On the back of the victory away to Maccabi Bnei Reineh and before hosting Hapoel Hadera on Saturday (15:00) four first team players: Eran Zahavi, Yonatan Cohen, Daniel Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky arrived at Bloomfield stadium’s VIP lounge for an event which was attended by thousands of Maccabi fans.

During the event which was held in the Chanuka festive spirit the players met the fans, signed autographs and had their photos taken with some of the young Maccabi faithfull.

Gabi Kanichowsky who spoke with the media that covered the event, said: “It is always fun to interact with the Maccabi fans, talk to them and put a smile on their faces. As players we must first remember that we are privileged to be able to make them happy”.

With an early Saturday kickoff against Hadera, the stadium is supposed filled to its’ capacity: “I think and hope that it will be full just like in every other home match. Our fans follow us everywhere as more than 2000 followed us to Nof Hagallil on Monday in Chanuka instead of spending time with their families at home. This is just something we should cherish and repay them with performances on the pitch. We really need them because there moments we need them to give us the solupport and push we need sometimes”

Masccabi’s keeper who kept a clean sheet for the 10th match this season said after the victory over Maccabi Bnei Reineh at Nof Hagallil’s Green stadium: “It was a very important match to win, just like every other match. We came to play here after not playing a league match for a long time as we knew it is important to return to league action on the front foot. We wanted to restart the second league round properly as there in no better way than winning and keeping a clean sheet”.

The 22-year-old keeper who so far this season conceded only 6 goals and has the best defensive record in the league, added: “We have many more matches still left to play as we work very hard every week and always focus on the next match – this is how one makes progress”.

The 27-year-old midfielder who assisted the opener for Eran Zahavi in the 2-0 victory over Maccabi Bnei Reineh said at the end of the match: “In the first half we played well as we had some good energy, showed good form and reached plenty of chances. We need to improve the final pads and be more accurate so we could increase our lead and kill off such matches, especially if games are going in our favour”.

Peretz, who played his best game since returning to Maccabi earlier this season, added: “I fealt we had a good game and myself in particular, which is something that makes me very happy. I am delighted that this is the form I showed today and I had the privilege to help the team. I returned different from Italy a different player that the one I left here for the better and worse. There were new things I learned and obviously getting used to things here even though it is my home but still takes time”.

Preview

After a month long break due to the World Cup in Qatar, the ONE Zero League returned to action as Maccabi faced newly promoted side Maccabi Bnei Reineh at Nof Hagallil’s Green stadium. Reineh changed a coach since both sides met on the first day of the season when Maccabi won 5-0 at Bloomfield as Sharon Mimmer replaced Adham Hadiya who has since joined last week’s State Cup opponents – Hapoel Umm al-Fahm. For the return to league action Vladimir Ivic made several changes to the side which beat Umm al Fahm 3-2. Daniel Peretz, who has the best defensive record in the league having conceded only 6 goals in 13 matches, started in goal. Shahar Piven, Derrick Luckassen and Enric Saborit lined-up as the three central defenders right in front of Peretz. Maor Kandil on the right flank and Yonatan Cohen in a new role on the opposite left flank were the two wing-backs expected to supply width to Ivic’s formation. Dor Peretz and Avi Rikan were the two players assigned to Maccabi’s midfield engine room with Oscar Gloukh in a slightly more attacking role of the midfield trio. Eran Zahavi led the line wearing the captain’s armband as the veteran talisman partnered Djordje Jovanovic upfront.

On the bench alongside goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Ivic named Joris van Overeem, Gabi Kanichowsky, Parfait Guiagon, Shearn Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Nir Bitton and Matan Hozez who all waited for their chance to make an impact.

With the match being held at Nof Hagallil only minutes away from Nazareth where almost the entire city is decorated with lights for Christmas due to be celebrated in five days – Maccabi Bnei Reineh marked Chanuka with a candle lighting ceremony prior to kickoff.

