Stav Lemkin joined Maccabi on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk as the 21-year-old defender who made his 7th appearance for the club during the 3-1 victory over Besiktas faced the media on Sunday night,

“As soon as I arrived here I was welcomed with open arms and I settled in really quickly” Lemkin who played in various positions across the back, said. “I am delighted to be here. I will do everything the coach asks me to do.”

On the competitions for places, he added: “This is a massive club and the competition here is not just for a place in the starting line-up but also for places on the bench. Sometimes you can start and sometimes find yourself out of the squad. But this is natural as there are some amazing players here.”

Lemkin who featured as a right back during the Europa league victory over Turkish side Besiktas on Thursday said: “The victory gave us all a very good feeling, the league victory over Sakhnin before the international break did the same thing as now we are looking forward to the league. We have several important fixtures ahead of us starting with Bnei Reineh and we would really like to come and win it.”

On his decision to join Maccabi despite facing strong competition for places from fellow defenders Nemanja Stojic, Raz Shlomo, Idan Nachmias and Tyrese Asante, Lemkin said: “I believe in my ability and never looked at home many players can play in my position. I was given the feeling that people here count on me and I am rated. I think I am capable of doing nice things here which is what I wanted – fighting for my place and challenging for trophies. This was part of my aim.”

Ahead of Monday opponent, Bnei Reineh, Lemkin added: “They are a tough team that made life difficult both for Maccabi Haifa (2-2) and Hapoel Be’ersheva (1-1). Their position in the table reflects on their ability but we will come prepared. The match against Besiktas is behind us as all we have in mind now is the league match against Reineh”.

oi Misphati helped Maccabi to their first victory in the Europa League this season as his second half penalty save denied Besiktas what would have been a second equalizer.

In the 71st minute of the match which was hosted by Besiktas in Debrecen, Hungary, the hosts were awarded a penalty after Stav Lemkin blocked a shot with his arm inside the area. Maccabi were leading 2-1 thanks ti goals from Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz as Immobile stepped up to take the spot kick. But, 32-year-old Maccabi keeper denied the Italian striker with a save before Wessley Patati sealed the win.

Speaking after the game Mishpati said: “I have several big saves but this is by far one of the most important ones in my career. We are playing in Europe this season against many big name players. Immobile is probably one of the biggest names I got to play against. I prepared for him, just like I prepare to face any player. He has a variety of shots as he strikes to every corner. But when the score was 2-1 and at a crucial moment of the game came that special moment as I gave everything to save it.”

“We played a game against a top side, which is part of football. Big clubs sometimes experience matches like that. There are players who are mature which is the exact approach we will require against Bnei Reineh on Monday. The league is our bread and butter an that game is clearly the most important”.

Gabi Kanichowsky scored his third goal of the season to help Maccabi record their first victory in the Europa League beating Besiktas 3-1. Speaking at the end of the game, the 27-year-old midfielder said: “It is a sweet victory and one which brings a lot of joy. We started the Europa League campaign really but until now didn’t collect any points. So this victory is special.”

When asked what made the difference, Kanichowsky, didn’t hide said: “We conceded a

Kanichowsky who celebrated the goal he scored with what has become a traditional salute to the sky in memory of two of his friends who were killed in action last year, said: “We are in the middle of this period of time where we represent our country. We all know the meaning of this victory. I am delighted for our fans who encountered recently and in general across the country. At the end of the day these are three valuable points for the rest of the campaign.”

Ahead of the return to league action as Maccabi face high flying Maccabi Bnei Reineh, Kanichosky, added: “We knew in advance that this season will be long, hard and extremely challenging. I am a footballer and it’s every player’s dream to be in the situation we are in and play at this level and these competitions. To play every three days with hardly any practice sessions at all. So yes, it is a lot of fun.”

Preview:

Maccabi arrived at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen Hungary for the EUROPA MD5 match away to Besiktas aiming to record the first points in the competition. After four defeats in the first four matches against Sporting Braga, FC Midtjylland, Real Sociedad and Ajax – Maccabi will try collect the first points against the Turkish club that host the match in Debrecen rather than Istanbul.

