Preview

Maccabi arrived at Teddy stadium ahead of the WINNER League MD14 match away to Hapoel Jerusalem which would open the second round. Following the two draws in the previous two matches against Hapoel Hadera and Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi are currently fourth in the table, level on points with Maccabi Haifa, but two behind Beitar Jerusalem and six adrift of leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made several changes to his starting line-up. Roi Mishati, who saved an injury time penalty to secure a 2-1 victory over RFS Riga in the Europa League last week, started in goal. Nemanja Stojic, scorer of the winning goal in Belgrade on Thursday lined up alongside Stav Lemkin as the two central defenders in front of Mishpati, Idan Nachmias on the right and Sagiv Jehezkel on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive back-four. Issof Sissokho who made a substitute appearance against RFS, joined Joris van Overeem and Dor Peretz in midfield allowing Gabi Kanichowsky to rest on the bench. Weslley Patati who assisted twice against the Latvian side and Osher Davida suppied the width on both wings. Eran Zahavi led the line and the team out wearing the captain’s armband aiming to add to his four goals this season.

 

On the bench alongside goalkeeper Simon Sluga, Lazetic named Roy Revivo, Tyrese Asante, Dor Turgeman, Gabi Kanichowsky, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Hisham Layous and Ido Shahar.

First Half

Backed by around 4000 fans who arrived at Teddy stadium and offered their vocal support from the moment the players emerged from the warm-up. Two minutes from the start Idan Nachmias sent a cross into the area and Sagiv Jehezkel who ghosted behind Jerusalem’s defense at the far post, headed wide from close range. Shortly after it was Jehezkel again as Osher Davida released Dor Peretz down the right before the midfielder picked Jehezkel whose shot from the edge of the area was blocked by a defender. 

Jehezkel continued to look lively down the left as he dribbled into the area in the 20th minute before releasing a shot that struck the side netting. Eran Zahavi had his first sight on goal right on the half hour mark but his snap shot from the edge of the area was easily collected by Jerusalem’s keeper Nadav Zamir. Six minutes later Maccabi’s pressure paid off as Jerusalem’s defense struggled to clear the danger before the ball fell to Joris van Overeem. The midfielder who waited three years for his debut Maccabi goal, found the back of the net with a clever shot to score his second in six weeks. Zahavi came close to double Maccabi’s lead after Weslley Patati was fouled on the edge of the box. But the veteran marksman narrowly missed the target as he flashed his free kick to the wrong side of the post.

Second Half

Four minutes after the restart Jerusalem were back on level terms as Matan Hozez left two defenders behind before firing into the top corner. Patati tried restoring Maccabi’s lead with two shots in the space of two minutes but both his left and right foot efforts sailed high and wide. Lazetic reacted with a double substitution as he introduced Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Turgeman for Zahavi and Sissokho in the 63rd minute.

The change paid off almost instantly as Nemanja Stojic won possession deep inside Jerusalem’s half before releasing the ball forward. A Turgeman shot struck the hand of Yonatan Laish before Sapir Berman pointed at the spot. Jehezkel stepped up and successfully converted the spot kick to restore Maccabi’s lead. Boosted by the goal Maccabi pushed forward and increased their lead on 69 as Davida charged down the right and squared to Peretz who tucked the ball home from point blank range for his first league goal this season and fifth in all competitions. Peretz bowed out to a awarding ovation as he was replaced in the 78th minute by Ido Shahar while Elad Madmon came on for Davida. Jerusalem cut the deficit in the ne 90th minute as Samba Diallo beat Roy Mishpati with a fierce low drive to make it 3-2. Inside injury time Lazetic made his fifth and final substitution as Henry Addo came on for Patati. 

Dor Peretz faced the media at a Press Conference ahead of the match away to Hapoel Jerusalem which will open the second league round. With Maccabi third in the table with 27 points, two behind second place Beitar and six adrift of Hapoel Be’ersheva but with a game in hand, Peretz said: “We dropped four points in the last two matches (Hapoel Hadera and Hapoel Haifa), yet we won our match in Europe not with the best of ability but by showing loads of character and plenty of determination. This alone is worth just as much because it shows the players’ and team’s character.”

