Israel completed their EURO 2024 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory away to Andorra. Four Maccabi first team players took part in the game with all of them experiencing a special night. Avishai Cohen, who made his first start for Israel and completed 90 minutes, marked his full international debut with an 81^st minute assist for the second goal which was scored by Gadi Kinda. Dor Peretz marked his 40^th international appearance for Israel by leading the team out for the first time with the captain’s armband. Gabi Kanichowsky, on his 13^th international appearance took-over the captain’s armband from Peretz when the 28-year-old bowed out on 61. Ofir Davidzada, making his 19^th appearance for Israel at left-back, was denied a debut goal for the national team by VAR.

Israel were handed another chance to reach the European finals after being drawn against Iceland for the March Playoffs with the winner facing the winner between Ukraine and Bosnia.

A Maccabi Tel Aviv side which consisted of 7 first team players and members of the youth team, suffered a 4-1 defeat to Maccabi Netanya in a friendly

Satnislav Bilensky put the hosts in front in the 19^th minute as he slotted home past Roi Mishpati. Six minutes into the second half Osher Davida teed-up Yonatan Cohen for the equaliser as he side footed the ball that beat Raz Karmi. Or Yitzhak replaced Mishpati in goal shortly before Netanya were awarded a penalty that Oz Bilu blasted in to restore Netanya’s lead. Ahmad Salman made it 3-1 as he fired Liran Rotman’s cross into the roof of the net on 74 before turning provider for Maxim Plakushchenko whose close range header on 79 proved too powerful for Yitzhak.

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Roi Mishpati (Or Yitzhak 61), Sheran Yeini, Nir Bitton (Itay Malma 61), Adir Cordoba (Michael Merenstein 73), Amit Kradi (Roi Zarzavsky 71), Eyal Golasa, Ido Shahar Dan Biton (Amit Tzur 71), Yonatan Cohen, Osher Davida, Agam Hanun (Dor Goldstein 61).  

Tamir Nimrodi, a 19-year-old soldier, is celebrating his birthday today (Wednesday). But instead of spending it with his family, Tamir, is currently held hostage in Gaza since the terrorist attack of October 7th. In order to mark his son’s birthday, Tamir’s father, Alon, requested everyone who could fly a yellow balloon to do so. The Maccabi Foundation answered that call as the players took part of the initiative and released dozens of yellow balloons right after their morning session at Kiryat Shalom.

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Dor Peretz is a candidate for UEFA’s Conference League Player of the Week award after scoring two first-half headers in Maccabi’s 3-1 victory over Zorya Luhansk. The 28-year-old midfielder couldn’t hide his emotions as he spoke after the game about the month Israel has experienced since the attack of October 7th which began the war.

“These are feelings I can’t explain. Football gives you a moment of escapism from the reality back home as I hope we were able to give the citizens of Israel, the people who are protecting us, the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and the rest of the fans one moment of pleasure and maybe even a little pride. I would like to dedicate the victory to many families who experienced carnage, whether that be fans who were murdered or experienced horrific horrors that words just can’t describe. I really hope the Maccabi Tel Aviv family gave them something comforting this evening, restored a little pride and I hope we managed to represent Israel the way we wished ourselves before the game.”

Peretz, who managed to hide his tears yet kept his composure, summed up the feeling in the camp: “This match was a lot more than football. We came to represent our country, our emblem, citizens, soldiers, people kidnapped and held hostage. This is a situation our entire nation is experiencing and I just hope we managed to give them all one moment of peace and joy.”

Eran Zahavi didn’t get his name on the scoresheet, but the 36-year-old captain on the night who led the team put with an Israeli flag draped around his shoulders, said at the end of the match: “This victory is dedicated to the entire Israeli nation”. Zahavi, who captained the Maccabi side that beat Zorya Luhansk 3-1 in the Conference League at the Lublin arena in Poland, added: “Obviously there were happier victories and circumstances which were a lot more normal in terms of our country. Overall, this victory was extremely important, especially as we were able to give a moment of joy for everyone who was watching us back home.”

On the various gestures the club and the players did for those who were murdered and killed on and since October 7th as well as the 240 kidnapped who are still held hostage in Gaza, Zahavi said: “Before walking on the pitch we decided to do something at the start of tne game, to point at the ribbon that said 240 kidnapped. We hope they will return home which was extremely important for us to get that message across. There are mixed emotions and the feelings are not simple, including playing at the same time that our country is in a state of war and experiencing difficult times. We had to come here and do a job – to show our mental strength, not to crumble under pressure and continue to do what we need to do. I just hope we managed to make people back home happy.”

