Yonatan Cohen made his first start for Maccabi since returning after a year in Italy, said after the victory over Hapoel Jerusalem which secured a seventh spot in the Toto Cup: “I learned to deal with the expectations and the pressure even during my first spell at the club. My move abroad didn’t work out as well as I hoped for but I am here now and my focus is totally on succeeding at Maccabi”.

Cohen, who just like the rest of his teammates experienced an irregular winter break due to the World Cup ןמ Qatar, said: “It was a break like a normal close season just like we have every summer. We returned fully charged with passion and energy as we had an excellent training camp and played good practice matches. We did what we had to do and now we are raring to start”.

Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium after a three-week-long winter break as Vladimir Ivic’s side face Hapoel Jerusalem for a Toto Cup tie which will determine which team finishes in the 7th and 8th spots of the competition.

Three players were handed their first start this season as Daniel Tenenbaum was named in goal with Daniel Peretz rested and left out of the squad. Idan Nachmias started alongside Derrick Luckassen and Shahar Piven as the three central defenders in front of Tenenbaum. Yonatan Cohen who so far made three substitute appearances in the league, was handed his debut start at left wing-back with Andre Geraldes on the opposite right flank. Dor Peretz and Avi Rikan were both named by Ivic in the midfield engine room while Parfait Guiagon was at the top of the midfield trio. Eran Zahavi led the team out wearing the captain’s armband while he was joined upfront by Dor Turgeman making his debut start. On the bench Ivic named Or Itzhak as the substitute keeper with Dan Glazer, Joris van Overeem, Sheran Yeini, Maor Kandil, Roy Revivo, Nir Bitton and Djordje Jovanovic all waitin g for their chance to make an impact.

First Half

A relatively slow start to the game saw Maccabi create the first chance in the 17th minute as Dor Turgeman came close to score on his debut start. The 19-year-old striker tried curling a left foot shot from inside the area which took a deflection off a defender to bounce to the wrong side of the post.

Three minutes later, Yonatan Cohen making his first start as a left wing-back picked Derrick Luckassen with an accurate cross at the far post. But the Dutch central defender’s header which beat goalkeeper Yehonatan Shabi from close range struck the post. Hapoel Jerusalem looked dangerous on the counter while Maccabi continued to create the better chances.

Avi Rikan carved the visitors’ defence as he released Turgeman who tried creating time and space but before he managed to snap his shot, a defender hooked the ball away. Right on the half hour mark Idan Nachmias remained on the ground after a tackle and limped off with a knee injury before being replaced in the 36th minute by Nir Bitton. A minute later Rikan found Parfait Guiagon just inside the area but the diminutive Ivorian who chested the ball down fired his half volley agonizingly wide.

Jerusalem enjoyed some good moments and almost took the lead through Awaka Ashta who flashed his shot wide of Daniel Tenenbaum’s goal.

Inside injury time Maccabi finally broke the deadlock with Turgeman turning provider as his low cross from the right was left by Eran Zahavi and rolled into the path of Guiagon. This time round and from an almost identical position to the one he missed earlier, Guiagon directed his shot on target before the ball bobbled off Jerusalem’s goalkeeper to land in the back of the net.

Second Half

Vladimir Ivic made two changes after the break as Maor Kandil and Djordje Jovanovic replaced Andre Geraldes and Eran Zahavi at the restart.

In the 53rd minute Rikan blasted a left foot pile-driver which was punched away by Shabi while two minutes later Luckassen charged all the way from the halfway line but his effort wasn’t powerful enough to beat Jerusalem’s keeper. Maccabi continued to try and double the score as Cohen and Jovanovic both forced Shabi to save and keep his side in game. Ivic made two more changes in the 62nd minute as Cohen and Rikan both bowed out and were replaced by Joris van Overeem and Roy Revivo. The young left back was handed his first appearance this season and second senior appearance against the same side he made his senior debut last year.

A mix up in Maccabi’s defence on 73 drew Daniel Tenenbaum into the action as the Brazilian born custodian was at full stretch to push out Golan Benny’s shot which threatened to level the score. Turgeman had another volley blocked by a Jerusalem defender in the 75^th minute as the young forward reacted first to a loose ball inside Jerusalem’s penalty area.

Revivo almost set up Maccabi’s second in the 82nd minute as he spotted Guiagon’s run into the box and placed a pinpoint cross right on his head only for the header to land on the roof of the net. Three minutes later though, Maccabi finally took the tie beyond Jerusalem’s reach as Dor Peretz released Jovanovic whose initial attempt was blocked by Shabi. Turgeman pounced on the rebound and was almost rewarded for his efforts on the night with a well-deserved goal but Shabi managed to save again before Jovanovic blasted the ball in off the crossbar to double the score.

