Maccabi’s captain Sheran Yeini, said ahead of Saturday’s league match away to Kiryat Shmona: “We had very good training sessions this week and I trust the my teammates” Yeini said when asked about the teams’ preparations during the week. Amid reports in the media, Yeini remained adamant: “The situation you described has no influence on the match, other things might have an influence, but they occur on the pitch. We prepare for the match just like we do with every other game, we study our opponents and know what we need to do”.

When asked about the three horse race at the top of the table and the fact Maccabi’s two other title contenders, Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Be’ersheva fave each other, Yeini added: I don’t think we played a match this season where we could afford to blink and I don’t think we will have one later on this season. Whoever wants to be top of the table be prepared, and know he has to winnevery match. Every point is important, infact every point is important. We are aware of this fact and try play accordingly.”

 

What has Avi left behind him? His close friend Bonnie Ginzburg

The former Maccabi and Israeli goalkeeper who recently left his job as a pundit in the media to join the IFA’s technical staff – speaks of the three seasons he played at Maccabi alongside the late Avi Cohen. In this clip he remember the heritage left behind the friend and special person he got to know

A true winner: Alon Natan speaks about the late Avi Cohen

The former Maccabi midfielder who played for six seasons alongside Avi Cohen, speaks of the special character of the one who, regardless of the situation, never saw himself as an underdog

What was the iconic commentator meant to shout after Avi Cohen’s memorable goal in the derby?

Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium for MD15 and the first league home match since the World Cup break. Maccabi marked their return with an impressive performance which resulted with a five-goal-fest over Hapoel Hadera. The day after we had a look at some of the numbers following the match which took Maccabi’s point tally to 35 points.

After beating Hadera 6-0 in the previous league encounter between the two sides, yesterday’s 5-0 victory set the accumulated score this season at 11-0. This is Maccabi’s best record against any opponent since the 1991/92 season when Hapoel Jerusalem conceded 13 and scored once in two matches.

In 13 league matches against Hapoel Hadera, Maccabi kept a clean sheet in 12 matches and have an outstanding goal record of 34-1.

After playing 15 league rounds, Maccabi’s goal tally currently stands on 37 goals scored and 6 conceded (+31). This is one goal of short of the (+32) Maccabi had after playing 15 league matches in the 1993/94 season.

So far this season Maccabi recorded seven victories by three or more goal margin – a feat which hasn’t reoccurred before MD15 since the 1953/54 season.

Sheran Yeini’s goal, his first league goal since November 2018 made him the 12th goal scorer in the league this season (before MD15). The league’s best record which is shared by seven other clubs was equaled by Maccabi in the 2018/19 season.

Enric Saborit who headed in the opener against Hadera after 58 seconds, scored Maccabi’s 21^st ever goal for the club in the opening minute.

Maor Kandil’s two first half assists is the 15^th player in Maccabi’s history to dish out two assists for headed goals in one league match and the fifth player to do so within the opening 21 minutes.

Preview

Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium for the early kick-off of the MD15 ONE ZERO League match against fifth place Hapoel Hadera which they beat 6-0 earlier this season. Vladimir Ivic’s side that are second in the table ahead of Hapoel Be’ersheva on goal difference, could move within a point from leaders Maccabi Haifa that only play on Monday.

Ivic made only a single change from the side which beat Maccabi Bnei Reineh 2-0 earlier this week as Parfait Guiagon replaced Yonatan Cohen as the left wing-back. The Serbian coach kept his defence intact as Shahar Piven, Derrick Luckassen and Enric Saborit were named as the three ce3ntral defenders in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Maor Kandil at right wing-back and Guigaon on the opposite left flank supplied the width in Ivic’s formation aimed at supplying ammunition for the frontline. Dor Peretz and Avi Rikan were both assigned to the midfield engine room with Oscar Gloukh in a more attacking role at the top of the midfield trio. Eran Zahavi led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the veteran marksman teamed-up with Djordje Jovanovic upfront.

