Category: News
Watch: Keane prepares for Beitar Jerusalem
Shahar: “This feeling is hard to describe”. Davida: “We spoke non-stop”
Ido Shahar enjoyed one of his best-ever games for Maccabi Tel Aviv as the 22-year-old scored a goal in the 4-1 Conference League Round of 16 victory away to Olympiacos. From the position of right-back, Shahar, helped Maccabi take a three-goal lead to the return leg and a big step towards a historic qualification to the Quarter Finals of a European competition, said: “Wow. This feeling is difficult to describe. Besides the fact I was on cloud nine I was happy for the team” Shahar said. In the ninth minute, Shahar, doubled Maccabi’s lead at the Georgios Kariaskakis stadium after Eran Zahavi gave Robbie Keane’s side an early lead, tried explaining: “We couldn’t have asked for a better start than this. We spoke about it prior to the game that the start of the game will be extremely important and could decide the contest. It is an amazing feeling to be 2-0 up after 10 minutes. We couldn’t have asked for more.”
On his new role as right-back, Shahar, who normally plays as a midfielder, said: “Last season I played in this role when I was at Apollon Limassol. I love to bring some of the midfielder’s characteristics into the role of a full-back. An extra. If I would have been a standard right-back I would have been forced to bring different characteristics. I am delighted that today it worked really well. When pushing forward I move a bit more towards the middle which is part of the advantages I bring to the plate and that helps the team. The coach spoke with me and spent a lot of time with me on these things.
Osher Davida who hasn’t scored but had an excellent game as a right winger just in front of Shahar, revealed: “Ido and I share a room together and all day we had a feeling that we are going to win. We said that we must score an early goal to ensure that everything starts in our favor. We never expected to be in that position after 9 minutes, it was an amazingly mad feeling. I am delighted Ido was switched to that role, we have such good communication on the pitch as today we spoke non-stop and kept directing each other. We knew that their left-back and the left winger are very dangerous and we dealt with them really well. Ido kept directing me throughout the game and I am just happy it worked that way.”
Davida, who has been enjoying good form recently that saw Keane name him in his starting line-up: “AT our team everything can change within a week. Now things are going well and I am just happy to be part of this – may it continue in the future as well. Our squad is big and deep as we need everyone. This good work is shared by everyone as on Sunday we already have another game to prepare for.”
Kfar Aza foxes
They are not simply just mothers buy a venture uniting sport to a community showing that together everything is possible.
When we first heard of the Kfar Aza mother’s stand the first thing that came to our minds was all the women that stand behind the players supporting those on the pitch. But after getting to know Dikla Shamriz, Orit and Nira Spek whose kids play for the team present an entirely different picture – an initiative that deals with the bond of an entire community in a Kibbutz to sport and football. On October 7th this initiative received a new dimension of women’s empowerment. Watch
Zahavi: “Everyone gave extra. We needed to suffer together”
Eran Zahavi enjoyed a perfect night as the veteran Maccabi striker and captain on the night scored his seventh goal of the competition and 30th this season to lead the side to a 4-1 victory away to Olympiacos. : “It is a good result and one can even call it a very good result for an away match, but it’s not over yet. We would like to enjoy the moment as we still have to play the return leg in Serbia. It was very tough at a a very difficult ground with a good atmosphere and against a good side. We got a good result, but we can’t celebrate too much, and need to continue playing with courage. We played a good game and got a great result.”
Zahavi who played in that stage of the competition two years ago after knocking out Maccabi in the Playoff phase, added: “At these levels every match is very special, energetic, packed with emotions and played at amazing stadiums like this so one should enjoy the moment. There were periods during the game that we needed to suffer together and go out for transition.. Everyone here gave a bit extra and it was evident on the pitch.”
Zahavi, who recently experienced an uncharacteristic barren run, but came out of it in flying colours summed-up that spell: “I wouldn’t like to look at it on a personal level as the team suffered while I wasn’t playing at the top of my form. There were plenty of matches, fatigue, absentees, an irregular overload as there is no doubt we all suffered as a team. In football you are as good as your teammates, they were excellent today and I supplied the finishing touch.”
Zahavi’s first goal came from a Felicio Milson assist, as Zahavi praised the Angolan winger: “Milson did the things he does best while I finished like I am used to. There were loads of players who sacrificed a lot, won their duals and covered for one another” he said. “When you do these things then even the shiny things come as well. The entire team deserve a massive credit for their efforts and so do the fans who gave an amazing display even better than ours on the pitch. To see all the video clips from the town centre just gave us amazing energy. We are delighted they came and watched such a game with plenty of sacrifice from all of us. Whoever was on the pitch tonight did great and I am just delighted.”
Keane’s summary of the victory in Greece
MACCABI BEAT OLYMPIACOS 4-1
Preview
Maccabi arrived at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus for the Conference League Round of 16 first leg against Greek giants Olympiacos. Robbie Keane’s side that finished top of their group will aim to clinch a result in Athens to keep their dreams of securing qualification to the Quarter Final at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola next week.
Keane made a single change from the side that beat Maccabi Petah Tikva at the weekend as Enric Saborit replaced Matan Baltaxa to partner Idan Nachmias as the second central defender in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Ido Shahar who played as a makeshift right-back, kept his place with Roy Revivo completing the back-four on the opposite left flank. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role was joined by Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky in Maccabi’s midfield engine room. Osher Davida also kept his place on the right wing with Felicio Milson on the opposite side supplying the width to Maccabi’s attack. Eran Zahavi led the line and the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the veteran marksman will aim to add to his impressive tally of 28 goals in all competitions so far this season.
