Preview:

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium where they recorded a late 2-0 victory over Bnei Sakhnin last week aiming to put aside the disappointing State Cup exit by the hands of Maccabi Petah Tikva in midweek. Robbie Keane who rested several players in midweek, returned to the starting line-up which gave Maccabi a 10-point-lead at the top of the table ahead of tonight’s visit of Maccabi Haifa. Keane, will aim to extend the run of six successive league victories and 7 unbeaten matches since the 2-0 defeat away to Haifa on MD20 in February.

Roi Mishpati returned to goal with Idan Nachmias and Enric Saborit lining-up as the two central defenders in front of him. Ido Shahar kept his place at right-back while Ofir Davidzada replaced Roy Revivo to complete the defensive line at left-back.

Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role was accompanied by Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz in Maccabi’s midfield engine room. After missing out on the two defeats to Haifa in the league and the Toto Cup final victory, Felicio Milson, who represented Angola during the Africans Cup of Nations, lined-up on the wing against Haifa for the first time this season. Milson was partnered by Osher Davida on the opposite flank assigned to supply the ammunition for Eran Zahavi. The veteran Maccabi marksman who didn’t find the back of the net against Haifa this season, will aim to add to his 34 goals in all competitions so far in this campaign.

On the bench Keane named goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Roy Revivo, Dor Turgeman, Dan Biton, Raz Shlomo, Yonas Malede, Eyal Golasa, Matan Baltaxa and Eden Karzev.

First Half

Bloomfield was packed to its capacity as the lightning storm and torrential rain which began shortly before kickoff supplied the backdrop for the top of the table clash between the two sides that dominated the Israeli league and had a European run which lasted into the spring. The visitors came close to draw first blood as Ali Mohamad had a shot saved by Mishpati before Sean Goldberg blasted a shot from the edge of the area that beat Maccabi’s keeper but struck the post.

At the opposite end, Gabi Kanichowsky, released Ofir Davidzada who fired a left foot shot that bounced off the base of the post before Haifa’s defense managed to clear. In the 14th minute however, Bloomfield erupted as Eran Zahavi headed Maccabi into the lead. Davidzada launched a free kick towards the back post before Idan Nachmias sent the ball across the face of goal for Zahavi to nudge in his 35th goal in all competitions.

Felicio Milson and Osher Davida kept tormenting Haifa’s full backs as they charged down both flanks while Dor Peretz kept on breaking through the middle. Nachmias was allowed a free header but couldn’t keep the ball down as it sailed over the crossbar. Joris van Overeem who dominated the midfield picked a knee injury which required medical treatment before the 29-year-old limped off and was replaced by Dan Biton just before the break.

Second Half

With no changes to either side at halftime the second half began just like the first with Haifa looking dangerous on the break. A counter attack which began with Mahmoud Jaber deep inside Haifa’s half on 53 saw Lior Rafaelov carry the ball forward before a last gasp tackle by Enric Saborit denied Din David what would have been an equalizer.

Three minutes after the hour mark tempers flared as Ali Mohamad was booked by referee Snir Levy for kicking the ball at Nachmias who was bizarrely cautioned as well. In the 66^th minute Biton tried his luck with a powerful low drive from the corner of the area that flashed wide of Keuof’s post. Rafaelov was lucky to avoid a red card for two off the ball incidents in the 68^th minute as the Haifa captain first elbowed Dor Peretz in the chest before retaliating to a Saborit tackle with a push in the face of the Spanish defender. But somehow Levy opted for a yellow card while VAR also decided not to intervene either.

In the 70th minute Haifa were back on level terms as Anan Khalaili blasted a low drive that beat Mishpati from the edge of the area. Maccabi almost hit back instantly as Davida slid the ball to Zahavi who snapped a shot on the turn before Keouf was at full stretch the claw the ball out. Milson tried curing a shot which was equaled by Keuof before Keane reacted with a triple substitution on 77. Roy Revivo came on for Ido Shahar at right-back, Eden Karzev replaced Kanichowsky at the heart of midfield while Yonas Malede came on for Davida.

