Following his man of the match performance against Hapoel Tel Aviv in the derby, Gabi Kanichowsky, spoke ahead of the ONE ZERO LEAGUE match away to Hapoel Petah Tikva. Kanichowsky, whose side will face the second from bottom side, said : “It is not new to us that many teams will sit deep against us and wait for counter attacks, just as Hapoel Tel Aviv did after the scored the second and equalized to 2-2. It is not my job to tell our opponents what to do against us but they dropped back. We need to create an opening, even at set pieces and simply focus on our job”.

The 26-year-old midfielder who scored three of his five goals this season in the league, added about the team’s defensive game: “Keeping a clean sheet is something we talk a lot about in our dressing room. But there are opponents as well. We would really need to improve on that matter because we had five players in defense and still conceded goals which is something our coach will address. The defense begins with everyone, we will certainly have to improve.”

On scoring goals from set pieces this season, Kanichowsky added: “We need to be more aggressive and with a stronger desire to score as we have plenty of corners and free kicks we don’t exploit. This is one of the issues our coaching staff is putting their emphasis on because at the end of the day you can win a match from a set piece and go home with a 1-0 win. These are the things we need to improve as part of our process which is no news to us.”

Eden Karzev returns to Maccabi after an agreement was reached with Turkish side Basaksehir for the loan of the 23-year-old midfielder until the end of the 2023/24 season with an option to make the move permanent.

Karzev, who grew up at Maccabi’s Youth Academy, successfully completed a medical, signed the contract and told the club’s official website: “I am delighted to return to the club where I began my career. Maccabi is in the middle of a season with quite a few challenges ahead of us. I will do everything I possibly can in order to help the team win as many titles as possible. I am looking forward to meet my teammates and the fans at Bloomfield’”.

The midfielder made his senior Maccabi debut at the age of 17 in a Toto Cup match in 2017. After loan spells with Hapoel Hadera and Kiryat Shmona, Karzev, returned for the 2020/21 campaign where he made the majority of his 27 appearances in all competitions. During that season, he helped Maccabi win the Super Cup, Toto Cup and State Cup scoring two long-distance goals against Red Bull Satlzburg and Maccabi Petah Tikva.

Karzev, who has 5 international appearances for the Israel national team, left Maccabi in the summer of 2021 to join Maccabi Netanya before his move to Baseksehir in January 2023.

Preview

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD17 ONE ZERO League second Tel Aviv derby of the season against arch city rivals Hapoel aiming to put behind them a winless streak of 3 matches in succession.

A ten point lead at the top of the table which has recently been reduced to three over the course of a week, keeps Robbie Keane’s charges in the driving seat. An outstanding unbeaten record at Tel Aviv derbies which now stretches to more than 9.5 years, is also something Maccabi will be unwilling to concede.

Three days after being held to a 2-2 draw away to Bnei Reineh, Keane made two changes to his starting line-up as Enric Saborit and Ofir Davidzada returned to the defense with Idan Nachmias and Osher Davida dropping to the bench. Derrick Luckassen at the heart of defense and Avishai Cohen at right back completed Maccabi’s defensive line in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role, Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz were Maccabi’s midfield engine room trio. Roy Revivo in a more advanced role on the left wing together with Dor Turgeman on the opposite flank supplied the width while Eran Zahavi led the line aiming to put behind him the six game barren run.

On the bench Keane named Orlando Mosquera, Idan Nachmias, Dan Biton, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Matan Baltaxa, Ido Shahar, Kiko Bondoso and Osher Davida.

First Half

Robbie Keane’s formation startled Hapoel as before the visitors could figure out what was going on, they found themselves trailing with less than 90 seconds on the clock. Eran Zahavi slid the ball to Gabi Kanichowsky before the diminutive midfielder carved Hapoel’s defense open to release Dor Turgeman through on goal. The 20-year-old striker kept his calm and with only Emilijus Zubas to beat buried a left foot shot past the Lithuanian keeper. A fireworks display from both section of fans lit up Bloomfield stadium and caused a few minutes of a delay until the smoke was cleared. Maccabi’s pressure seemed to have suffocated all of Hapoel’s attempts to even cross the halfway line. When they did, Derrick Luckassen and Enric Saborit cleared the danger before any threat could reach Roi Mishpati.

Maccabi kept pressing forward forcing Hapoel’s players to make mistakes as in the 25th minute they doubled their lead. Elian Ruhana lost possession deep inside his own half before Kanichowsky latched on the loose ball to feed Zahavi who turned in the area and had his initial effort blocked by Bryan Passi. Turgeman reacted first and with the goal at his mercy rolled the ball home for his second on the night. Two minutes after the half hour mark, Ruhana made amends for his mistake earlier as Yahav Gurfinkel’s cross was flicked by Alen Ozbolt into the path of Ruhana who headed past Mishpati to cut the deficit. Hapoel were back on level terms within 4 minutes as corner reached Tal Archel on the edge of the Maccabi area before firing a shot that Mishpati couldn’t keep out. Hapoel enjoyed the momentum as less than a minute later Mishpati was at full stretch to deny a powerful Dan Einbinder right foot drive that threatened to complete a three-goal comeback. In the 42nd minute however Maccabi were back Infront as Kanichowsky sent Zahavi into the area with a pinpoint through ball. The veteran marksman who hasn’t scored in six matches ended his drought as he fired his volley in off the crossbar to make it 3-2 with his 23rd goal in all competitions this season. The fourth official indicated seven minutes of added time and with no further goals an eventful first half of the derby was over.

Second Half

With no changes at the interval Maccabi began the second half just like they did with the first – pressure on Hapoel inside their own half. Four minutes after the restart Turgeman dribbled inside the area before the ball reahed Kanichowsky who forced Zubas to save with his feet. Saborit was booked in the 55th minute for a foul before Mishpati stretched himself to keep out Hisham Layous’ free kick. A close call two minutes later saved Luckassen from conceding a penalty as his clearance from the center of the area left Blorian on the ground clutching his face.

Three minutes later referee Idan Leiba awarded Maccabi a spot kick after Saborit was brought down by Archel at the opposite penalty box. Zahavi stepped up and blasted in the penalty to score his second on the night and Maccabi’s fourth.

Tempers flared as Ozbolt’s two footed tackle on Zahavi earned Hapoel’s forward a yellow card before Keane made his first changes in the 78th minute. Luckassen and Turgeman bowed out to a standing ovation by the majority of the 14,905 fans as the duo were replaced by Idan Nachmias and Osher Davida. 

A counter attack in the 85th minute saw Roy Revivo charge down the left and cut the ball back for Zahavi whose shot was easily collected by Zubas. Just inside injury time Ofir Davidzada beat two Hapoel defenders as he charged into the penalty around down the left. Davidzada spotted Zahavi unmarked on the edge of the area, but while his powerful drive beat Zubas, Pasi managed to block with his chest on the line to deny him a hattrick. Zahavi and Avishai Cohen received their standing ovation as they were both replaced by Kiko Bondoso and Sheran Yeini with allowing the Portuguese midfielder and the club captain join in the celebrations.The full time whistle confirmed Maccabi were back to winning ways and the unbeaten run at derbies continue.