Preview
Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Turner stadium for the MD10 ONE ZERO league match against Hapoel Be’ersheva, the same venue where Robbie Keane guided his charges to an emphatic 6-1 Toto Cup win for what was his first domestic match in Israel. Since the Irish Head Coach enjoyed an almost perfect 2023 campaign which included an unbeaten record and 7 victories from 8 league matches, and a solitary defeat in 20 matches in all competitions which culminated in qualification to the Conference League Round of 16. Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Maccabi Netanya at Bloomfield, took Maccabi’s tally to 22 points from eight matches, three more than second place Bnei Reineh that played 10. Be’ersheva that suffered 4 league defeats and had won 3 matches and drawn twice, were 7th in the table 11 points from nine matches.
Keane made three changes from the side that beat Netanya on Sunday with Nir Bitton replacing the injured Enric Saborit as Derrick Luckassen’s partner at the heart of defense. Ofir Davidzada was named by Keane at left back allowing Roy Revivo some rest while Avishai Cohen completed the back-four that protected goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role supported by Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky were Maccabi’s unchanged midfield trio. Felicio Milson who scored Maccabi’s opener against Netanya and Dan Biton who assisted that goal, were named by Keane on the wings in support of Eran Zahavi who led the team out. The 26-year-old marksman who so far this season scored 20 goals in as many matches, will aim to add to his 7 league goals and continue his run to 7 successive goals in as many outings.
First Half
The match at frantic pace with Maccabi pressing the hosts, pinging Be’ersheva in their own half making it difficult for them to even cross the halfway line. In the seventh minute Avishai Cohen’s pressure earned him the ball as he charged forward unchallenged but the right-back’s shot from the edge of the area went wide of the post. Maccabi continued to enjoy most of the possession as Joris van Overeem, Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky dominated the midfield suffocating all of Be’ersheva’s attempts to break forward.
In the 16th minute and against the run of play Be’ersheva had the ball in the back of Orlando Mosquera’s net, but the referee’s assistant raised his flag for offside and the goal was scratched off. A minute later at the opposite end Dor Peretz beat Niv Eliasi but the Maccabi midfielder was also caught offside and the score remained goalless. The action continued in tbe 20th minute as a free kick eluded Maccabi’s defense and was headed in at the far post past Mosquera but once again the flag was raised and the goal disallowed. Robbie Keane was forced to make his first change in the 24th minute as Dan Biton limped off and was replaced by Osher Davida.
In the 34th minute Felicio Milson charged down the left wing and crossed towards the far post where Davida headed straight at Eliasi. Less than 30 seconds later Zahavi tried his luck with a shot which was also directed at the keeper. In the 37th minute though Davida and Zahavi combined as Maccabi were finally translated their superiority to a goal. Cohen sent Davida down the right flank as the winger skipped past Helder Lopez and crossed into the area. Zahavi rose high and guided his header past Eliasi to score his seventh goal in as many successive outings, 8th league goal and 21st in all competitions this season. On the brink of halftime, Be’ersheva were awarded a corner after a Roy Gordana shot was blocked by van Overeem. The resulting corner saw Peretz charge for a counter attack but with only the keeper to beat sliced his shot wide of the target.
Second Half
With no changes to either side at the restart, the second half began where the first one left off as Maccabi continued to doninate. Be’ersheva introduced Eylon Almog for Alon Turgeman but within minutes the former Maccabi forward required treatment for what seemed like a knee injury which led to him limping off as part of three substitutions Elyaniv Barda made on 64.
Despite their numerical disadvantage Be’ersheva almost clawed their way back into the game but Mosquera pulled a stunning save in the 77th ninute. At the opposite end Elias was at full stretch to push Davida’s curling effort from the edge of the area, out for a corner. Keane made his second change as of the game as Milson bowed out to a standing ovation from Maccabi’s 450 travelling fans as ge was replaced in the 79th minute by Dor Turgeman. Keane made a double substitution as Idan Nachmias came on for Avishai Cohen while Yonatan Cohen replaced Davida on 88.
Peretz could have sealed the victory a minute later as he was sent clear through by Luckassen but Be’ersheva’s keeper saved with his feet to give his side a glimpse of hope. Mosquera denied Be’ersheva an equaliser as he caught a free kick that caught Maccabi’s defence flat. Inside injury time Yoni Stoyanov fouled Turgeman inside the area and was shown a second yellow with Maccabi awarded a penalty. VAR intervened and called Roi Reinshreiber to the screen, and after a lengthy look cancelled both the penalty and the red card. Beersheva tried ferociously to level tbe score but Derrick Luckassen first a d Turgeman later pulled last gasp tackles to clear the danger at the end.
