Two days after the 3-2 victory over Zorya Luhansk at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Maccabi began the preparations for the match against Breidablik in Iceland. Robbie Keane’s charges, held a morning session at Vojvodina’s Karađorđe Stadium in Novi Sad.

The victory over the Ukrainians at the rescheduled match, took Maccabi’s tally to 9 points from four matches and a step closer towards qualification from Group B.

A victory over the Icelandic outfit on Thursday, will secure Maccabi a place in the next stage with group winner advancing to the Round of 16 while the runners up qualify to the Round of 32.

Dor Peretz scored a second brace in succession as the 28-year-old midfielder who scored twice against Zorya in Poland a fortnight ago, did the same in Serbia on the way to a 3-2 victory. Peretz, whose personal goal tally in the competition now stands on 6 goals, said at the end of the match: “I am delighted to be in this of position. Its a team process yet the one who scores the goals gets the credit but it is an entire team effort and the moves involves everyone. I am just happy that this is what we do.”

Peretz who completed another 90 minutes on the back of a busy international window where he also featured for Israel, added: “There are matches when there is no fatigue and you are not tired as the most important thing is to stay on the pitch and win with the team which is exactly what we did.”

As Maccabi almost let a three goal slip by conceding two late goals, Peretz said: “I think we were a little tired towards the end and lost some concentration. It was evident in the result, but we won, took three very imoortant points which would help us for the rest of our European journey and that is the most important thing on a might like this.”

On the challenge of playing the match behind closed doors, Peretz added: “It was super challenging, but I think this was the last thing on the players’ minds especially these days. The most important thing right now is what happens back home, the hostages, the wounded, as i really hope they all return home quickly and recover. These are the important things these days. I just hope that at least we managed to give a little pride and joy for our fans back home.”

Preview

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at the TSC Arena in Serbia’s Backa Topola, for the rescheduled Conference League MD3 home match against Zorya Luhansk. A fortnight after beating the Ukrainian side 3-1 in Poland, Maccabi have 6 points from three matches and are currently second in Group B, four adrift of leaders Gent.

Maccabi’s Head Coach, Robbie Keane, made no changes from the side that beat the Zorya in Lublin as goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera kept his place in goal. Enric Saborit and Derrick Luckassen lined-up as the two central defenders in-front of the Panamanian custodian with Avishai Cohen and Roy Revivo completing Maccabi’s back-four on the right and left ,respectively. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role supported by Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky were Keane’s three-man midfield engine room. Felicio Milson on one flank and Dan Biton on the other supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation assigned to the task of supplying ammunition for Eran Zahavi. The veteran marksman who led the team out wearing the captain’s armband will aim to add to his tally of 14 goals for Maccabi in all competitions this season. On the bench, Keane named both Roi Mishpati and Daniel Tenenbaum as well as Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Ido Shahar, Nir Bitton, Kiko Bondoso, Osher Davida and Yvann Macon.

First Half

The early stages of the match at the TSC Arena saw Maccabi enjoy most of the possession but struggle to create a serious chance on Zorya’s goal. The visitors tried launching counter attacks but couldn’t get past Maccabi’s defensive line which was marshalled by Derrick Luckassen and Enric Saborit.

Eran Zahavi came close on 15 as he flashed a shot across the face of goal before heading wide two minutes later. Dan Biton tried curling a left foot shot in the 19th minute, but Zorya’s keeper, Mykyta Turbaievskyi, collected with ease. Dor Peretz, who scored a brace when both sides met at Lublin, blasted a right-foot-volley from the edge of the area on 21 that was blocked by a defender for a corner. Maccabi increased the pressure while Zorya struggled to break out of their half until a minute after the half-hour-mark saw, Petar Micin, charge forward. But the Serbian midfielder’s effort was equaled by Orlando Mosquera.

Gabi Kanichowsky thought he managed to open the score on 37 as he was sent clear through by a perfect Roy Revivo through ball. Kanichowsky, fired his shot into the bottom far corner but his celebrations were short-lived as the referee assistant raised his flag for offside. Even a VAR review didn’t reverse the decision as the goal didn’t count to keep the score goalless. When it seemed as though no goals will be scored before the interval, one minute inside injury time the deadlock was finally broken. Kanichowsky picked Eran Zahavi on the edge of the area before the 36 year-old marksman turned and sent an unstoppable accurate shot which went in off the crossbar to put Maccabi Infront.

Second Half

Maccabi began the second half exactly where they left off. Less than a minute after the restart, Dor Peretz, reacted first to a Biton ball that came off a defender. Turbaievskyi, charged off his line, but Peretz beat him to it and with the slightest of touches, sent it beyond the keeper’s reach to double the lead.

Right on the hour mark, Maccabi increased their lead even further with Kanichowsky playing a key role once again. The diminutive midfielder broke into the area and sent a perfect cut-back into the path of Peretz who side-footed Maccabi’s third goal, his second on the night and 10th of the season.

