“This was my senior debut start at the biggest club in Israel. The defeat stings a bit but I hope I did my bit in the best possible way” Hanzis said. “It is possibly the best feeling of my football career. A goal for the senior side which is something I dreamed of from a young age, at the club I supported as a kid and I hope there will be many goals in the future”.

This is the 37^th season the Toto Cup is played since being introduced in the 1984/85 season. Only Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem competed in the Toto Cup in all of the 37 seasons.

Thirteen clubs won the Toto Cup with Maccabi lifting the trophy a record seven times: 1993, 1999, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2021.

Maccabi’s total record in 231 Toto Cup matches over the years shows: 127 victories, 65 defeats and 39 draws with goal tally of 420-247.

The success rate of 60.6% Maccabi recorded over the years is the highest amongst the top flight clubs. Maccabi Haifa are second with 59.2%.

The highest victory Maccabi recorded in the Toto Cup is 8-1 over Ironi Rishon Lezion in the Group stages of the 1998/99 season.

Sheran Yeini is Maccabi’s record appearance holder in the Toto Cup with 59.

Avi Nimni is Maccabi’s Toto Cup leading scorer with 25 goals.

Maccabi met 26 opponents in the Toto Cup over the years. Against Hapoel Jerusalem, Maccabi has a 25% success rate with a solitary victory and 3 defeats.

All the Toto Cup encounters against Hapoel Jerusalem took place in the Group stages of the 1987/88 and 1990/91 seasons.

 

On the way he blended in with the rest of the team: “To be honest I received an amazing welcome. The guys welcomed me in an amazing manner, there are some guys whom I have known from before, but all embraced me, gave me a big hug and welcomed me into the team. This is just great”.

Avi Rikan, who scored Maccabi’s equaliser to cancel Shakhter’s early lead, added: “On a personal note I began the season late as I was suffering from a back injury as almost everyone knows. I was struggling physically to get into the right shape the team requires. I am delighted that today all the hard work paid off with the goal I scored and even happier with the goal Eden (Shamir) scored. We are a massive club that always aspires to participate in European competitions an I hope that today we did an important step towards our target. This is only the first leg, as next week we have another tough match against them in our stadium and with our climate. I hope we manage to do it until the end”.

Pregame

On the day Maccabi Tel Aviv made their European debut against FC Valetta back in 1992, and the class of 2015 played the first leg of their Champions League Playoff away to FC Basel which resulted in a famous dramatic 2-2 draw, the current class of 2021/22 were getting ready to play the first leg of their Conference League Playoff.

Kazakhstan outfit Shakhter Karagandy, who knocked out Romanian side Steaua Bucharest and Kolos of the Ukraine in the previous rounds, both in a penalty shoot-out, separate between Patrick van Leeuwen’s side and an appearance in the Conference League group stage. Van Leeuwen, who is more than familiar with football in Kazakhstan having worked for Kairat Almaty prior to him joining Maccabi in 2017, made two changes from the side that advanced past Spartak Trnava in the 3rd qualifying round.

Idan Nachmias stepped in for Matan Baltaxa as the partner of Louis Hernandez at the heart of defence with Enric Saborit on the left and Andre Geraldes on the right completing the back four.

Sheran Yeini, the only survivor of the Maccabi team that 11 years ago played French giants P.S.G the Europa League Playoff, led the line with the captain’s armband as the midfield trio of Yeini, Dan Glazer and Avi Rikan remained unchanged. Upfront, van Leeuwen made another change as Eduardo Guerrero was named in the starting line-up while Matan Hozez waited for his chance on the bench alongside new signing Eden Shamir. Tal Ben Chaim as the second winger and Osama Khalaila as the striker upfront completed Maccabi’s strike force.

First Half

Maccabi began the match in what could have been a perfect manner as Osama Khaliala came close to score in the opening minute as he headed an Andre Geraldes cross goal-bound. But the 23-year-old striker was denied by Sahkhter’s goalkeeper Igor Shatskiy who pushed the ball over the crossbar.

The hosts, playing on Astana’s artificial pitch, tried testing Daniel Peretz with a couple of long range efforts which were easily collected by the Maccabi keeper. In the 12th minute, a Sheran Yeini pinpoint chip carved Shakhter’s defence open and left Eduardo Guerrero right in front of goal. But with only Trofimets to beat, the Panamanian forward lifted the ball over the advancing keeper but saw his effort clear the crossbar as well.

Maccabi kept on pushing forward as Khaliala had an effort blocked by Andrei Buivolov on the edge of the penalty area in the 22nd minute. Maccabi dominated the rest of the half and enjoyed most of the possession, but time after time couldn’t break through Shakhter’s defence that proved why they conceded only two goals in their previous four European matches. Srdjan Jovanovic didn’t add a single second as the Serbian referee blew the halftime whistle exactly after 45 minutes to send both teams into the dressing room to cool down.