On the bench Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Orlando Mosquera, Avishai Cohen, Dor Turgeman, Dan Biton, Yonatan Cohen, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Matan Baltaxa, Adir Cordoba, Kiko Bondoso, Eden Karzev.
First Half
Boosted by the support of their fans, the hosts began the match with pressure on Robbie Keane’s side right from the start as Maccabi struggled to break out of their own half in the first four minutes. Maccabi then began to get into their rhythm as Joris van Overeem, Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky started dominating the midfield. In fifth minute, Van Overeem switched sides to Felicio Milson who slid the ball towards the penalty area. A mix-up between Olympiacos’ defender Panagiotis Retsos and his keeper allowed Eran Zahavi to ghost through and send a left foot shot past Alexandros Paschalakis to give Maccabi an early lead.
Four minutes later the Keane’s side enjoyed a dream start as the majority of the 31,054 fans at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium were silenced while the visiting section were in a state of delirium following Maccabi’s second. Osher Davida broke down the left and picked Peretz whose powerful drive was initially parried by Paschalakis. Ido Shahar pounced on the loose ball, brought it down with one touch and blasted home from close range to double Maccabi’s lead. In the 13th minute however Olympiacos pulled a goal back as the Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi was left unmarked at the far post to head in past Roi Mishpati and cut the deficit. The goal shifted the momentum in Olympiacos’ favor as the hosts dominated the play pushing Maccabi back into their penalty area. Kanichowsky was booked by referee Craig Pawson for a foul on Andre Horate near the center circle in the 20th minute.
Right on the half hour mark Maccabi restored their two-goal lead as Kanichowsky picked Milson who dribbled into the area and cut the ball back for Zahavi. The veteran number seven tapped-in Maccabi’s third to score his second on the night, 12th in Europe this season and 30th in all competitions. In the 35th minute Zahavi came close to complete a first half hattrick as his half volley from close range shaved the top of the crossbar. Shahar went into the referee’s book for pulling down Olympiacos’ Portuguese winger Daniel Podence as the diminutive makeshift full-back stopped a counter attack. On the stroke of halftime Davida had a chance to increase Maccabi’s lead as he broke through from the right. But the pacey winger wasted his chance as he cut inside from the corner of the area to send his effort high and wide.
Second Half
With no changes to either side after the interval, Maccabi began the second half where they left off as Keane’s charges looked dangerous going forward. Olympiacos enjoyed most of the possession as a misunderstanding in Maccabi’s defense allowed El Kaabi through. But Mishpati charged off his line to block the Moroccan striker from cutting the deficit on 51 as he kept Maccabi’s two goal lead in-tact. Keane made his first substitution in the 68th minute as Davida who worked tirelessly down the right was replaced by Dan Biton.
Horta tried his luck with a long-range effort on 72, but Misphati was ready on his line. Maccabi’s counter attack at the opposite end saw Biton leave the ball for Peretz whose powerful drive was saved by Paschalakis. Olympiacos struggled to clear the danger as Kanichowsky floated a cross into the box for Peretz to head in Maccabi’s fourth on the night, his seventh in Europe this season and 14th in all competitions. Keane made a double change as Zahavi and van Overeem bowed out and were replaced by Eden Karzev and Dor Turgeman in the 77th minute.
Keane made another double change in the 81st minute as Kanichowsky and Milson received a standing ovation from the 1500 Maccabi travelling fans as they were replaced by Ofir Davidzada and Eyal Golasa for the closing stages. Substitute Joao Carvalho came close in the 89th minute as his curling long range effort beat Mishpati but crashed against the post. The referee added five minutes as Olympiacos tried desperately to grab another goal, but Maccabi defended bravely with numbers as the full time whistle saw the Yellows celebrate one of the most impressive victories in the club’s history.
Counting the minutes: Preparing for Olympiacos
ISSTA flies you to the return leg against Olympiacos
Maccabi Tel Aviv host Olympiacos for the return leg of the Conference League Round of 16 at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia on Thursday at 21:00.
If you would like to support Maccabi in what could prove to be another historic night, ISSTA prepared a package for an extremely attractive price.
The package which includes: a flight, accommodation and tickets for the match is priced at EUR 799.
Direct flight from Tel Aviv to Belgrade
3 nights in a 3 star hotel
Transportation: Airport – Hotel – Stadium – Hotel – Airport
Please note! Number of packages are limited so don’t miss out. To order online please click here or dial 03-7775490
Ticket prices:
Gates 4/5/6 (unmarked) NIS 93
Silver 2: NIS 180
State Cup QF: Maccabi face Maccabi PT
A month after Maccabi Petah Tikva suffered a 4-0 league defeat at Bloomfield, they will host Maccabi at Hamoshava stadium in the Quarter Final of the State Cup. The draw which took place at the IFA’s headquarters on Thursday, teamed both clubs up for the tie that is scheduled to be played at the beginning of April.
Hapoel Petah Tikva will host Hapoel Be’ersheva while Maccabi Haifa host Maccabi Netanya. The second division are guaranteed to have a representative in the Semi Final after Ironi Kiryat Shmona and Hapoel Nof Hagallil were drawn to face each other.
As opposed to the last few years, the Quarter Finals will return to the format of a one-off knockout match. Matches are scheduled to take place on April 2nd and 3rd with exact dates and kickoff times to be published in due course.
Quarter Final draw:
Maccabi Petah Tikva vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
Hapoel Petah Tikva vs Hapoel Be’ersheva
Maccabi Haifa vs Maccabi Netanya
Ironi Kiryat Shmona (2nd) vs Hapoel Nof Hagallil (2nd)
