Category: News

MACCABI BEAT HAPOEL PETAH TIKVA 2-0

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Preview

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the early Saturday kickoff match against newly promoted side Hapoel Petah Tikva aiming to record another victory which would keep the side at the top of the table. With 10 points from the opening 4 league matches and an impressive 13-2 goal tally, Robbie Keane made no changes to the side that beat Hapoel Tel Aviv 5-0 in midweek.

Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal with Enric Saborit and Nir Bitton lining-up as the two central defenders in front of him. Yvann Macon on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive back-four. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role was joined in midfield by Dor Peretz who scored a brace and Dan Biton who contributed a goal and an assist in the derby. Gabi Kanichowsky and Felicio Milson started once again as the two wide men with Eran Zahavi spearheading the attack and leading the team out with the captain’s armband.

On the bench, Keane named goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishay Cohen, Idan Nachmiass, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Derrick Luckassen and Osher Davida.

Prior to kickoff, Maccabi held a ceremony to three of its former players: Noah Reznik who celebrated 90, as well as Etey Shechter and Avi Rikan who played for 3 and 8 seasons at Maccabi respectively.

First Half

Maccabi opened the match on the front foot and came close to score with less than two minutes on the clock. Dan Biton slid the ball through to Eran Zahavi who broke into the area before forcing Petah Tikva’s keeper Omer Katz to a double save. Three minutes later, Biton curled a free kick which fell to Enric Saborit whose flick shaved the base of the post and rolled out for a goal kick.

In the 12th minute Milson was tripped in the box and remained on the ground while referee David Fuxman waved play on. But the intervention of VAR saw Fuxman reverse his decision and award Maccabi a penalty. Zahavi stepped-up but his dual with Katz saw the former Maccabi youth academy keeper dive to his left, save the spot kick and deny Zahavi from opening the score.

Milson continued to look lively as the Angolan winger’s trickery in the 25th minute allowed him to skip past two defenders and charge into the box. Milson’s dangerous cross which sailed across the face of goal, was cleared by a Petah Tikva defender before Zahavi could head it Home from close range. Maccabi continued to dominate as three minutes later Gabi Kanichowsky tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the area which rocketed over the crossbar.

The visitors’ first serious threat on goal came in the 38th minute when Fortune Bassey blasted a right foot shot that forced a reaction from Roi Mishpati with the ball narrowly missing the target.

Second Half

As both coaches made no changes after the break, Maccabi emerged for the restart aiming to break the deadlock. Three minutes later Kanichowsky was brought down inside the area by Matan Gosha as Fuxman didn’t hesitate and pointed at the spot. Zahavi stepped-up to take the penalty which Katz saved once again this time with his feet. But the referee assistant spotted Petah Tikva’s keeper stepping off his line and signaled a retake. Zahavi didn’t hesitate and as opposed to his previous two attempts blasted the penalty home to finally open the scoring.

Zahavi came close to double his tally on the night as the veteran marksman turned on the edge of the area and snapped a fierce low drive which struck the base of the post.

In the 68th minute Milson charged into the area and sent a cross from byline which fell to Biton whose attempt of a chip just missed the target. At the opposite end Petah Tikva managed to get the ball in the back of Mishpati’s net only for the goal to be disallowed for offside rescuing Nir Bitton from an own goal . Robbie Keane made his first change in the 73rd minute as Avishai Cohen replaced Yvann Macon at right-back.

Rikan received a standing ovation from Maccabi fans as the Petah Tikva midfielder bowed out on 77. Two minutes later, Keane made another change introducing Eyal Golasa for van Overeem and Dor Turgeman for Biton. The impact was almost instant as Maccabi increased their lead with Milson releasing Zahavi whose chip was headed in by Turgeman at the back post. Roy Revivo and Milson were replaced on 86 by Ofir Davidzada and Osher Davida who were both introduced for the closing stages.

In the 89th minute Turgeman came close to score his second and Maccabi’s third but after skipping past two Petah Tikva defenders the 19-year-old’s shot was caught by Katz.

The final whistle confirmed Maccabi’s fourth victory in five matches as the team will turn their attention to Thursday’s trip to Gent in the Conference League before returning to face Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy on Sunday.