On the meaning of playing football these days and ahead of the international break, Zahavi, who will return to the national team set-up after a one-year-absence, added: “We have been through a lot in the past month, we met with many people who were evacuated, kids, we tried to do good and cheer them up to the best of our ability. Clearly now the task ahead is the national team which is the most important thing. Maybe that will cheer our nation up, bring a little bit of joy and hopefully we could do it. It’s the task of our lives.”

Preview:

Maccabi arrived at the Lublin arena in Poland for the Conference League MD4 match against Zorya Luhansk of the Ukraine. Maccabi hasn’t played competitive football since the 2-0 defeat to Gent on October 5th due to the ongoing war in Israel, with the home match against the Ukrainians postponed from October 26rh to November 25th.

Having beaten Icelandic outfit Breidablik on MD1 and before a ball is kicked against Zorya, Robbie Keane’s side were ranked 3rd in the table, a point behind their Ukrainian opponents.

Keane made several changes to his starting line-up handing a debut Maccabi appearance to Panamanian goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera. Enric Saborit partnered Derrick Luckassen as the two central defenders in front of Mosquera, with Avishai Cohen and Roy Revivo completing the back-four on the right and left, respectively. Joris van Overeem and Dor Peretz were named by Keane in the midfield engine room alongside Gabi Kanichowsky. Dan Biton and Felicio Milson supplied the width to Maccabi’s side in support of Eran Zahavi who led the line and the team out wearing the captain’s armband.

On the bench, Keane, named goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum and Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Ido Shahar, Nir Bitton, Kiko Bondouso, Osher Davida and Yvann Macon.

First Half

The match began with a minute of silence in memory of the fatalities in Israel on and since the October 7^th terrorist attack. After Eran Zahavi took the kickoff the players stood still for 7 seconds to commemorate the day the war in Israel began. It took Maccabi six minutes to create the first chance as Dan Biton tried curling a left foot shot which struck a defender and deflected out for a corner. The resulting corner led to Maccabi’s opener which was scored by the unlikeliest of sources and in a spectacular fashion. A well drilled corner saw Gabi Kanichowsky pick Luckassen at the far post with a pinpoint cross only for his header to be blocked. The Dutch central defender pounced on the rebound and sent a back-heal flick that went off the keeper to open the scoring with his debut Maccabi goal.

The hosts began taking charge of the game and in the 22nd minute Maccabi’s defense struggled to clear the danger as the ball fell to Denys Nahnoinyi. The Ukrainian midfielder blasted a shot from the edge of the area which was equaled by Orlando Mosquera.

Three minutes later however Maccabi doubled their lead as Dor Peretz ghosted into the area and was on the end of an Eran Zahavi dipping cross to head in the second and make it 2-0. Peretz could have scored another goal shortly after as he headed Avishai Cohen’s pinpoint cross towards goal, but Mykyta Turbaievskyi pulled a spectacular save to claw the ball from under the crossbar. Mosquera was called into action once again as the Panamanian keeper turned Petar Micin’s powerful drive over the crossbar on the half hour mark.

Mosquera was the busiest amongst the two keepers as Zorya tried breaching Maccabi’s goal on several occasions but the Panamanian custodian frustrated the Ukrainians with a string of saves. In the 42nd minute Maccabi increased their lead to 3-0 as Felicio Milson sent a cross from the right, before Peretz nodded home for his second on the night.

Second Half

While Robbie Keane made no changes for the second half, his counterpart replaced former Maccabi forward Eduardo Gurrero with Ihor Horbach at the restart. The second half began where the first one left off as Zahavi came close but saw his right foot shot curl wide of the post. Luckassen was booked for a foul near the halfway line on 55 and within a minute Zorya had the ball in the back of Maccabi’s net. The intervention of VAR spotted an offside as Micin’s goal was chalked off and Maccabi’s three goal lead was restored.

Keane made his first change in the 65th minute as Nir Bitton came on for Dan Biton with Enric Saborit switching to left back while Roy Revivo pushed into the midfield. Zorya almost scored instantly but Vikentii Voloshyn’s shot that beat Mosquera struck the base of the post before Maccabi’s keeper collected the rebound.

Joris van Overeem who worked tirelessly in midfield was taken off in the 70^th minute together with Revivo as Keane introduced Eyal Golasa and Dor Turgeman.

Golasa almost made an immediate impact three minutes after his introduction as he released Zahavi to face the keeper, but the veteran marksman saw his effort blocked by Turbaievskyi. Zorya cut the deficit from a counter-attack on 73 as Horbach was released before slotting his shot past Mosquera to make it 3-1. Maccabi’s keeper pulled another stunning save to push a shot which was heading for the top corner on 76.

Ido Shahar and Osher Davida were introduced for Milson and Zahavi in the 89th minute shortly before the fourth official signaled five minutes of added time.

The full-time whistle confirmed Maccabi’s victory as both teams will meet later this month to play the rescheduled MD3 which will be played once again at a neutral venue.