila and goalkeeper Or Yitzhak together with Dor Turgeman and Bar Cohen were the first team players named on the pitch as well as Oscar Gloukh, Bar Lin, Roy Revivo and Ofek Sasson from the youth team who completed the list of substitutes.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot with pressure on the newly promoted side as an Ido Shahar shot was blocked by a Jerusalem defender in the 6th minute. Five minutes later Eylon Almog created himself the time and space to take a shot from the edge of the area which was blocked off for a corner.

In the 18th minute, Ronen Hanzis dribbled past two defenders on the edge of the box and released a shot that forced Adebayo Adeleye to push the ball around the post. The resulting corner, saw Shahar force another save from Adelye after another powerful right foot shot before the diminutive midfielder sent a chip that was headed by Idan Nachmias onto the roof of the net.

Maccabi continued dominating the play while Jerusalem sat back and tried to hit on the counter attack. In the 33rd minute and against the run of play, Idan Shemesh blasted a powerful shot which rocketed high over the framework and into the tribune. A misplaced Guy Mizrahi pass on 39 left Andreas Gianniotos in no man’s land and allowed Jerusalem’s Hamed Sholaja to break forward before Cletus Nombil sent the cut-back over the bar.

Second Half

While Patrick van Leeuwem didn’t make any changes after the interval, his Jerusalem counterpart, Ziv Ariye, made three substitutes. Three minutes later however, the deadlock was finally broken as Hanzis celebrated his debut start with a goal. Almog carved Jerusalem’s defence open as he cut into the area and forced Adelye to charge out of his goal and dive at his feet. But the keeper’s initial save fell to Hanzis who side-footed the ball into the open goal.

In the 53rd minute Idan Nachmias was penalised for a foul on the edge of area, before Shemesh rattled Gianniotis’ crossbar from the resulting free kick. Right on the hour mark Van Leeuwen made a double change as Bar Cohen replaced Eden Shamir and Oscar Gloukh was handed his senior debut as he came in for Hozez.

Three minutes later however, Gianniotis was forced to a last gasp save with his feet to deny Guy Hadida who broke free through the middle. Van Leeuwen made another double change in the 70th minute as Dor Turgeman replaced Hanzis and Ofek Sasson received his senior debut coming on for Nachmias.

A minute later, the visitors were awarded a penalty after Ido Shahar fouled a Jerusalem player in the area. Hadida sent Gianniotis the wrong way to level the score at 1-1.

Roy Revivo received his senior debut for the final 11 minutes as he replaced Almog in the 79th minute. Guy Mizrahi tried testing Adeleye with a powerful low drive from the corner of the area but Jerusalem’s keeper took a dive to his left and caught the ball with two attempts.

With no goals scored and despite four minutes of added time, Nael Oudah’s full-time whistle sent both teams to settle the tie with sudden death penalties.

Jerusalem took the first penalty and beat Andreas Gianniotis with every spot kick, a fact which left Maccabi’s players to chase and score each penalty in order to stay alive. Matan Baltaxa, Ido Shahar, Ofir Davidzada, Dor Turgeman and Bar Cohen all scored, but as Yurai Maliach scored the sixth spot-kick, Adebayo Adeleye saved Oscar Gloukh’s effort to deny the youngster and turn what could have been a dream senior debut to end in tears.