Yonatan Cohen experienced a dramatic night at Bloomfield stadium as he had a goal disallowed before scoring an injury-time winner on the way to a 1-0 victory over Beitar Jerusalem. The 27-yer-old who faced the media after the match started his press conference with a mention to two of teammates. “I would first like to wish a speedy recovery to Nir Bitton who suffered a knee injury. We are all hoping for the best, but even if the injury is bad then we are all behind him and support him. I would also like to extend our heartfelt condolences to Gabi Kanichowsky who lost two close friends that died in action as part of their reserve duty in the IDF. We are all so sorry for his loss and would like to dedicate this victory to him”.

Cohen, who scored his first league goal of the campaign and fifth in all competitions, spoke about the time he spent on the sidelines: “It was obviously sitting in my head as you al know me as someone with great passion to play all the time and play my part. The recent spell wasn’t easy for me, but I never let my head drop for one second. I woke up every morning, had a look in the mirror and knew that I am giving it all. When the team is having a good run without you the there are not too many choices besides being ready for your chance. I am just happy that today I came on for a more minutes than usual, gave my share and helped the team win. What makes me even happier is the ability to make all those fans who turn up here to support us and those watching us on TV. This is a privilege for us to be able to do that and I am very happy for it.”

On the tough competition for places Cohen is forced to deal with, he added: “When you are at Maccabi the hard work is a daily routine. You can’t afford to remove the foot off the pedal for one second. You must maintain the highest level possible and that is the standard here – to be the best and the most successful. Sometimes you take the chance and play, but the following match if you are not up to speed you could find yourself out of the team or out of the rotation. There are demands and we need to deliver all the time. This is what I had done during my first tenure at Maccabi, but after returning from Italy, I didn’t maintain that stability so now I hope to be able to show what I can do.”

 

Preview

Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the ONE ZERO LEAGUE match, the first with fans since the war began as Robbie Keane’s top of the table side hosted Beitar Jerusalem.

Three days after the 2-1 victory away to Maccabi Petah which was Maccabi’s ninth league win, Robbie Keane’s top of the table side host Beitar that are unbeaten in the last five league matches. Prior to the match, Beitar were ranked 10th with 11 points but Yossi Abuksis’ outfit that won 4 lost 4 and drawn 3 could have been further up the table if not for their 4-point-deduction for disciplinary reasons. Keane made four changes to his starting line-up as Nir Bitton returned to partner Derrick Luckassen at the heart of defense. Ofir Davidzada returned to the side at left-back while Roy Revivo shifted across the defense to fill the right-back role. Joris van Overeem and Dor Peretz kept their place in midfield while the late withdrawal of Gabi Kanichowsky saw Ido Shahar make his first start and complete the midfield trio. With Felicio Milson keeping his place on the wing, Dor Turgeman returned to the side at the opposite flank while Eran Zahavi led the line upfront. The 36-year-old veteran marksman who scored for the eighth time in as many outings last week and reached 22 goals in all competitions, will aim to continue his good run of form.

Injuries to Enric Saborit Dan Biton and Eyal Golasa forced Keane to name only eight substitutes on the bench, as Roi Mishpati, Avishai Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Yehuda Belay, Kiko Bondoso and Osher Davida all waited for their chance to make an impact.

First Half

Around 5000 fans were back at Bloomfield stadium for the first time since the war began in October as the match against Beitar Jerusalem began with action at both ends. An Ido Shahar corner in the fifth minute was flicked into the path of Deretz who managed to get a touch, only for the ball to strike the post. Derrick Luckassen remained on the ground inside Beitar’s area as the visitors charged forward for a counterattack. Luckassen’s defensive partner Nir Bitton tried stopping then attack with a tackle but was left clutching his knee. Beitar almost exploited the fact both of Maccabi’s central defenders were missing as Fred Friday headed wide from close range. Bitton, who required medical treatment limped off and was replaced by Nachmias forcing Keane to make his first change in the ninth minute. A pinpoint Peretz cross found Eran Zahavi who rose high at the far post but directed his header straight at Beitar’s keeper Miguel Silva. Maccabi avoided a scare as Nachmias seemed to have tripped Timothy Muzi just inside the area, but the linesman raised his flag for offside preventing what could have been a red card. Peretz had another glorious chance to break the deadlock as he found himself with only Silva to beat but Beitar’s keeper charged off his line and managed to block with his feet.

Right on the half hour mark referee Gal Leibovic booked both Zahavi and Eddie Gotlieb for a tussle between the two. Three minutes later, Beitar were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position after Peretz fouled Muzi but Yarden Shuah didn’t trouble Orlando Mosquera as he fired the free kick high over the crossbar.

In the 39th minute Milson and Shahar exchanged passes to carve Beitar’s defense open before the Angolan winger had his close effort denied by Silva. A minute later at the opposite end, Mosquera pulled a stunning reflex save to deny Friday from putting Beitar in-front.

As the fourth official indicated four minutes of added time, Ofir Davidzada was also booked for a tackle on Muzi before blowing the halftime whistle.

Second Half

With no changes made by either coach at the break, both teams emerged for the restart as Maccabi trying to carve an opening and break the deadlock. Beitar created the first chance of the second half as a counterattack in the 55^th minute saw Friday released into the box but send his shot wide. Keane reacted almost instantly as he made a triple substitution by introducing Avishai Cohen, Yonatan Cohen and Kiko Bondoso for Davidzada, Shahar and Dor Turgeman.

