Category: First Team
MACCABI BEATS ASHDOD 2-1 TO KEEP TITLE RACE ALIVE
Pre Match
Knowing that the fate of the title-race is no longer in Maccabi’s hands and with a four-point-gap from the summit before the match, Patrick van Leeuwen made several changes from the side that beat Petah Tikva 3-0.
With several players one booking short of a one-match-suspension, van Leeuwen made three changes to his defensive line as Andre Geraldes, Enric Saborit and Louis Hernandez lined-up alongside Matan Baltaxa in defense.
Sheran Yeini, who served his one-match-touchline-ban against Petah Tikva, returned to the side together with Eden Karzev as the duo joined Dor Peretz as the midfield trio. Dan Biton, who made a second half substitute appearance and set up Maccabi’s second goal, was named on the wing alongside Tal Ben Chaim. Etey Shechter led the attack aiming to continue his run of three goals from the last two matches.
First Half
Maccabi could have enjoyed perfect start in the opening minute as Tal Ben Chaim was sent into the area by Enric Saborit before he was brought down by an Ashdod defender. But Maccabi’s claims for a penalty were waved by referee Yigal Freed. Two minutes later Ben Chaim was brought down on the edge of the area before Dan Biton wasted the chance as he sent the free kick over Roi Mishpati’s crossbar.
Dor Peretz caught Ashdod’s defense napping on 17 as he won the ball deep inside the home side’s half before teeing-up Etey Shechter whose shot crept to the wrong side of the post.
In the 28th minute Andre Geraldes exchanged passes with Sheran Yeini to create the time and space before whipping-in a cross but as the dangerous ball failed to find a Maccabi player it fell to Eden Karzev who couldn’t direct his volley on target.
Zohar Zasano became the first player to go into Freed’s book for a foul on Shechter two minutes after the half hour mark. Biton floated-in the resulting free kick which was headed over by Louis Hernandez.
Ashdod gradually clawed their way back into the game as Shlomi Azulay tried catching Daniel Tenebaum off his line with a long range effort on 41 and Ya’acov Brihon shot wide a minute later. On the stroke of halftime Dean David tested Tenenbaum with a shot from inside the area, but the Brazilian born custodian collected with ease.
Second Half
With no changes at Maccabi’s line-up, Ashdod’s coach Ran Ben Shimon made a triple change at the restart as Nenad Cvetkovic, Roei Gordana and Oz Bilu replaced Tom Ben Zaken, Shlomi Azulai and Ya’acov Brihon.
Three minutes later, Peretz went down following a tackle by Moussa Bagayoko who was consequently booked by Freed. Karzev was given a chance on 55 as he was released into the area by a clever Peretz flick, but as the midfielder lost his footing Shechter tried a snap shot which was saved by Mishpati. Two minutes later Biton sent a powerful left foot shot that rolled wide of the post. Van Leeuwen made a quadruple substitution in the 58th minute as Shahar Piven replaced Yeini, Eylon Almog came in for Ben Chaim, Matan Hozez replaced Karzev and Nick Blackman stepped-in for Shechter.
Piven almost made an instant mark as he won the ball on the edge of Ashdod’s area in the 65th minute before releasing a shot that turned for a corner by Mishpati. Two minutes later, a Hernandez long throw-in was headed goal-bound by Blackman but once again Mishpati collected.
Maccabi kept increasing the pressure as a Hozez dangerous cross on 72 was punched by Mishpati into the path of Saborit who couldn’t keep down his half volley.
Van Leeuwen made his fifth and final change as Eduardo Guerrero replaced Biton for the final 17 minutes.
Within a minute van Leeuwen’s change paid off as Guerrero put Maccabi in front at the end of a move that began with a Hozez free-kick that rattled the post. Almog pounced on the rebound and teed-up Matan Baltaxa whose shot was initially saved before the Panamanian forward blasted home.
Maccabi doubled their lead in the 88th minute at the end of a lethal counter attack that began with a Gerlades sprint out of defense. The Portuguese full-back released Guerrero who fed Almog before the young winger slotted home Maccabi’s second on the night and his personal second of the season. Maccabi’s celebrations were short-lived as Ashdod got back in the game a minute later with Zakariya Mugis side footing the ball past Tenenbaum from close range to make it 2-1.
News that Maccabi Haifa were leading 1-0 in the closing stages at Kiryat Shmona saw a subdued atmosphere in the Ashdod stadium at full-time. But as soon as the news broke that Haifa conceded an injury-time equalizer and the race for the title remains open – the away section erupted and the celebrations were swiftly echoed from the fans to the players.
Guerrero available for State Cup Final
Maccabi Tel Aviv reached an agreement with the Panamanian Football Association according to which Eduardo Guerrero will be released immediately after the State Cup Final before joining the Panama senior National Team ahead of their World Cup Qualifiers against Anguilla (June 6th) and Dominican Republic (June 9th).
Eyal Golasa successfully underwent a minor surgery at Assaf Harofeh Hospital this morning by team Dr. Dror Lindner and Dr. Yiftah Bar. Golasa is set to resume training in time for the 2020/21 pre-season.
Time travel: A glorious 5-2 victory over Ashdod
Peretz: “We don’t give up on anything”
“As far as we are concerned the title race continues. We will give everything, want to win every match” Perez said, “Let’s say that we will do what is up to us and what is beyond us doesn’t belong to us”.
On Wednesday’s opponent, Peretz added: “This is a tough match against a tough team. They are an excellent side. We will have to prepare accordingly as we always do. The coaching staff will prepare us and we will have to show up and give everything. We want to win like we do in every match, we never give up on anything, just like we did so far. Everyone shows up and give it their best”.
