Maccabi started the 2023/24 season with 5 victories, 1 draw and a 17-3 goal tally. Maccabi enjoyed a better start to a league campaign only twice in the past winning the opening six matches (1953/54 and 1993/94).

In 77 league encounters with Hapoel Jerusalem, Maccabi recorded their 48^th victory with an additional 12 draws and 17 defeats. At Teddy stadium Maccabi’s record currently stands on 7 league wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in 9 matches.

Last night’s victory set a record as Hapoel Jerusalem suffered its’ sixth successive home defeat to the same opponent in the league. Maccabi’s run began in November 1999 and was stretched even further yesterday. Hapoel Jerusalem’s previous negative record was also against Maccabi with 5 successive home defeats between 1972-1976.

Maccabi completed a two-goal comeback at Teddy which was the 120^th time in the club’s history that an early deficit ended with a league victory. While this was only the second comeback ever against the Jerusalem side, Maccabi’s record number of comebacks (13) was recorded against Bnei Yehuda.

Eran Zahavi reached an impressive landmark of 150 goals in the top-flight and is ranked 10^th in the all-times goal-scorers chart. Zahavi scored 123 league goals in 157 appearances for Maccabi and has a further 27 goals in 94 league appearances for Hapoel Tel Aviv. The last player to reach 150 league goals was Shai Holtzman in February 2006 featuring for 9 different clubs.

The 36-year-old was on target in every one of the four league matches he featured against Hapoel Jerusalem. Zahavi also scored in his first four league matches against three other clubs: Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Hapoel Acco and Maccabi Netanya. He also holds the Maccabi record of scoring in every one of his 7 league encounters against one side – Ironi Kiryat Shmona.

Osher Davida scored his debut Maccabi goal that completed the comeback and secured the victory to become the 301^st player to score for the club in the league.   

   

Osher Davida’s winning goal against Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy stadium was his debut goal for Maccabi Tel Aviv. At the end of the match, the winger who made a second half substitute appearance and played a key role in the team’s comeback, said at the end of the match: “At halftime we were told we simply need to raise our heads, keep going, and continue with plenty of energies which were lacking a bit in the first half. We had a different second half better than the first one and I am delighted we won.”

Davida, who joined Maccabi in the summer from Standard Liege, added: “I arrived after the second or third league round when the team already had a run so obviously the coach had his players which is totally understandable. Just like you arrive at a new job, want to prove yourself and find your place, one must wait patiently. At first, I played for half an hour, started a match in Europe and even though I played less recently the team had a good run as the coach shows faith in his players which is good. Today I received my chance and did what I wanted to do so I hope we can just climb from here.”

On the league’s return while matches are played behind closed doors, Davida added: “The feelings are complex because on the one hand are heads are not totally there but on the other hand, we do what we love doing. I think that many people at home also prefer to watch the matches. Playing behind closed doors doesn’t feel the same without the fans and I just hope they will return soon. We are back playing competitive football, so let us hope the IDF completes the task and then we can move on to allow fans back in.”

Following the 64-day-long imposed break from domestic football, Maccabi now face a tough tight schedule of 16 matches until the end of January, Davida said: “We have plenty of overload as we experienced trips, flights and only returned to Israel on Friday. One must use the players properly and I think we did just that. I hope we continue to do what we are aiming for. We have a week to prepare for the next match and after that we have a game every three days – so we need all our players to be at a maximum of readiness.”

Eran Zahavi scored a second half equaliser to cancel Hapoel Jerusalem’s early goal as Maccabi returned from Teddy stadium with a 2-1 victory. Zahavi, who scored his 5th league goal, 17th in all competitions this season and 150th league goal of his career, summed up: “Every time the ball crosses the goallline means the world to me especially when it helps the team win matches. We showed character. We were dominant throughout the match. In the first half we didn’t create too many chances. In the second half we made a few changes and everything went smoother. We deserved to win.”

On the difficulties both Zahavi and his teammates encountered over the past month, Maccabi’s captain on the night said: “There is no doubt that it was all very difficult but who are we to complain at such times when we have to leave our homes and sacrifice ourselves to do what we love doing most – trying to make people happy. We have the privilege to do it so we are grateful for every moment and not moaning.”

Zahavi, remained adamant that the past month abroad playing in Poland, Serbia and Iceland helped the team bond: “We managed to stay united. We made some sacrifices by leaving our families behind and travelled abroad, the foreigners made some sacrifices and it paid off. We didn’t feel for one moment that there is a player or staff member who doesn’t want to return. They all gave us a good feeling right from the start. One has to take the hat off to all of them for even being here. It is not a simple matter and we must show more understanding. They respected us and we respected them.”