With Milson Peretz and Zahavi struggling to find their touch, Maccabi’s attempts kept crashing against the visitors’ defense. In the 63rd minute Revivo tried a right foot shot which was easily collected by Silva while five minutes later Luckassen had a shot roll across the face of goal.

Maccabi placed Beitar under siege with Zahavi’s claims for a penalty waived by the referee as well as VAR on 71. Two minutes later Beitar’s keeper pulled a stunning save to deny Zahavi’s snap-shot. But in the 73rd minute a controversial incident saw Zahavi collide with Beitar’s keeper who remained on the ground allowing Yonatan Cohen to head the ball home. Cohen’s celebrations were short-lived as VAR had a long look at the incident before calling Leibovic to the screen for a review which ultimately led to the goal being disallowed. Silva required treatment and was replaced by Roy Sason in goal. Milson had a shot from the edge of the area that crept wide of the post shortly before Leibovic added 13 minutes. Two minutes inside added time nothing could deny Maccabi and Cohen from taking the lead. Milson broke forward and his attempt of a shot reached Cohen who rolled the ball home into the open goal. Milson bowed out to a standing ovation and was replaced by Sheran Yeini as Keane added the experienced club captain onto the field. Yeini could have sealed the contest at the death when Peretz left him in front of the keeper, but his shot rolled agonizingly wide. The final whistle confirmed Maccabi’s victory as all focus will be turned to Sunday’s match away to Hapoel Haifa which will conclude the first league round.  

In his seventh season at Maccabi, Ofir Davidzada, is facing tough competition for a regular place on the left side of defense. The 32-year year old full-back who made 13 appearances in all competitions this season, is showing the fighting spirit and camaraderie which seems to have led Maccabi to where they are now. “We are in a really good spell right now” Davidzada said, “We even manage to win matches when we are not playing so well which is extremely important. Our aim is to improve our ability from game to game and obviously collect the points as well. We have a tough match ahead of us” Davidzada added ahead of Beitar Jerusalem (Bloomfield, 20:30), “But our target is still to win”.

Under Robbie Keane, Maccabi have a comfortable six-point lead at the top of the table and are in unbeaten after 10 matches. Davidzada, who in seven years at Maccabi played under several foreign coaches, identifies the changes introduced by the current regime: “The credit should go to our coaching staff and especially our head coach. Everyone knows Robbie as a footballing legend and the winning mentality he brings in as a coach. We had a few occasions where we were trailing at halftime and went into the dressing room. He just knew how to say the right things, lift us up, raise morale which was all evident in the second half. Robbie’s winning mentality has seemingly stuck to us, and we just need to know how to take it forward.”     

Davidzada who is no stranger to the competition for the left-back position at Maccabi, revealed: “Even at my second season at Maccabi when Enric Saborit joined the club, I always used to say that competition is a healthy thing for a player. It is all a matter of choice if how you take things. My choice is to take the positive aspect where I like to push myself and improve every day. This way I don’t just push myself to improve but also push the player competing with me for a place to reach his best ability.”   

The 32-year-old Israeli international who joined Maccabi in 2017 from Gent, where he didn’t play too much, said how the experience in Belgium helped his development: “During my time in Gent, I didn’t play too much, but that year taught me a lot. With a lot of hard work mostly mental training, I learned that if I am mentally strong, everything is possible. This is my attitude in football and in life.”

Besides trying to impress Keane and his staff, Davidzada revealed to have taken another role as well: “This is my seventh season here and I am 32, so my role is also to push the youngsters to take my place in the future. Roy Revivo is a player with great potential. Obviously, I would like to prove that I deserve to play and that is the coach’s decision to pick the side, but I would still give a 100% both on and off the pitch. I am a team player, always have been and always will be.”

   

Wednesday’s match against Beitar Jerusalem at Bloomfield will be the 135^th league encounter between the two sides. Maccabi won 56, lost 38 while 40 matches ended in a draw with the total goal tally currently on 194-138.

Maccabi has an existing unbeaten run of 13 matches against Beitar Jerusalem – 9 wins, 4 draws and goal tally of 26-6.

No less than 71 players featured over the years for both sides with Avishai Cohen being the only current Maccabi squad member.

Avi Nimni (30) holds the appearance record against Beitar with Sheran Yeini ranked second with 28 matches.

Nimni also lead the goal-scorers chart against Beitar with 15 goals to his name. Eran Zahavi, who scored in the last six league outings against Beitar shares second place with Benny Tabbak as both scored 13 goals each.

Maccabi’s highest victory against the Jerusalem side was a 7-0 thrashing at Bloomfield in the Playoff of the 2000/01 season. Avi Nimni (2), Rodrigo Goldberg (2), Dedi Ben Dayan, Guy Zarfati and Baruch Dego were all on target.

This will be the 32^nd match Maccabi faces a side coached by Yossi Abuksis of which Maccabi won 17, lost 5 and drawn 9.

This will be the third season in succession Maccabi face a team from Jerusalem on MD12.

In 2021/22 season Maccabi beat Beitar 2-1 while last season (2022/23) Maccabi recorded a 3-0 win over Hapoel Jerusalem. Both matches were staged at Teddy stadium to form a run of five Maccabi victories in succession on MD12.