Preview

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD21 WINNER League encounter with Beitar Jerusalem after a busy week that included a match in Haifa which was abandoned and a Europa League defeat to Porto in Belgrade.

Maccabi began the match with 41 points from 19 matches due to last week’s abandoned match against Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer. Beitar that inflicted Maccabi one of its’ two defeats of the campaign when both sides met at Teddy earlier this season, were two points adrift with 40.

Lazetic, named Simon Sluga in goal once again with Idan Nachmias and Nemanja Stojic as the two central defenders in front of the Croatian keeper. Tyrese Asante and Roy Revivo completed Maccabi’s back-four on the right and left, respectively. Joris van Overeem and Issouf Sissokho were assigned to the engine room with Dor Peretz at the top of the midfield trio. Osher Davida and Weslley Patati were the two wide players in Lazetic’s formation while Eran Zahavi led the line as Dor Turgeman served his one-match touchline ban.

On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Stav Lemkin, Raz Shlomo, Gabi Kanichowsky, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada, Hisham Layous and Ido Shahar.

First Half

A Bloomfield stadium packed with almost entirely Maccabi fans, welcomed both sets of players onto the pitch. Prior to kickoff Maccabi’s captain Eran Zahavi removed the shirt of Emily Damari who was released from captivity after 471 days in Gaza. The shirt will hang in Maccabi’s dressing room until Damari returns to Bloomfield while Emmily sent a video message thanking everyone for their support which was broadcast on the giant screens. “Thank you for your support and I hope your vocal support would reach from Bloomfield to Gaza” Damari said.

Maccabi began the match determined to stamp their authority right from the start and score an early goal. Six minutes from the start, Weslley Patati, stripped Ismaila Soro of the ball deep inside Beitar’s half. But his attempt of a right foot shot from the edge of the area was saved by goalkeeper Miguel Silva. Osher Davida tried a shot which was blocked before Omer Atzili flashed a shot across the face of goal at the opposite end. A well drilled corner in the 15^th minute saw Patati, and Joris van Overeem combine well before Eran Zahavi received the ball on the penalty spot but blasted his shot agonizingly wide. Yarden Shuah forced a save from Simon Sluga and Patrick Twumasi tried to catch Maccabi’s keeper off his line with a long-range effort that landed on the roof of the net. Maccabi’s best chance came in the 25th minute as Issouf Sissokho dribbled before releasing Patati whose pinpoint cross was headed by Dor Peretz over the crossbar. Ori Dahan was booked by referee a referee Snir Levy for a mistimed tackle on Patati and Beitar were lucky not to concede free kick in a dangerous position for a Gil Cohen pack-pass which Silva picked.

A mistake in Maccabi’s defense allowed Twumasi to run through in the 37th minute but Sluga dived to his left and saved to keep Maccabi’s goal locked. Davida came close in the 40th minute as he rose unmarked at the far post to head a van Overeem cross which sailed high once again. Nemanja Stojic limped off with a calf muscle injury and replaced in the 41st minute by Stav Lemkin.

Second Half

With no changes to either side at the interval, both teams emerged for the second half as the score remained goalless. The visitors could have taken the lead in the 55th minute as Dor Micha carved Maccabi’s defense with a through ball to Yarin Levy who missed the target with only Sluga to beat. Seconds later Lazetic made his second substitution as Gabi Kanichowsky replaced Sissokho in midfield. A minute after the hour mark Roy Revivo burst forward and pulled the trigger but saw his effort sail high and wide.

Maccabi kept on the pressure on Beitar’s defense and came close to break the deadlock twice in the space of two minutes. A corner which fell into the path of Idan Nachmias whose half volley was caught by Silva. Seconds later Davida flashed a shot that rolled across the face of goal and wide. Despite Maccabi’s dominance Beitar took the lead against the run of play as Patati conceded a free kick which Shuah fired against the wall before Ismaila Soro drilled the rebound which found the bottom corner. Peretz could have leveled the score almost instantly as he was put through by a Zahavi flick but from a comfortable position shot wide. Peretz had another good chance in the 80th minute as Davida’s cross found the midfielder but Silva pulled a reflex save to block the close-range effort for a corner. From the testing corner Maccabi managed to equalize as Bloomfield erupted. Patati curled the corner which was flicked by Lemkin at the near post before Nachmias forced the ball in.