First Half

Backed by more than 2000 fans, Maccabi began the match with an attack from the flanks as Maor Kandil’s cross from the right was cleared by Bnei Reineh’s central defender Sambinha before Eran Zahavi could head the ball. Amit Znati had the first shot on target with an effort from outside the area, which was easily collected by Daniel Peretz in the fourth minute. Three minutes later however Zahavi broke the deadlock and put Maccabi in-front. Avi Rikan won a tackle near the halfway line and released Dor Peretz who charged forward towards the area before sending a square ball for Zahavi to fire home from close range.

Maccabi came close to double their lead but Oscar Gloukh first, and then Kandil, were both judged to have been offside. Vladimir Ivic’s side continued to dominate the play and in the 22nd minute Gloukh charged through the middle and released Zahavi whose shot come cross rolled across the face of goal and wide.

A Reineh corner in the 42nd minute resulted with a Maccabi counter attack at the opposite end as Zahavi slid the ball to Cohen whose powerful shot was saved by Arik Yanko.

The halftime whistle of referee Ohad Asulin sent both teams into the dressing with Maccabi’s narrow lead still in-tact.

Second Half

Cohen’s shot on goal in the closing stages of the first half was his final contribution on the night as Ivic replaced him with Matan Hozez for the restart. Ivic’s counterpart, Mimmer, made a double change with Yaniv Brick and Znati made way for Richard Boateng and Ahmed Abed. Hozez could have made an immediate impact three minutes after his introduction as his cut back to Djordje Jovanovic only for the Serbian forward to hook his shot from the middle of the area over the crossbar. Gloukh had an effort blocked by a Reineh defender on 51 before Zahavi blasted a shot over two minutes later.

In the 56th minute, Yanko kept his side in the game as the Reineh keeper was at full stretch to push Dor Peretz’s close range header over the bar following a pinpoint cross by Gloukh.

Kandil was booked by referee Ohad Asulin in the 67th minute, while a minute later Ivic made his second change as Gloukh was replaced by Gabi Kanichowsky. Derrick Luckassen also saw yellow on 69, but two minutes later Daniel Peretz showed why he conceded the least number of goals in the league as Maccabi’s custodian pulled a stunning save to deny Boateng’s powerful close range header.

Maccabi doubled their lead in the 76th minute as Enric Saborit’s left foot shot seemed to have taken a deflection off a Reineh defender to catch Yanko off guard and go in at the near post. Ivic made a double change as Kandil and Peretz bowed out and were replaced by Sheran Yeini and Joris van Overeem in the 80th minute.

Parfait Guiagon was introduced by Ivic for the closing stages as the diminutive Ivorian came on for Rikan who was given a standing ovation by the Maccabi travelling fans.

The full time whistle confirmed Maccabi’s victory on the night to move ahead of Be’ersheva on goal difference with Ivic’s side hosting Hapoel Hadera at Bloomfield on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

“We are playing away from home against a team which has made some changes since the start of the season and we expect a tough match”.

On the back of the State Cup victory over Hapoel Umm al Fahm last week, Maccabi return to league action as they travel to Nof Hagallil for the MD14 match on Monday.

When asked about the influence the Cup toe should have on the league match, the veteran Maccabi captain replied: “One match is not related to another. From my experience, Cup matches are always tough. Period. The tougher they are, the longer your journey is in the competition.”

Yeini, who captained the side that came back from a two goal deficit against Umm al Fahm on the way to a 3-2 victory, said: “Obviously we don’t want the match to develop the same way. We will have to be aggressive, play fast, not allow them feel comfortable, and show that we are a dominant side”.

With a point tally of 29 from a possible 39 in the first round and ahead of the second league round, Yeini said: “We wish we would have never dropped points at all. We arrive at every match with an aim to extract the best without even thinking about our next match. We will however try and improve in this round”.

When asked about the suspended sentence of a radius ban Maccabi received for the fans’ behaviour against Umm el Fahm, Yeini sent a clear message: “We obviously condemn any acts of violence and racism regardless of the suspended sentence punishment we have. What I am urging ßour fans, and that is in the wake of our outstanding home record at Bloomfield stadium – is to behave and not do things which could force us away and damage our season”