On the bench alongside Daniel Tenenebaum, Ivic named Dan Glazer, Gabi Kanichowsky, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Yonatan Cohen, Dor Turgeman, Nir Bitton and Matan Hozez.

First Half

It took Maccabi less than a minute to open the score as Enric Saborit who scored the late goal against Maccabi Bnei Reineh was on the scoresheet once again. Avi Rikan launched a free kick from near the halfway line towards Maor Kandil who headed across the area, allowing Saborit to send his looping header which floated past Robi Levkovich. Saborit had another shot on goal in the sixth minute, but the Spanish defender’s effort crept wide of the post.

Maccabi continued to look dangerous as Rikan sent another dangerous cross into the area on 16 but Djordje Jovanovic headed over the crossbar from close range.

Maccabi doubled their lead in the 21st minute with Kandil setting up another goal with a pinpoint cross from the right, this time for Jovanovic who didn’t miss this time and scored his 8^th league goal of the season and 12^th in all competitions.  

Parfait Guiagon who looked lively right from the start at his new role as a left wing-back, stripped a Hadera defender of the ball in the 24th minute before sending Jovanovic through. The Serbian forward almost got an assist of his own as his cross into the area was volleyed by Eran Zahavi wide. Shahar Piven was booked by referee David Fuxman for a foul on Ido Levy in the 37th minute.

Hadera’s forward Stephen Alfred flashed two headers wide of Daniel Peretz’s goal as the visitors tried desperately to get back in the game. In the 42nd minute however Maccabi extended their lead as Oscar Gloukh tormented a Hadera defender before cutting the ball back for Zahavi, who fired home the third goal. Maccabi’s celebrations were dampened moments later as Piven received his marching orders for a second bookable offence leaving his teammates with 10 men until the end.

Second Half

With his team down to 10 men and an entire half still left to play for, Vladimir Ivic made a single change as Nir Bitton replaced Gloukh at the restart.

Kandil got booked early on in the second half prompting a substitution as Sheran Yeini was supposed to replace him. But as the veteran skipper was ready to come on, Oran Sitbon’s two-footed-tackle struck Rikan’s calf.

Fuxman showed Sitbon the yellow card but VAR intervened as the card was changed from yellow to red sending the Hadera substitute off four minutes after his introduction.
With the number of players evened out, Ivic made a double change on 65 as Rikan limped off and was replaced by Gabi Kanichowsky while Yeini came on for Kandil. Three minutes later Zahavi could have increased the lead even further but Hadera’s keeper Levkovich managed to save.

In the 70^th minute Guiagon was rewarded for his efforts as the Ivorian dribbled past two defenders before unleashing a fierce drive from just inside the area which found the bottom far corner to make it 4-0.

Guiagon and Jovanovic received a their standing ovation and in the 78^th minute as Ivic made another double change replacing the duo with Eyal Golasa and Dor Turgeman.

While the young striker tried to get his name on the scoresheet as well for his senior debut goal, Maccabi’s fifth goal was scored by the unlikeliest source and the league’s most experienced player. In the 90^th minute, Zahavi floated a cross from one side of the box to the other before Yeini ghosted in at the far post to head in the fifth which sealed the victory at 5-0.

Eran Zahavi who scored his 7th league goal this season and ninth in all competitions said at the end of the 5-0 victory over Hapoel Hadera at Bloomfield. Despite the convincing victory, the veteran marksman insisted: “It wasn’t easy. Of course when you score in the opening minute it helps but they were other matches when we took our foot off the pedal, and that influenced the game differently. We showed up and were prepared from the first season until the last as in my opinion we had a very good game as a team. We should keep on doing exactly that in the future”.

Zahavi who scored goals in Maccabi’s final two matches added: “Sometimes the balls just go in easier and sometimes it takes more time. I feel much better both physically and mentally, and we are all playing better football. It is fun when everyone joins in the celebrations. I am here to help the team, sometime I score, sometimes I give an assist and sometimes I just help the team”.