Idan Nachmias, marked his 14^th appearance in all competitions this season by featuring at right back in the 1-0 victory over Hapoel Be’ersheva that helped Maccabi return to the top of the table. The 26-year-old defender who was named by Robbie Keane as a full-back on the right side of defense from where he played a key role in Maccabi’s goal said after the match: “You all know I am always here for the team and will give my best in every game, at every position regardless of where I am asked to play. The coaching staff spoke to me during the week and told me I might start at right-back against Be’ersheva. Even though I was asked to push in to a three central defenders position when the team goes forward, I wasn’t supposed to go forward but identified the opportunity and wasn’t afraid to push on for the goal. When I launched the cross I was hoping Eran or Milson would score so I would get an assist.” Nachmias, whose regular position is a central defender, admitted: “I really tried focusing on my actions and keep it simple because this role is new to me. I am delighted I could play at another position because all my career I played at center back. I think I did a good so the biggest positive for me is the clean sheet.”

On the game evolved against Be’ersheva, Nachmias said: “We managed to scrape the three points with our teeth. We had a dip in form towards the end but this is natural after missing the penalty as momentum can shift. I am happy we managed to hang on and not concede in those minutes or later-on in the game. We defended quite a bit and sometimes one needs to know how to win such tight matches.”

On the fans display at Bloomfield prior to kick off, where more than hundred Maccabi fans murdered or killed since the start of the war were honored, Nachmias said: “This gesture by the fans was extremely emotional. I explained to Enric Saborit, who was standing next to me, what it was all about, as we were both moved by it. Such gestures are something this club knows to do, and I mean the fans and the club. During the war all the players rose to the occasion as we went everywhere attending funerals and memorial services in a bid to try and console families of fans. We are still in touch today with some families. Personally, I am still in contact with the father of Adir Portugal R.I.P as well as Ariel Zohar whose family were murdered. The club ensured we remain part of all this, so as far as I am concerned my love to Maccabi received an even bigger boost. Those gestures the fans are doing to other fans who lost their lives during this war makes me emotional time after time.”

Maccabi will host Hapoel Be’ersheva on Saturday for a top of the table MD22 ONE ZZERO League clash at Bloomfield (20:00). Roy Revivo who scored a spectacular free kick against Maccabi Netanya earlier this week, faced the media ahead of the game between the two sides currently ranked second and third.    

Revivo, who scored his senior debut goal against Ashdod doubled his tally for the season with a free kick against Netanya, revealed: “When I was with the Israel U19’s with Ophir Haim the player who took the free kick was Thai Abed who has an amazing shot. I asked Ophir to let me take one every now and then as I also have a good shot. At the end of one training I told him that if I score one now he should let me take one at a match and he said ‘go for it’. Tomer Zarfati who was Netanya’s keeper against us this week, was in goal and I scored. He told me that he is not sure whether he would let me take a free kick and until today he hasn’t done so as I never had a go. At the game against Netanya, I told myself that I will try and received the support of Sab (Enric Saborit) who encouraged me to go take it.”

On the comparison to the free-kicks technique of his father Haim Revivo, Roy said: “From a young age I have been going into YouTube, clicking my father’s name and watch the things he did whilst playing for Fenerbahce or Galatasaray and see what it is all about. It is always fun to score goals, especially to be able to run to the fans and experience that madness, nothing can beat that.”

Following Maccabi’s 5-1 victory over Netanya and the recent run of results, Revivo said: “There is no secret behind us wanting to win every match. We don’t like to draw let alone to lose. We set ourselves a target after a complex spell of not winning matches to get back to winning ways, be aggressive and energetic. I am delighted we got that victory.”

Despite his young age and the first full-season with Maccabi’s senior side, Revivo, who already played 32 matches in all competitions in this campaign, remained with his feet on the ground: “After victories I tend to have 24 hours where I am enjoying the win and then open a clean slate ahead of the next match. Every match stands on its own but in football we all know that anything can happen. We will approach this match like we did against Netanya, be aggressive, energetic and follow the instructions of the coaching staff.”

On the style of play Maccabi will approach, Revivo summed up: “We all knew that the playing surface in Netanya wasn’t the best with the ball bouncing everywhere especially in the center of the pitch. Sometimes it is worth taking risks, send the ball forward and battle for the second and third balls whilst being aggressive. It proved successful.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv would line-up against Olympiacos Piraeus of Greece in the Conference League Round of 16 following the draw which took place at UEFA’s Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday. Robbie Keane’s side will play at the 33,334 capacity Georgios Karaiskakis stadium before hosting the return leg at a neutral following the decision to relocate matches from Israel due to the current situation.

Olympiacos, who are currently third in the Greek Super League, featured in the EUROPA League this season, beat Hungarian side Ferencevaros 2-0 on aggregate to reach the Round of 16.

This will be the second time both clubs lock horns as Maccabi played Olympiacos in the 2010/11 campaign.

The winners of the eight ties advance to the Quarter Finals, with the draw scheduled for Friday 15 March. The losers are out of 2023/24 European competition. Ties level after 180 minutes will go to extra time irrespective of the number of goals each team has scored at home and away. If the teams still cannot be separated after the additional 30 minutes, the tie goes to a penalty shoot-out.