Kanichowsky: “This is an important test of character after the derby”

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Two days after the 5-0 derby victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv and two days before hosting Hapoel Petah Tikva on MD5, Maccabi’s midfielder Gabi Kanichowsky spoke about the feelings in the camp as he faced the media. “The victory (in the derby) was important but the three points gained are more important. But if we will not continue then we achieved nothing. We must continue with our good form and win in order to keep the ourselves at the top. Maccabi proved until now who we are. I am delighted we bounced back from the draw against Bnei Reineh by collecting three points in the derby. So far this season we in Europe and in the league we managed to achieve what we wanted and we just have to continue.”

On Petah Tikva where he spent a season long loan during the 2016/17 campaign, Kanichowsky said: “They are a good team, I think their fans will give them a good push. When I was playing for them in the second division their dream was to return to the top flight. I am happy this club are where they are now as they fully deserve it. There are no easy matches in this league as we must prove ourselves first and foremost. This derby is part of the past and the next game will be an important test of character for us all.”

The extra ordinary numbers following the 5-0 derby

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The first Tel Aviv derby of the 2023/24 season ended last night (Tuesday) with a convincing knockout. The 5-0 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv at Bloomfield equaled Maccabi’s highest victory in Tel Aviv derbies as the morning after is the time to dive into the extraordinary numbers from this fixture.

This was Maccabi’s 61st league victory as opposed to Hapoel’s 46 which set an all-time-record (15) gap. At the end of the 2012/13 season both Tel Aviv clubs were tied on 45 victories each.

Maccabi extended their stretch to a 21 unbeaten league run in derbies – equals the club’s unbeaten record against a specific opponent which was set against Hapoel Be’ersheva in 2002. Maccabi’s record during these 21 derbies stands on 14 victories and 7 draws with a goal tally of 46-6.

Maccabi’s unbeaten record during derbies in all competitions currently stands o 26: 19 victories and 7 draws with a goal tally of 58-9.

In the last five derbies Maccabi’s goal record stands on 15-0. Only between 2003-2004 Hapoel didn’t manage score in six successive derbies as the goal tally stood on 8-0.

Hapoel’s last victory in the derby was recorded on 26.4.14 – 9 years and five months ago that equal 3,441 days ago.

This was the fourth time in history that Maccabi won the derby 5-0 (1969/70, 2016/17 and 2021/22) but the first time with Hapoel hosting the fixture.

Only five league fixtures were decided by more than a 5-goal-margin with Maccabi responsible for 3 of the 5:

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Beitar Tel Aviv – 8 victories by a five goal margin or more.

Hapoel Haifa vs Maccabi Netanya – 7.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Haifa – 5.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Maccabi Neatnya – 5.

Hapoel Petah Tikva vs Maccabi Neatnay – 5.

Eran Zahavi scored his 9th goal for Maccabi in the Tel Aviv derby (Zahavi scored 1 more goal in the Toto Cup and 2 whilst playing at Hapoel). Zahavi climbed to 2nd place in the goal-scorers chart for Maccabi in derbies, with Shiye Glazer leading with 11 since the State of Israel was proclaimed and 13 overall.

Avi Nimni leads the list with 13 goals scored at derbies in all competitions – 8 league, 2 State Cup, 3 Toto Cup.

Dor Peretz scored the first two goals which was his first ever brace for Maccabi. In the 2020/21 season, Peretz scored a goal in two separate derbies.

Dan Biton and Dor Turgeman who made his derby debut, became the 93rd and 94th players to score for Maccabi against Hapoel in the league.

Peretz: “That brace of goals is part of the journey we are doing as a team”

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Dor Peretz scored the first brace of his career as the 28-year-old midfielder played a central role in Maccabi’s 5-0 victory over arch city rivals Hapoel in the Tel Aviv derby at Bloomfield. At the end of the match, the midfielder spoke at the press conference and said: “It is a great feeling to be able to help the team and play my part. These two goals reflects on the journey we do as a team. Even though it this was something that was evident on a personal level, this is totally a team effort, the journey we are doing and the fruit we are gradually beginning to enjoy. I hope we will continue with this form because this is what is really important to us”.

 

Peretz, who played in all of the three 5-0 victories over Hapoel in recent years, summed up the feeling in the camp: “To win a derby is a great feeling. I think it makes us very happy as players, the fans are obviously over the moon, but the points gained from such a match is equal to victories at other matches. We need to continue doing our jobs, collecting points, keeping a clean sheet and as long as keep on doing it – we will be on the right path.”