On the difference between playing in Europe and the domestic competition, the 29-year-old midfielder said: “The character of these matches is totally different but the stage here is a lot more important for us. We need to know there is no room for mistakes, as we must be fully prepared, the players, the staff, as we are challenging for the league title. Such matches reflect on awful lot on the future. We must arrive prepared as best as we possibly can.”

On the penalties Maccabi conceded in the last three matches, Peretz said: “Your role as media is to try find the explanations for everything, but I don’t think that there is a link between Maccabi and this penalty or the other when a certain player commits one. There are controversial penalties. Against Hadera it was a penalty, but was the penalty against Hapoel Haifa a 100% penalty? Difficult to say. We must be more alert and focused but we can’t concede a penalty for everything that happens. We must be a lot more focused as players, understand our place and hope for the decisions to go in our way.”

On the effect of Europe on Maccabi’s season, Peretz said: “Of course it has an effect. We arrive from matches against a certain opponent, with a different style of a game, to matches here. Add that to the combination of all the flights which makes this season into a real journey. This is not an excuse because from game to game we would want to show that we can compete in Europe as well as the league.” With Maccabi’s next match in Europe scheduled for January 23rd away to Bodo/Glimt in Norway, Peretz, who also travelled with the Israel national team for all its’ international matches, explained: “Now we have an entire month to focus on matches here. There will be no excuses not to show up in all our strength and glory.”

Ahead of Hapoel Jerusalem, a team Maccabi managed to beat only in added time when both teams met at Bloomfield earlier this season, Peretz said: “They are an excellent team, with quality players, an interesting game plan who always know how to surprise their opponents. Our role is to prepare for that. Matches against them were always very tight and we must show up and play an intense and aggressive game, to take the right decisions which should help us create chances in win the match”.

Nachmias whose first half goal against RFS was his first in Europe this season and second in all competitions, said after the game of the dramatic victory: “We have plenty of matches lately that we make our lives difficult, but I am happy that today we knew how to win”. The 27-year-old defender who celebrated the goal with a flag that had the name of his close friend Shai Termin who was killed 11 months ago to the day, said: “I’d like to dedicate the goal in memory of my friend who was killed and today was his memorial service. I was sad not to be there but at the same time happy that from here I got the chance to raise his memory even further. I will always keep on doing it whenever I possibly can.”

On the dramatic late penalty save goalkeeper Roy Mishpati said: “I have plenty of things to say abut him, as whoever knows the relationship I have with him knows that he is like a brother to me and I am mighty proud of him. He did cause that penalty but he saved us big time.”

Mishpati took Nachmias’s place in front of the TV cameras and said: “The three points are not mine, it belongs to all my teammates who worked just as hard. I am delighted with the final result, but as one can see the life of a keeper are not simple. I made a terrible mistake in the last minute of injury time, I gave the fans a big fright and I am happy that I managed to make amends by saving the spot kick.”

Mishpati, who came out to punch the ball but collided with an RFS opponent in midair admitted he knew what was about to happen: “I knew there was going to be a penalty as I felt the players’ head. Things like that happen and I am just happy I managed to save the penalty.”

On Maccabi’s future prospects in the competition, Mishpati said: “We spoke about it in the dressing room ahead of the game as we were playing against a side that is very tactical, tough and aggressive. We came prepared, as they didn’t reach too many chances.”

On the fact Maccabi has been struggling lately, Mishpati said: “I am not sure where to point the finger at why it is difficult for us, but there are periods like that in football when results don’t go your way and the ball refuses to go in. We are working on this and give everything on the training field and in team meetings with the coaching staff. I just hope that from here we would emerge to a better spell.”

Ahead of Monday’s return to league action away to Hapoel Jerusalem, Mishpati concluded: “We will be happy with the victory today, return home tomorrow and begin our preparations for Monday’s match.”

Preview:
Maccabi returned to the Partizan stadium in Belgrade for the Europa League MD6 against Latvian side RFS Riga hoping to build on the victory over Besiktas in the previous round. After five matches Maccabi have 3 points and are looking for a result to keep their hopes of qualification alive.

Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic made several changes from the side that was
held to a 1-1 draw by Hapoel Haifa earlier this week. Roy Misphati kept his place in goal in goal with Raz Shlomo and Nemanja Stojic lining up as the two central defenders in front of him. Idan Nachmias returned to the side at right- back while Roy Revivo completed the defensive line at left-back making his first European start since recovering from a knee injury. Joris van Overeem returned to the anchorman role with Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz making up the midfield trio. Hisham Layous and Weslley Patati supplied the width on both wings while Dor Turgeman led the line and spearheaded the attack.

On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Simon Sluka, Avishay Cohen, Stav Lemkin, Tyrese Asante, Eran Zahavi, Sagiv Jehezkel, Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada, Issouf Sissokho and,Osher Davida

First Half

The cold weather conditions and temperature just above zero in Belgrade didn’t seem to phase bot sets of players or the fans who vocally supported their teams at the Partizan stadium.
The Latvians’ appeared to have adjusted better to the elements as Janis Ikaunieks charged forward for a counter attack six minutes from the start but was stopped by a Raz Shlomo perfectly timed tackle. Seven minutes later Lasha Odisharia was teed up on the edge of Maccabi’s penalty box, but his right foot effort sailed over Roy Misphapti’s crossbar. Three minutes later at the opposite end Maccabi took the lead as Idan Nachmias rose high above RFS’ defenders to meet Weslley Patati free kick and head the ball past Fabrice Ondoa.

In the 25th minute Maccabi came close to double their lead at the end of a slick move which saw Dor Turgeman slip the ball to Dor Peretz. With only Ondoa to beat, Peretz tried lifting the ball over the advancing keeper who saved but that wouldn’t have counted in any way as the Maccabi captain was caught offside.

With no change until the halftime whistle, both teams went off to the dressing to warm up and prepare for the second period.

Second Half

Maccabi began the second half on the front foot as Peretz won a free kick on 51 before Gabi Kanichowsky teed-up Turgeman who lost his footing before blasting his shot over the crossbar. A minute later though Kanichowsky lost possession as he charged for a counter attack and RFS hit on the break as Robert Savalnieks was sent clear by Stefan Panic before burying his shot into the bottom far corner to draw level. Raz Shlomo limped off in the 57th minute and was replaced by Stav Lemkin.

Six minutes after the hour mark, Patati tried his luck with a long range effort but the Brazilian’s shot sailed high over the crossbar.

Odisharia was booked for a foul on Patati in the 68th minute before the 21-year-old winger picked himself up to cross the free kick into the box. Just like Maccabi’s first goal, Patati’s free kick was met by a defender, this time Nemanja Stojic who flicked the ball into the far corner to restore the lead.

In the 77th minute Lazetic made a double substitution as Kanichowsky was replaced by Issouf Sissokho while Sagiv Jehezkel came on for Hisham Layous.

In the 88th minute Darko Lemajic had an effort on goal but Mishpati stretched himself to deny the RFS forward.
Shortly after the fourth official signaled seven minutes of added time, Lazetic made his two final changes with Osher Davida and Elad Madmon came on for Patati and Turgeman.

In the final minute of added time the ball was launched into the area before Mishpati came out and collided in midair with an opponent. The referee was called to the screen by the VAR before awarding RFS a penalty which Ikaunnieks stepped up to take. But Mishpati redeemed himself as he saved the spot kick to secure the victory.

Weslley Patati joined Maccabi in the summer from Brazilian side Santos as the 21-year-old who scored his debut European goal on MD5 against Besiktas, is looking forward to another fine display. “I am really hoping that we will we have a good game tomorrow” he said. “The last match we played in Europe had a good result and I hope we continue to play well and get another victory which could help us in the forthcoming matches.”

As Maccabi arrives in Belgrade on the back of a 1-1 draw in the league, Patati said: “The match tomorrow will be totally different. We will need to be focused, correct our mistakes we committed in the past few matches and do everything we are required to do in order to win.”

On his settling in at the club and in Tel Aviv, Patati, who left Brazil for the first time this summer, said: “I am getting used to a new place, new teammates and a new club. I am no different to anyone else as every player needs time to adapt and thank god that all the players here helped and welcomed me amazingly. I struggled with the language at first but I am taking English lessons and making progress so the communication with the players and everyone else is improving.”

With regards to life in Israel, Patati concluded: “At first it was tough as I was alone, but I have help from the staff and friends, my agent’s family are living here so overall I am more and more confident. In every day that goes by I am happier”.