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”.

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”.