Maccabi’s 2-0 victory secured seventh spot to the delight of the 4060 fans who turned up with the news of Nachmias tearing his cruciate knee ligaments and requiring a long term recovery dampening everyone’s mood.

Daniel Tenenbaum who is set to start in the Toto Cup tie against Hapoel Jerusalem summed up the winter training camp the team held in Antalya, Turkey: “We had a very good training camp and we are ready ahead of the season’s second phase” the 27-year-old keeper said. “Having this break in the middle of the season and a winter training camp is not something I ever experienced but on a personal note I am feeling good. I had good training sessions and I am feeling good and think we will have a good second phase of the season”.

On dealing with his status as a second choice keeper to Daniel Peretz, Tenenaum added: “Every player wants to play and I am no different. The situation now means that I need to wait for an opportunity and give my maximum for the team whilst waiting for my chance. I feel that whatever needs to happen will happen. There are things which are not in my control but what I can influence is to be good in training and wait for my chance”.

On the back injury which sidelined him for a long period, Tenebaum said: “An injury never comes at a good time which was my case as well. The toughest thing is to watch your teammates from the sidelines, wanting to train and play but to be sidelined. It is even more painful than the injury but I am feeling great now a 100% fit and even better than I felt prior to the injury”.

On the importance of the match against Jerusalem, Tenenbaum summed up: “Tomorrow is a good opportunity for all of us. To wear Maccabi’s colours is a chance. I must be ready and hopefully we will emerge victorious”.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will complete their 9-day training camp in Antalya tomorrow, but before returning back to Israel Vladimir Ivic’s side scored six in a nine-goal thriller against Adana Demirspor .

It took Maccabi four minutes to create the first goal-scoring opportunity as Gabi Kanichowsky dispossessed a Demirspor opponent and  released Djordje Jonavovic whose effort sailed wide.

Benjamin Stambouli tested Daniel Peretz with a long range effort which was equalled by the Maccabi keeper in the 10^th minute. But a minute later Peretz could do nothing to deny Samet Akaydin who sent a powerful header to give Vincenzo Montella’s the lead.

Maccabi didn’t take long to level the score as Enric Saborit carved the Turkish defence to release Kanichowsky whose powerful right foot shot proved too powerful for Demirspor’s keeper Ertac Ozbir.

Kanichowsky continued to torment the Turkish defence as the diminutive midfielder found the back of the net in the 24^th minute once again only to be denied by the linesman who raised his flag for offside.

Four minutes later Maccabi completed the comeback as Saborit and Djordje Jovanovic combined well before the Serbian forward spotted Ozbir off his line and from a tight angle scored Maccabi’s second.

In the 35^th minute Maccabi scored the third as Oscar Gloukh broke into the area before sending a perfect square ball allowing Matan Hozez to slide in and score from close range.

A solo effort by David Akintola on 39 saw his break into the area and skip past Peretz to tuck the ball home, cut the deficit and edge Demirspor back into the game.

Ivic made three changes at the restart as Eyal Golasa came in for Dan Glazer, Joris van Overeem replaced Kanichowsky and Gloukh made way for Parfait Guiagon.

Two minutes after his introduction, Golasa saw his effort from the edge of the area creep wide of the post.  

Maccabi increased their lead in the 53^rd minute as Hozez met Sahar Piven’s pinpoint cross with a powerful header for his second on the night and Maccabi’s fourth.

Two minutes later Maccabi’s blitz continued as Joris van Overeem fed Jovanovic who grabbed his second on the night and Maccabi’s fifth with a clinical finish on 55.

Ivic then introduced all his substitutes in the 58^th minute, but 10 minutes later, Peretz, who was the only starter to remain on the pitch conceded the third from Younes Belhanda who made it 5-3.

In the 78^th minute Dor Turgeman sealed Maccabi’s win as the young striker who was put through kept his calm and slotted in the sixth goal.

Parfait Guiagon, and Maor Kandil had chances to increase the lead even further but their efforts went wide as the full time whistle ended the entertaining friendly match.

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Daniel Peretz, Matan Hozez (Maor Kandil 58), Shahar Piven (Derrick Luckassen 58),  Sheran Yeini (Dor Peretz 58), Enric Saborit (Nir Bitton 58), Ofir Davidzada (Yonatan Cohen 58), Dan Glazer (Joris van Overeem 46), Gabi Kanichowsky (Eyal Golasa 46), Oscar Gloukh (Parfait Guiagon 46), Eran Zahavi (Avi Rikan 58), Djordje Jovanovic (Dor Turgeman 58).

Adana Demirspor: Ertac Ozbir, Ismail Cokcalis, Semih Guler, Samet Akaydin, Abdurrahim Dursun, Gokhan Tore, Gokhan Inler, Benjamin Stambouli, David Akintola, Emre Akbaba, Britt Assombalonga.