When asked about the unger he still has at the age of 36, Zahavi said: “I feel like a child with my hunger. There are kids who look up to us and for me to show the passion feels like I am a six-year-old playing my football until the last moment”.

Preview

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Teddy stadium for the MD6 match away to Hapoel Jerusalem which marks the return to league action after a 64-day imposed break due to the war.

With his side leading the table, an unbeaten record from the first five matches and a goal difference of 15-2, Maccabi’s Head Coach, Robbie Keane, made three changes from the side that returned from Iceland on Friday following the 2-1 victory over Breidablik.

Orlando Mosquerra, who was in goal for the three Conference League matches, made his debut league appearance. Nir Bitton partnered Enric Saborit at the heart of Maccabi’s defense right in-front of Mosquerra. Avishai Cohen kept his place on the right while Ofir Davidzada returned to the side on the left at the expense of Roy Revivo. Joris van Overeem, Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky all kept their place as Keane’s midfield engine room. Dor Turgeman, made his first league start on one wing with Felicio Milson supplying further width on the opposite flank. Upfront, Eran Zhahavi led the team out wearing the captain’s armband aiming to continue his run of good form which saw the 36-year-old veteran marksman score 4 in the league and 16 in all competitions.

On the substitutes bench Keane named Roi Mishpati, Dan Biton, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Derrick Luckassen, Kiko Bondoso, Osher Davida, Kiko Bondoso and Yvann Macon.

First Half

Maccabi walked onto the pitch accompanied by Michael Idan, Inbar Mor and Daniela Mor the family of Abigail Idan (3) of Kfar Aza who was recently released from captivity.

The match began with a minute of silence in memory of those murdered on the October 7th deadly attack on the South of Israel.

The empty Teddy stadium must have contributed to the slow start which saw both teams lack accuracy even more than atmosphere as none of the keepers were troubled. In the 13^th minute, Dor Turgeman tried slipping the ball to Gabi Kanichowsky but his path which carved Jerusalem’s defense open was slightly over hit. Two minutes later Milson released Eran Zahavi whose initial effort was blocked before Kanichowsky latched on the loose ball, but his effort struck the base of the post. Kanichowsky, continued to look lively as his accurate through ball in the 17th minute released Ofir Davidzada whose pinpoint cross found Zahavi. But the attempt of a volley by the veteran marksman rocketed high into the empty stand.

Right on the half hour mark Joris van Overeem stripped an opponent of the ball and fed Dor Peretz whose attempt of a long-range effort was collected by Jerusalem’s keeper Nadav Zamir.

In the 40th minute and against the run of play the hosts took the lead in controversial circumstances as Ofek Biton shrugged off Enric Saborit before charging forward and sending a low powerful drive that beat Orlando Mosquerra.

Inside injury time Turgeman rifled a left foot shot from the edge of the area, but Zamir stretched himself to push the ball out before referee Idan Leiba blew the halftime whistle.

Second Half

Maccabi’s coach Robbie Keane kept the side unchanged at the restart while his Jerusalem counterpart, Ziv Ariye, introduced Matan Hozez for Karem Zuabi. Felicio Milson began the second half match on the front foot as he dribbled into the area on 48 before cutting-back to Zahavi whose effort was blocked.

Maccabi were back on level terms on 54 as Kanichowsky sent a free kick into the area, Saborit headed the ball into the path of Zahavi who nodded in the equalizer to score his 5^th league goal, 17^th of the season in 399^th career goal. Play was not renewed for several minutes until VAR ruled out any possibility of an offside while Keane made an immediate substitute as Dan Biton came on for van Overeem. Two minutes after his introduction Biton came close following good work by Turgeman but the midfielder’s close-range shot was directed straight at the keeper.

Keane made his second change in the 67^th minute with Osher Davida replacing Milson. Davida’s impact was almost instant as the comeback was complete seven minutes later. Maccabi’s pressure on Jerusalem’s Nadav Niddam resulted with a poor attempt of a clearance that reached Kanichowsky. With one touch the diminutive midfielder fed Davida who scored his debut Maccabi goal with a low accurate shot to make it 2-1.

Zahavi could have increased Maccabi’s lead in the 80^th minute after Peretz was fouled on the edge of the area but his free kick cleared the crossbar. Turgeman also came close less than a minute later as the young striker broke into the box but opted for power rather than accuracy as his shot went agonizingly wide.

Davida flashed a left foot curling shot which missed the top corner in the 89^th minute before Zahavi bowed out and was replaced by Yonatan Cohen.

Leiba’s full-time whistle confirmed Maccabi’s victory as the team will now have one week of preparations ahead of next Sunday’s trip to Sakhnin and the busy two months ahead.