 

 

The morning after the 5-1 league victory away to Maccabi Netanya, Robbie Keane’s charges lined-up against second division side Hapoel Kfar Sava at Kiryat Shalom.

Henry Addo made his first outing for Maccabi since joining the club in the January transfer window. The Ghanian forward was handed a chance to play on one wing while Yonatan Cohen who was named by Keane on the opposite flank opened the scoring with less than a minute on the clock.

Matan Baltaxa doubled Maccabi’s lead before Cohen scored his second shortly before the 35 minute halftime whistle was sounded.

A Kfar Sava defender converted an Addo square ball into his net to give Maccabi a four goal lead before Daniel Elmalah beat Daniel Tenenbaum with a low drive to cut the deficit. In the 70th and final minute Eyal Golasa released Osher Davida whose clinical finish sealed the score at 5-1.

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at the Netanya stadium for the ONE ZERO League MD22 against local side Maccabi Netanya in a bid to return to winning ways and record the 15th victory of the season.

Last week’s 1-1 draw against Bnei Sakhnin at Bloomfield kept Robbie Keane’s charges in 2nd place with 46 points. The 1-1 draw in the Haifa derby on Sunday, between fourth place Hapoel and leaders Maccabi Haifa – now gives Maccabi a chance to cancel the three point gap from the top.

Keane made three changes from last week as Enric Saborit was handed the captain’s armband partnering Raz Shlomo at the heart of defense. Roy Revivo replaced Ofir Davidzada at left back with Avishai Cohen completing the defensive line in front of goalkeeper Roy Mishpati. Joris van Overeem were assigned to Maccabi’s engine room with Ido Shahar stepping in for Dor Peretz to complete the midfield trio. Milson kept his place on the left wing while Yonas Malede who scored Maccabi’s late equalizer against Sakhnin was handed a first start against his former club on the opposite flank. Dor Turgeman spearheaded the attack as Era Zahavi waited for his chance on the bench.
Alongside Zahavi, Peretz, and Davdzada, Keane, named Daniel Tenenbaum, Yonatan Cohen, Matan Baltaxa, Kiko Bondoso, Eden Kartzev and Osher Davida.

Prior to kickoff Netanya held a ceremony for their three former players: Raz Shlomo, Yonas Malede and Eden Kartzev honoring their services for the club.

First Half

The hosts began the match on the front foot placing pressure on Maccabi’s goal right from the start. Netanya pressed high in the opening couple of minutes as Guy Mizrahi tested Roy Mishpati with a powerful half volley from the edge of the area which was turned by the Maccabi keeper over his crossbar. Maccabi gradually began to dominate the game as Joris van Overeem, Gabi Kanichowsky and Ido Shahar in the middle bossed their Netanya counterparts. In the 14th minute Shahar was sent to the byline before his cross appeared to have struck the arm of a Netanya defender. Referee Aviad Shiloah was called by the VAR to the screen and awarded a penalty. Shahar stepped up to take the spot kick, kept his calm, sent the keeper the wrong way to roll in the penalty for his debut league goal this season. Maccabi came close to double their lead on 21 after Yonas Malede and Dor Turgeman combined well before van Overeem blasted his shot high over the bar.

Two minutes after the half hour mark Mishpati was at full stretch to turn a Maxim Plakuschenko powerful low drive for a corner. The resulting corner led to a mix-up in the area as Netanya’s claims for a handball in Maccabi’s penalty area were dismissed by VAR. In the 38th minute Turgeman was brought down by a Netanya defender some 25 meters away from goal. Roy Revivo’s left foot free kick was too powerful and too accurate for Netanya’s keeper Tomer Zarafati who picked the second ball out of his net.

On the stroke of halftime Netanya cut the deficit as Guy Mizrahi was given the time and space to send a square ball which was flicked in by Itamar Shviro to make it 2-1.

Second Half

Keane made one change at halftime as Ofir Davidzada replaced Avishai Cohen for the restart with Revivo switching to right-back. In the 53rd minute Mishpati was quick off his line to block Mizrahi’s effort after the former Maccabi full-back was sent clear through.

Keane made a second change in the 58th minute as Malede bowed out and was replaced by Osher Davida’s fresh pair of legs.

In the 62nd minute Maccabi restored the two-goal lead as Milson carved Netanya’s defense open with a through ball to Shahar who turned provider as his square ball allowed Kanichowsky to side foot home.

Eran Zahavi was introduced for Turgeman in the 69th minute as the veteran marksman was given 20 minutes to make a mark. In the 73rd minute Milson took the match beyond Netanya’s reach as the Angolan winger turned outside the area and snapped a powerful shot that rocketed past Zarfati to make it 4-1.

Keane made another double change as Milson and van Overeem came off to a standing ovation as they were replaced by Dor Peretz and Eden Kartzev.

Peretz could have made an immediate impact as he found Davida with an accurate square ball but the pacy winger couldn’t keep his close range effort down. Seconds after the fourth official indicated five minutes of added time Netanya were awarded a free kick which was taken by Liran Rotman who rattled Mishpati’s crossbar.

A minute later at the opposite end Zahavi put Shahar through and the diminutive midfielder slipped it past Zarfati for his second on the night Maccabi’s fifth.