Watch: Van Leeuwen speaks ahead of Ashdod
THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE VICTORIES AT PETAH TIKVA
Following the victory in the State Cup, Maccabi returned to the league and looked impressive once again yesterday (Sunday).
Patrick van Leeuwen’s charges beat Maccabi Petah Tikva 3-0 with a few interesting statistics emerging following the match at the Petah Tikva stadium.
The record at Petah Tikva
Last night was the 7th successive victory that Maccabi won at a Petah Tikva stadium whilst keeping a clean sheet. Victories over Petah Tikva (2), Hapoel Kfar Sava (2), Hapoel Ra’anana, Ironi Nes Ziona and Bnei Yehuda).
This is an all time league record for any team at an away ground.
This record at the Petah Tikva stadium equalls Maccabi’s run of victories with a clean sheet at home (7 victories) – that was achieved twice: Bloomfield in February 1970 and Netanya in April 2017.
92% of this season’s goals were scored from inside the penalty area.
All three of the goals scored last night were scored from inside the penalty area.
Maccabi scored 56 of the 61 goals scored this season (including penalties) from inside the area – 92% which is the highest percentage since the 2009/10 season.
The victory was Maccabi’s 9th win of the last 10 attempts on MD34 which makes that specific league round with the highest success rate of any other league round.
The historic record: 11 wins, 5 draws, 1 defeat and a 74.5% success rate.
On the other hand, Maccabi’s “Jinx round” is MD33 with a success rate of “only” 48.1% and a record of: 10 wins, 9 draws, and 8 defeats.
The youngsters debut
Etey Shechter last night his 20th goal for Maccabi in all competitions.
This was the third time the veteran forward scored in two successive matches.
Shechter: “We mustn’t take our foot off the pedal”
Van Leeuwen: “I am satisfied with the players’ display”.
MACCABI BEATS PETAH TIKVA 3-0
Pre Match
Three days after booking their place at the State Cup Final following the victory over Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer, Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at the Petah Tikva Stadium aiming to keep the race for the championship alive.
Trailing the leaders by four points in the table and with three matches left until the end of the Playoff, only a victory could keep Maccabi’s hopes of retaining the league title. Boosted by the arrival of the foreign players who returned to Israel over the weekend, Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen named Enric Saborit, Andre Geraldes and Louis Hernandez on the substitutes bench.
Van Leeuwen kept the same defensive line that beat Haifa as Eytan Tibi, Matan Baltaxa, Shahar Piven and Ofir Davidzada as the back-four in front of Daniel Tenenabum. With Sheran Yeini serving a one-match touchline ban, Eden Karzev stepped into the midfield alongside Dan Glazer and Dor Peretz.
Tal Ben Chaim who recovered from the injury that kept him against Maccabi Haifa, returned to the side and was named as one of the two wingers together with Eduardo Guerrero. Etey Shechter whose brace against Haifa led Maccabi to the Cup Final, kept his place upfront as he led the attack from the striker’s role.
Dan Biton, Eylon Almog, Dor Turgeman, Niv Berkovitz and Or Roizman all joined Saborit, Geraldes and Hernandez waiting for their chance to make an impact from the bench.
First Half
Maccabi didn’t wait long to launch the first attempt on goal as 45 seconds from the start Tal Ben Chaim found Eduardo Guerrero whose shot flew high over the crossbar. Six minutes later, a Guerrero cross sailed across the face of goal but couldn’t find a Maccabi player in the penalty area.
Guy Hadida dispossessed Guerrero deep inside Maccabi’s half but the Petah Tikva captain’s shot from the edge of the area, cleared Daniel Tenenbaum’s crossbar.
Dor Peretz, Guerrero and Ofir Davidzada were all booked by referee Gal Leibovic as the aggressive match from both sides claimed their toll. In the 35th minute, Peretz carved Petah Tikva’s defense open as he released Ben Chaim into the area, but the attempt of a shot by the Maccabi winger was blocked by Or Balorian.
Bar Arad ghosted into the Maccabi area to pick Morgan Ferrier’s cross on 41 before Matan Baltaxa slid-in with a last gasp tackle to clear the danger before Tenenbaum was required to make a save.
Second Half
With no goals in the first half and no changes at halftime, both teams emerged out of their dressing rooms knowing that only a better performance could change the score sheet.
A Ben Chaim counter attack three minutes after the restart resulted with a left foot shot that went high and wide.
Two minute after the hour mark as Van Leeuwen was preparing to make a double change, Maccabi took the lead through Guerrero. Peretz carved Petah Tikva’s defense open to release the Panamanian forward who kept his calm and sent a delicate chip over the advancing Arik Yanko to break the deadlock.
Regardless, of the lead, Dan Biton and Eylon Almog replaced Karzev and Ben Chaim in the 63rd minute. The goal lifted Maccabi’s players and with the support of 3000 traveling fans the blitz continued. In the 69th minute Biton’s pinpoint through-ball found Shechter whose powerful drive went in off the crossbar to double the score. Andre Geraldes replaced Shechter who was stretchered off with a knock on 72.
Biton and Almog were both instrumental in Maccabi’s third on 78 as the young winger skipped past a defender and had his initial shot blocked by Yanko into the path of Guerrero before Peretz drove home the rebound from close range.
Young Or Roizman and Dor Turgeman were given a chance to make their senior league debut as they replaced Shahar Piven and Guerrero for the final five minutes. Biton came close to increase the lead even further on 89 as his left foot drive rattled the base of the post and repeated the feat shooting agonisingly wide seconds later.
The full time whistle sent Maccabi’s players to celebrate the 3-0 win with the fans, knowing that on Wednesday they have a tough trip to Ashdod that lost 2-0 to Haifa.