MACCABI WIN TEL AVIV DERBY 5-0

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Preview:

Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the first Tel Aviv derby of the season, aiming to bounce back from the 1-1 draw against Bnei Reineh on MD3 and return to winning ways. Robbie Keane’s side have 7 points and are unbeaten in the league, but the more impressive record stretches for more than 9 years of not losing this fixture to the bitter city rivals. For their part, Hapoel, are also unbeaten in the league winning once, drawing twice to remain two points adrift with five. Keane, made two changes from Thursday’s side that beat Breidablik 3-2 in the Conference League as Nir Bitton and Gabi Kanichowsky returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Derrick Luckassen and Osher Davida.

Bitton partnered Enric Saborit as the second central defender in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati with Yvann Macon and Roy Revino completing Maccabi’s back-four on the right and left, respectively.

Joris van Overeem was partnered by Dor Peretz in the engine room, while Dan Biton started at the top of the midfield trio. Kanichowsky was handed a wider role and Felicio Milson occupied the other flank while Eran Zahavi led the line and the team out wearing the captain’s armband.

On the bench, Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishay Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Eyal Golasa, Derrick Luckassen, Ofir Davidzada and Osher Davida all waiting for a chance to make an impact.

First Half

The match began with a 30-minute delay following the police request and due to crowd congestion outside Bloomfield stadium. When the match did eventually kickoff, Hapoel put Maccabi under pressure right from the off as the Yellow and Blue struggled to develop their regular game.

Maccabi did manage to break through in the 11th minute as Dan Biton shrugged off a defender and charged into the box from the left. Biton’s attempt to find a teammate with a cut-back wasn’t successful as Hapoel’s defense managed to clear the danger. This was a sign of what seemed like a pattern as two minutes later and from almost the exact same spot, Gabi Kanichowsky was given the time and space to float a cross into the path of Eran Zahavi. The veteran marksman who was lurking at the far post, headed the ball towards goal but saw his effort clawed out for a corner by Hapoel’s keeper Emilijus Zubas.

Maccabi came close in the 20th minute as Yvann Macon fed Dor Peretz who sent the ball across the face of goal, but Alon Azugi clear the ball for a corner before Milson could tap it home. The resulting corner however saw Maccabi take the lead. Kanichowsky’s corner fell to Roy Revivo who turned his defender and squared the ball to Peretz for an easy tap in.

Hapoel’s Or Blorian was booked by referee Gal Leibovic for stopping a Milson counter attack with a rugby tackle in the center circle.

Three minutes after the half hour mark Maccabi doubled their lead as Milson skipped past Azugi who was left on the ground before charging down the left. The 23-year-old Angolan winger cut the ball for Peretz whose shot was saved by Zubas behind the goal-line with Zahavi ensuring the goal counts by tucking home the rebound.

Zahavi must have been disappointed to discover the goal was given to Peretz, but within five minutes the 36-year-old forward celebrated an assist as Maccabi increased the lead. Milson found Zahavi through the middle before he slid the ball to Dan Biton. The midfielder run clear through, kept his calm and flicked the ball in off the post to score Maccabi’s third.

Second Half

Robbie Keane and his Hapoel counterpart, Michael Valkanis, made one change at the restart as Avishay Cohen replaced Macon at right-back while Ran Binyamin came on for Mavis Chibotafor the hosts.

Three minutes later Maccabi increased their lead even further at the end of a spectacular team effort that resulted with a Milson assist to Zahavi who tapped in the fourth from point blank range.

Maccabi continued to run riot as Zahavi snapped a shot over, Biton headed a Revivo cross straight at the keeper before Kanichowsky blasted a shot wide. Keane made another change on the hour mark as Joris Van Overeem and Milson both came off to a standing ovation allowing Eyal Golasa and Dor Turgeman to enjoy the action.

Zahavi received his standing ovation from Maccabi’s 2300 vocal fans as he was replaced by Osher Davida for the final 19 minutes. Hapoel fans greeted both players with a loud chorus of boos due to their time spent on the other side of town. Keane made his fifth and final substitution in the 75th minute as Idan Nachmias came on for Nir Bitton.

Turgeman had an effort saved by Zubas who also managed to deny Davida’s rebound, but just before injury time was added – Maccabi scored the fifth. Turgeman was sent clear through by Biton and with only Zubas to beat swept the ball into the bottom corner to seal the 5-0 victory.

Maccabi will continue their busy schedule at Bloomfield as they host Hapoel Petah Tikva on Saturday for the 17:45 early kickoff.