Robbie Keane made a double substitution in the 65th minute as Nir Bitton replaced Derrick Luckassen while Dor Tugeman came on for Kanichowsky. Orlando Mosquera made his first serious save as he stretched himself to push out Micin’s shot from the edge of the area on 68.

The visitors cut the deficit in the 71st minute as Zorya exploited a lapse of concentration in Maccabi’s defense allowing former forward Guerrero to toe poke the ball past Mosquera and make it 3-1. Keane made another double change in the 77th minute as Milson and Biton bowed out and were replaced by Yonatan Cohen and Eyal Golasa for the final 13 minutes.

Ofir Davidzada replaced Zahavi on 84 but four minutes Zorya put Maccabi under pressure as substitute Ihor Horbach successfully converted Denys Antiukh’s cut-back to make it 3-2 and set a dramatic finale. Zorya tried desperately to score a late equalizer but Maccabi managed to hang on and protect the narrow lead which secured three valuable points and the victory.

Maccabi will travel to Iceland on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s MD5 match away to Breidablik before returning to the TSC Arena next month for the final group match against Gent on December 14th.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk for the rescheduled Conference League MD3 match at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia.

This evening (Friday) Dor Peretz spoke at the press conference ahead of the match.

Peretz, left Israel on November 5^th to Poland where he played with Maccabi against Zorya before joining the Israel national team that played in Kosovo, hosted two matches in Hungary and then played in Andorra. On the long journey and time spent away from home, Peretz said: “It is a challenging journey, but I think that representing Israel today, Maccabi and then Israel, is the biggest thing we can do as Israelis these days. As long as this continues, it gives me pride and I will keep on doing it even if it takes a month or two.”

Ahead of the forthcoming task, the 28-year-old said: “Our job is to focus on what we are doing now – we are playing for Maccabi, all the national team players who are playing at Maccabi are now focused on advancing to the next stage of the Conference League. This is what is important for us now and this is our target – winning tomorrow and achieving our targets.”

Peretz, who scored two goals in the match against Zorya in Poland, added: “Every game is important, but tomorrow’s match is a key match towards our next step. We must arrive focused, aggressive as we always play and I think that the  principals our coach gives us will make us play good.”

Peretz, who against Andorra, was handed the Israel captain’s armband for the first time: “I felt so proud to represent Israel in these days, and to wear the armband – I don’t have much to say besides a big big feeling for me. Unfortunately, we didn’t bring a lot of happiness as we wanted to bring to the nation, but I hope we will do it in March.”

On being outside Israel at this time, Peretz concluded: ”The situation in Israel is not easy. The war, the families, the soldiers who are fighting for us. The feeling as an Israeli citizen to be abroad in these days is not easy because you feel that everything can happen but I hope for good days and think they will come soon.”.

The Yellow Friday shopping frenzy is here again! The Yellow tradition continues as Maccabi Tel Aviv participates once again in the world’s biggest shopping festival. With the war in the Gaza strip in the background and in view of the current situation, the club decided to echo the call for the return of the hostages as well as support the Gaza strip border communities. (more details further down).

Hundreds of Yellow and Blue official club items are in this year’s SALE with attractive discounts await you between November 23^rd and 27^th. The SALE takes place at our online store as well as the club’s flagship store at Bloomfield stadium.  

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE ONLINE SHOP

So, what is waiting for you on our 2023 YELLOW FRIDAY?

BRING THEM HOME

While the war is Gaza is well underway, the club issued a unique T-shirt carrying the “BRING THEM HOME SLOGAN” as part of the outcry to return the hostages held in Gaza.

The T-shirt is now available on sale for NIS 60. Maccabi Tel Aviv FC will donate all the profits generated from the T-shirt sale to the Maccabi Foundation which would generate activities for the Gaza strip border communities and their residents.

Yellow Friday discounts:

*Up to 70% discount on a wide range of dozens of products.

*A 50% discount on a wide range of retro products.

*A 30% discount on the Maccabi Winter collection.

* A 40% discount on Maccabi’s 2023/24 raining kit.

* All 40% discount on all the scarfs collection.

* Up to 50% discount on the category of “Accessories and gifts.”

*Free delivery for purchases of more than NIS 249 (not including coupons).

* A benefit on every transaction: Get a 10% discount at the Bloomfield flagship store during the entire month of December 2023 for any purchase made during the YELLOW FRIDAY period.  

Please note that the stock is limited and orders could not be made after stock run out.

Payments can be made via PayPal accounts or any other credit card.

Made a purchase for more than NIS 249? You earned yourself a free delivery!

One can pick up the purchase at the official Maccabi flagship store at Bloomfield. 

Attention: As previously announced, the FOREVER gift coupon is not included in the payments options during the sale period.