Second Half

In the opening minute of the second half, Dan Glazer, became the first player to enter Jovanivoc’s book as the combative midfielder was penalised for a foul on Aydos Tattybaev. On 52 Enric Saborit teed-up Avi Rikan on the edge of the area, but the midfielder’s low drive was pushed by Shatskiy around the post. From the resulting corner, an exchange of passes between Saborit and Tal Ben Chaim resulted with a cross which was making it’s way in from an Idan Nachmias header. But just like start of of the first half, Shatskiy stretched himself to push the ball over the crossbar and the central defender a goal on his European debut start.

Van Leeuwen made a double change in the 65th minute as Matan Hozez replaced Ben Chaim and Eden Shamir made his debut appearance for Maccabi replacing Yeini.

In the 73rd minute however, Idris Umaev who was introduced only a minute earlier for Tattybaev headed in Yeskendir Kybrayev cross which eluded Louis Hernandez to beat Peretz and put Shakhter in front.

Maccabi’s reply was fast and furious as within a minute Shamir sent Hozez in before the winger’s cut-back was slotted home by Avi Rikan to restore parity on 75. Two minutes later, Maccabi completed the comeback as a Hernandez long throw was flicked by Khalaila before Shamir sent a header which went in off the post to make it 2-1 and celebrate a goal on his debut.

In the 87th Eylon Almog and Ido Shahar replaced Khalaila and Guerrero who both worked tirelessly throughout the match. Two minutes later, Almog was pushed 25 meters away from Shakhter’s goal, but wasted the free kick which he blasted high over the crossbar.

Israel’s Playoff appearance record holder

Of the 13 seasons since the penultimate round has been named by UEFA as the final stage before the group phase, this is the 10^th time since 2009/10 season Maccabi reaches the Playoffs.

Maccabi is the record appearance holder at this stage, as Hapoel Be’ersheva and Maccabi Haifa will compete for the fourth time to level to match Hapoel Tel Aviv’s number of Playoff appearances.  

Maccabi Tel Aviv successfully advanced past the Champions League Playoff on the way to the group phase: FC Basel (2015/16) and four times to reach the Europa League group stages: Panathinaikos (2011/12), Hajduk Split (2016/17) Altach (2017/18) as well as Metalist Kharkiv (2013/14) at a tie which didn’t take place as the Ukrainians were disqualified.

Yeini’s record

Sheran Yeini played in Maccabi’s first Playoff match away to Paris Saint Germain (2-0 defeat in Paris) which took place exactly 11 years ago on August 19^th 2010. The same date Maccabi will face Shakhter Karagandy for the first leg in Astana.

Over the years, the veteran skipper played in no less than 11 European playoff matches with Maccabi.

Fourteen different Maccabi players scored in the Playoff stage, with Eliran Atar leading the list having scored 5 goals.

Maccabi’s record against teams from Kazakhstan

The tie against Shakhter Karagandy will Maccabi’s third encounter against teams from Kazakhstan.

In the 2016/17 campaign Maccabi knocked Kairat Almaty in a Europa League qualifier. Yossi Benayoun scored a late equaliser on the way to a 1-1 draw in Kazakhstan while Tal Ben Chaim and Gal Alberman scored a goal each as Maccabi won the return leg 2-1 in Netanya to advance to the 3^rd qualifying round.

Maccabi played Astana in the Europa League group stages of the 2017/18 campaign, losing twice (4-0 in Kazakhstan and 1-0 in Netanya).

Overall, 19 matches took place between teams from Kazakshtan and Israel as the record favours teams from Israel who won 8, drawn 6 and lost 5.

On this day: the 2-2 draw against Basel and the European debut

August 19^th returns us to two landmark dates in Maccabi’s history:

19.08.1992 Maccabi Tel Aviv made their debut appearance in European competitions recording a 2-1 victory over Malta’s FC  Valletta (Goals from Avi Cohen (Jerusalem) and Avi Nimni).

19.08.2015 Maccabi recorded the memorable 2-2 draw against Basel in Switzerland with Eran Zahavi completing a brace in the 96^th minute of the first leg to pave the way into the Champions League group stages.  

The veteran captain was asked whether the time difference between Israel and Kazakhstan should have an effect: “I don;t think it is a real problem, as it is only three hours. The only problem might be to speak to my children as I we have training sessions and would like to speak with them, but that is ok. It shouldn’t be a problem”.

The team from Kazakhstan, will host the match without fans due to the pandemic: “Every team needs the support of their fans. It might be an advantage for us, but still we have to play on an artificial pitch, which we will have to adjust to very quickly”