Haifa continued to look dangerous from set pieces as Abdolaye Seck flicked a corner to Goldberg whose close-range header crashed against Mishpati’s crossbar in the 80^th minute. In the 86th minute Keane made his fifth and final change as Dor Turgeman came on for Zahavi to try and snatch a late winner. But at the opposite end Seck was given the time and space to head a corner but Misphati collected on his line. The fourth official signaled 6 minutes of added time but both sides managed to hang on as the full-time whistle confirmed the spoils will be shared.

Dor Peretz is experiencing the most productive season of his footballing career as the 28-year-old midfielder scored 7 league goals and 16 in all competitions. Peretz, whose late goal against Bnei Sakhnin led Maccabi to a 2-0 victory at Bloomfield which extended the lead at the top of the table to 10 points from Monday’s opponents Maccabi Haifa, said ahead of the match: “First and foremost we brought ourselves to this situation, no one handed us anything. I can promise myself, the fans my fellow teammates and the coaching staff that we would do our best, from the first minute, to achieve our targets.”

Peretrz who had an extra time goal against Maccabi Petah Tikva disallowed as Maccabi suffered a 4-2 State Cup Quarter Final exit in midweek, spoke about the team’s recovery: “This week is a highlights version of the world of football – a rollercoaster ride of emotions for players, fans and everyone who takes part in this thing. From an injury time victory to elimination from the Cup, a place where we expected more from ourselves in those moments. We can only learn from these things and perform better in the future. Against Maccabi Petah Tikva we should have been concentrated in the closing stages, to understand we have the game in our hands and not let go even when it seems to be over.”

After Eran Zahavi’s 34 goals in all competitions, Peretz, is Maccabi’s second top scorer as he related to the reasons behind his attacking contribution: “The place in which the coach positions me on the pitch, his professional demands from me which highlights my strengths and attributes. But there are still quite a few matches left to play, I still have things I would like to show and prove to him myself and others as well.”

Preview:

Three days after securing a 10-point-lead at the top of the table, Maccabi set aside their championship aspirations and arrived at Hamoshava stadium ahead of the State Cup Quarter Final tie against Maccabi Petah Tikva.

Maccabi’s Head Coach, Robbie Keane, made no less than eight changes to his starting line-up as Idan Nachmias, Gabi Kanichowsky and Felicio Milson were the only players who kept their place from Saturday’s 2-0 league win over Bnei Sakhnin.

Daniel Tenenbaum, whose only appearance this season was during the 3-1 victory over Maccabi Jaffa in the previous round, made his second appearance in goal. Matan Baltaxa partnered Nachmias as the second central defender with Avishay Cohen on the right and Ofir Davidzada with the captain’s armband on the left completing the back-four. Eden Karzev in the anchorman role joined Gabi Kanichowsky in the engine room together with Dan Biton who completed Maccabi’s midfield-trio after the 28-year-old recovered from an injury. Yonas Malede who made an impact as a second half substitute against Bnei Sakhnin, was named on one wing with Milson on the opposite flank. Dor Turgeman led the line as the 20-year-old forward who scored 10 goals in all competitions was aiming to add to his tally.

On the bench, Keane, named Orladno Mosquera, Roy Revivo, Enric Saborit, Eran Zahavi, Henry Addo, Eyal Golasa, Ido Shahar, Dor Peretz and Osher Davida.

First Half

Backed by more than 7000 fans at the Petah Tikva stadium, Maccabi started the match with a spring in their step and created the first chance as early as the third minute. Ofir Davidzada carried the ball out of defense and fed Felicio Milson who flashed a shot wide of the near post.

Three minutes later Milson slipped the ball to Yonas Malede who miscued his shot wide of the target. The hosts kept pressing Maccabi’s defense and were rewarded for their efforts in the 10th minute. A mix up between Idan Nachmias and Eden Karzev saw the latter trip Petah Tikva’s Maor Levy in the box before referee Orel Grinfeeld awarded a penalty. Levy stepped up, sent Daniel Tenenbaum the wrong way and slotted in the spot kick to give Petah Tikva a 1-0 lead. Malede continued to look lively on the left as his square ball reached Dan Biton whose weak shot was saved by goalkeeper Marco Wolff in the 16^th minute.