Lazetic added a fresh pair of legs as Elad Madmon replaced Zahavi for the closing stages. In the 90th minute as Maccabi tried to clinch a late winner and went up for a corner, Beitar charged for a counterattack with Adi Yona bursting forward. Lemkin’s attempt of a last gasp tackle saw him penalized for handling the ball in the box as Beitar were awarded a penalty. Shuah stepped up to take the spot kick, but Sluga came to Maccabi’s rescue and saved. Madmon could have sealed the win as Davida’s cross placed the young striker in the middle of the area, but his header was off target. The full-time whistle ensured the point will be shared as Maccabi will seek a victory elsewhere.

A 1-0 defeat to Porto in Belgrade on MD8 of the Europa League phase closed the curtain on Maccabi’s European campaign. Gabi Kanichowsky said at the end of the match at the Partizan stadium: “I think we looked good. The fact Porto were running the clock inside injury time says everything. We didn’t manage to score and I think that sums up our campaign. We were good but at these levels you need the extra. We will use that as a learning experience.”

Maccabi ended the inaugural league phase in its new format in 29th place with 2 victories over Besiktas and RFS. But of the six other matches, besides the defeats Ajax and Bodo/Glimt all the defeats were by a single goal margin. “We spoke about it at lunchtime, if we would have beaten Braga or drawn there on MD1 everything would have been different. It is a sore feeling of a missed chance but if against sides like this one feels a miss we are probably in the right direction. One needs to understand what teams we are playing against, to avoid making mistakes and when you get chances put them away.”

On the busy schedule Maccabi was forced to endure which will no longer include European trips and leave the team focus on the league, Kanichowsky said: “I feel that it’s a miss not to be in the knockout phase. Up until now we had a crazy schedule. Now we have time to prepare before matches, to rest and regain energy. We could find the time to train, prepare for our opponents properly and come fresh to every match which is good for us but also an opportunity for our match to return to Bloomfield.”

Preview

Maccabi returned to the Partizan stadium for the final home match of the EUROPA League phase as they hosted Portugeuse giants FC Porto on MD8.

After seven matches Maccabi were ranked 29th with six points knowing that only a miraculous victory over Porto together with other results going their way would see them squeeze into the top 24 places and the knockout phase.

Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic made several changes from the side that played in Mondays’ match at Haifa which was abandoned after 45 minutes due to crowd trouble.

Goalkeeper Simon Sluga kept his place to make his debut European appearance for Maccabi with Stav Lemkin and Raz Shlomo lining up as the two central defenders in front of the Croatian custodian. Tyrese Asante on te right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive back-four. Issouf Sissokho was named in the anchorman role with Ido Shahar and Gabi Kanichowsky who were back in the side to form the midfield trio. Kanichowsky, who returned after a foot injury, led the team out with the captain’s armband. Weslley Patati and Osher Davida supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation with Dor Turgeman leading the attack seeking his 14th goal in all competitions this season.

On the bench Lazetic named goalkeepers Roi Mishpati and Idan Trau, Idan Nachmias, Joris van Overeem, Nemanja Stojic, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada, Hisham Layous, Roey Magor and Dor Peretz

First Half

Some 150 fans who travelled from Israel and 300 from Portugal welcomed both teams to the Partizan stadium in Belgrade for the match that would end the league phase,

Maccabi avoided an early scare as a throw in caught the defense not [prepared and left Danny Namaso clear through. But Simon Sluga charged off his line and dived at the feet of the Porto striker to clear the danger.

In the 41st minute a perfectly timed through ball released Dor Turgeman but as the young striker pulled the trigger his shit sailed wide of the target.

The halftime whistle sent both teams into the dressing room with the result still goalless.

Second half

Zarko Lazetic made his first change after the interval as he introduced Joris van Overeem for Gabi Kanichowsky at the restart.

In the 50th minute Osher Davida charged down the right but saw his cross cleared by Porto’s defense. At the opposite end a minute later Joao Mario’s carved Maccabi’s defense open as he released Namaso who rolled his effort narrowly wide. In the 58th minute however, the visitors took the lead after João Mário crossed into the area before Nico Gonzalez flicked with his head beyond the reach of Sluga to break the deadlock. A minute after the hour mark Davida managed to beat Diogo Costa in Porto’s goal but saw his effort strike the woodwork. Lazetic made a triple substitution in the 70th minute as he introduced Nemanja Stojic for Tyrese Asante, Dor Peretz for Ido Shahar and Elad Madmon for Turgeman.

In the 86th minute Peretz had the ball in the back of the Porto net as he reacted first to a Madmon header which crashed against the post, but the referee assistant raised his flag for offside and the goal was disallowed.