Maccabi’s coach Zarko Lazetic who welcomed his players back from international duty, made several changes from the side which suffered a 5-0 defeat in Amsterdam. Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal with Raz Shlomo and Nemanja Stojic lining up as the two central defenders infront of him. Stav Lemkin on the right and Sagiv Jehezkel on the left completed Maccabi’s back-four. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role sat behind Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz to form the midfield trio. Osher Davida who served his one match touchline ban against Ajax returned to the side on one wing with Wessley Patati on the opposite flank. Dor Turgeman led the line hoping to add to his overall goal tally of 8 goals in all competitions this season.

On the substitutes bench, alongside goalkeeper Simon Sluga, Lazetic named Avishay Cohen, Roy Revivo, Idan Nachmias, Tyrese Asante, Eran Zahavi, Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Issouf Sissokho, Hisham Layous and Ido Shahar.

First Half

The match at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, which was held behind closed doors seemed to have favored Maccabi in the opening stages as playing in Europe in front of empty seats became something of a familiar backdrop. Hosts Besiktas on the other hand must have been missing the support of their fans from Istanbul’s Tüpraş Stadium which would have been filled to its 42,000 capacity. Around 20 Turkish fans in the VIP section whose vocal support echoed around the empty yet cold and rainy stadium saw Zarko Lazetic dominate the early stages of the game. Wessley Patati on the left and Osher Dacida down the right kept causing the Besiktas defense all sorts of trouble as in a square ball found Dor Turgeman unmarked imside the area. But the young striker who found himself in a glorious position to score, managed to send the ball to the wrong side of the post. Besiktas’ coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst was forced to make an early change as Gabriel Paulista limped off with an injury and was replaced by Emirhan Topcu on 19. Maccabi continued to dominate and were rewarded for their efforts four minutes later as Davida charged down the right and sent a square ball which was flicked in by Gabi Kanichowsky.

Besiktas seemed stunned and Maccabi continued to push forward but in the 38th minute, an attacking corner led to the hosts’ equalizer.

The Besiktas defense managed to clear the corner into the path of Rafa Silva who skipped past one tackle and raced for three quarters of the pitch before sending the ball past Roy Mishpati. Inside injury time Davida had a saved by goalkeeper Mert Gunok and when it seemed as though both teams will go into the dressing rooms level, Maccabi restored their lead.

Patati broke down the left and sent the ball towards the goalmouth where Dor Peretz was first to react ahead of all of Besiktas’ defenders to slide in and score Maccabi’s second and his fourth of the season.

Second Half

The second half began exactly like the first one did with Maccabi dominating the opening stages. Kanichowsky sent a shot wide in the 50th minute before Peretz had his effort blocked by a defender a minute later. Patati came close on 52 with a low drive from the edge of the area, but Gunok managed to turn the ball out for a corner. Three minutes, Maccabi’s counter attack carved the Besiktas defense open as Turgeman’s backheel flick released Patati. But the diminutive Brazilian winger who only had the keeper to beat directed his shot straight at the keeper. 

Besiktas had the ball in the back of the Maccabi net just before the hour mark as substitute Cher Ndour fired home after a goalmouth scramble. But Besiktas’ celebrations were short-lived as the goal was disallowed for offside. In the 64th minute a rare Maccabi attack saw Davida slip the ball to Peretz whose square pass found Joris van Overeem whose shot was rifled wife. Zarko Lazetic reacted with a double substitution on 66 as Sagiv Jehezkel and Peretz bowed out and were replaced by Idan Nachmias and Issouf Sissokho.

In the 69th minute however a mistake in Maccabi’s defense gifted Besiktas the ball deep inside their own half before Semih Kilicsoy’s shot was blocked by the outstretched arm of Stav Lemkin. Italian referee Simone Sozza didn;t hesitate as he awarded Besiktas a penalty as his fellow countryman Ciro Immobile stepped up but saw his spot kick saved by Mishpati to keep Maccabi’s lead in tact. In the 80th minute Maccabi increased their lead to 3-1 after van Overeem won the ball deep inside Besiktas half and fed Turgeman. The young striker twisted and turned and had his shot saved by the keeper before Patati pounced on the loose ball and bundled it home from point blank range to score his first European goal. Lazetic made another double change as Patati and Turgeman bowed out to standing ovation from bench and were replaced in the 86th minute by Henry Addo and Elad Madmon.  Just before the fourth official signaled five minutes of additional time, Lazetic made his fifth and final substitution as Tyrese Asante replaced Raz Shlomo.