Two minutes later, the Petah Tikva custodian pulled a reflex save to deny what would have been a stunning Dor Turgeman goal after the 20-year-old forward spun past his marker and left him on the ground before firing a powerful drive. Maccabi’s dominance finally led to an equalizer as a free kick which was crossed into the box by Biton was headed by Matan Baltaxa across the face of goal in the 20^th minute allowing Nachmias to nudge in from the goalmouth.

Milson kept tormenting Petah Tikva’s defenders who fouled him time after time as Levy, Roni Laufer and Ibraheem Jaaber were all booked for fouling the Angolan winger. Maccabi continued to dominate the play but couldn’t find an opening before Grinfeeld blew the halftime whistle and sent both teams into the dressing room with the score at 1-1.

Second Half

While Robbie Keane made no changes at the interval, his Petah Tikva counterpart, Ran Kuzukh, replaced his right-back who carried a booking, introduced Guy Dezant for Laufer at the restart.

In the 55th minute Kanichowsky released Milson with a through ball before the Angolan was impeded in the box by Hadar Fucs. Grinfeeld pointed at the spot, but VAR called the referee to the screen and cancelled his initial decision. The industrious Kanchowsky then blasted a right foot shot from the edge of the penalty area, which sailed wide. Keane reacted with a double change on 63 as he introduced Ido Shahar for Avishay Cohen and Osher Davida for Malede.

In the 72^nd minute Keane made another double change as Eden Karzev and Turgeman made way for Dor Peretz and Eran Zahavi for the closing stages. Maccabi came close in the 82nd minute as Milson teed-up Peretz who controlled the ball and fired a shot on goal. While on Saturday against Sakhnin the ball rocketed into the net, this time round, Wolff, punched it into the path of Davida whose close range rebound curled agonizingly wide.

Four minutes later, Davida charged down the right but before he managed to break into the box, he was fouled by Moise Adilehou. The Petah Tikva defender was consequently booked, and the free kick ultimately resulted with a counter attack at the opposite end. A mix-up in Maccabi’s defense allowed Liran Hazan to lift the ball over the advancing keeper before the ball bounced off the post.

As the fourth official indicated five minutes of added time, Peretz sent a square ball into the area while Biton was tripped in the box by Fucs. Grinfeeld didn’t think the foul deserve a penalty but after several minutes of the VAR checking the incident, the referee went to the screen and awarded a penalty. Zahavi stepped up and blasted the spot kick past Wolff to give Maccabi a late 2-1 lead. The drama however was far from over.

Eyal Golasa replaced Biton but almost from the restart Maccabi’s defense struggled to clear the danger and Golasa’s attempt of a clearance rolled towards goal. Andreas Karo pounced on the loose ball and with only Tenenbaum to beat squeezed the post between the keeper and his post.

Extra Time – first half

With the result at 2-2 after 90 plus minutes, both teams were sent to play 30 minutes of extra time. Six minutes after the restart Maccabi had the ball in the back of the net after Kanichowsky released Milson whose cut-back was side footed home by Peretz. But VAR once again came to Petah Tikva’s rescue as a marginal offside was given against Milson and the goal scratched off.

In the 103rd minute Petah Tikva took a surprising lead as substitute Niv Yehoshua unleashed a low drive from long distance that confused both Baltaxa and Tenenbaum to roll into the bottom corner. Shortly before the first part of extra time had ended, the hosts were reduced to 10 men after Adilehou was shown a second yellow card for a rough tackle on Baltaxa.

Extra Time – Second Half

Two minutes after the second period began Maccabi came close as Zahavi slid the ball to Davida whose shot was fired across the face of goal. Zahavi was released by Milson in the 111th minute, but from a tight angle, the veteran striker fired across the face of goal and wide of the target.

Baltaxa almost redeemed himself for his previous mistake as he headed a Shahar cross towards goal in the 115th minute. But Wolff rescued Petah Tikva as he managed to claw the ball from under the crossbar.

While Maccabi tried desperately to score an equalizer and head for a penalty shoot-out, a Petah Tikva counter attack resulted with Hazan side footing home the fourth to end Maccabi’s Cup run in the Quarter Finals.