Preview

Following last week’s 3-1 victory away to Ashdod and Wednesday’s State Cup Quarter Final victory over Maccabi Jaffa, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the visit of Ironi Kiryat Shmona.

Coach Mladen Krstajic who gave a chance to several players against Jaffa in the Cup, made no less than 8 changes for the match against Kiryat Shmona that stretched Maccabi to extra time and a penalty shoot-out last month. Daniel Peretz returned to goal with Enric Saborit and Idan Nachmias lining-up as the two central defenders in-front of him. Andre Gerlades and Ofir Davidzada completed the back-four as the two full-backs on the right and left respectively.

Dan Glazer led the team out wearing the captain’s armband in the anchor-man role with Eden Shamir who scored one of last week’s goals against Ashdod, alongside him in the midfield engine room. Gabi Kanichowsky also returned to the side at the top of the three-man midfield with Dan Biton, and the other two scorers against Ashdod – Tal Ben Chaim and Stipe Perica upfront. New signing Djordje Jovanovic, who joined the club from Serbian outfit Cukaricki on Wednesday, was named in the squad waiting on the bench amongst the rest of the substitutes to make his Maccabi debut.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot threatening to try and carve an opening but all their attempts to breach Kiryat Shmona’s defence were thwarted by the visitors. Tal Ben Chaim and Ofir Davidzada on the left as well as Dan Biton Andre Geraldes on the right tried but couldn’t deliver a ball that released Stipe Perica. Gabi Kanichowsky and Eden Shamir also tried through the middle but couldn’t find a way past Kiryat Shmona’s midfield which was marshalled by former fellow teammate, Nadav Nidam, currently on loan at Kiryat Shmona.

The best chance of the opening stages fell in the 16th minute to Nidam, but the 20-year-old midfielder, flashed a shot across the face of Daniel Peretz’s goal. A minute later, Kiryat Shmona’s second on-loan player, Guy Mizrahi, went into the book of referee, David Fuxman, for a foul on Ben Chaim. In the 19th minute, Mizrahi was careful not to trip Ben Chaim in the box as he was turned by the Maccabi forward who sent a weak shot which was easily collected by Kiryat Shmona’s keeper Dziugas Bartkus.

In the 27th minute, Biton curled a left foot free kick from the corner of the area, but the diminutive midfielder’s shot crept to the wrong side of Bartkus’ post. Biton teed-up Perica in the 38th minute only to see the tall Croatian striker send a half-volley that didn’t trouble Bartkus too much.

Andre Gerlades and Eden Shamir combined well down the right on 41 but the Portuguese full-back’s square ball was cleared before any Maccabi player could get a touch. A minute later, good pressure from Glazer deep inside Kiryat Shmona’s half earned Perica the ball but with a powerful drive in the 42 minute resulted with Bartkus stretching himself to push the ball over the crossbar. Within a minute the Lithuanian keeper kept his team in the game once again, this time after a Davidzada chip released Ben Chaim but the powerful close range effort was denied by Bartkus’ feet. Inside added time, Dan Glazer rose high to meet a corner by Gabi Kanichowsky, yet the midfielder whose goals are a rare commodity, guided his header onto the roof of the net.

Second Half

With no changes at halftime, Maccabi began the second half with purpose and intention and reached two chances within the opening two minutes. In the 46th minute, a long Davidzada ball released Biton into the area before his claims for a penalty were waived by the referee and the VAR. A minute later Davidzada cut the ball back for Biton who couldn’t keep his shot down as the ball sailed high over the crossbar. Maccabi kept pressing in a bid to find an opening as Eden Shamir fired a shot wide of Bartkus’ goal on 51.

Mladen Krstajic made his first change right on the hour mark as Matan Hozez came in for Ben Chaim while Djordje Jovanovic was handed his Maccabi debut replacing Shamir. Three minutes after his introduction Jovanovic headed a Davidzada cross from the left that narrowly cleared the crossbar. Two minutes later, Biton blasted a shot that forced Bartkus to a double save as Maccabi kept increasing the pressure.

In the 68th minute however, the deadlock was finally broken as Biton played a pivotal part by exchanging passes with Perica before sliding the ball to Jovanovic who buried his shot into the bottom corner to celebrate his debut with a goal and set Bloomfield stadium alight.

Perica came close to double the score in the 77th as he was left unmarked inside the area to head a corner from close range wide of the post.

Krstajic made his third change in the 86th minute as Eyal Golasa replaced the tired Biton in midfield for the closing stages. Perica bowed out to a standing ovation as he was replaced in the 90th minute by Eylon Almog.

The final whistle ensured Maccabi’s victory that narrowed the gap from the leading duo to 8 points and stretched their lead from 4^th place to five points – a week before facing Hapoel for the Tel Aviv derby.

 

Following Wednesday’s State Cup Quarter Final first leg victory at Bloomfield, Maccabi are preparing for the next task as they host Ironi Kiryat Shmona on Saturday (17:30) for a league encounter. Ahead of MD21, Maccabi’s Serbian coach, Mladen Krstajic, and former Kiryat Shmona central defender, Idan Nachmias, spoke about what the team should expect at Bloomfield stadium.

Watch Krstajic:

24-year-old Nachmias, who joined Maccabi from Kiryat Shmona in the summer was quick to acknowledge the qualities of Saturday’s opponents that only last month held Maccabi to a penalty shoot-out in the Cup: “Kiryat Shmona are an excellent side and we saw that recently. They had two disappointing results but they are still a very good team that enjoyed an excellent run of matches”.

On the switch between the two competitions, Nachmias who was introduced as a second half substitute against Maccabi Jaffa on Wednesday, added: “We have no intention to remove our foot from the gas, at any place. As long as we there a chance to win a title, we will fight i every game and give a 100%. This Cup ties was not a break in any way, but on Saturday we expect a super critical match. If we would like to achieve something we need to win every match”.

The 21-year-old Panamanian forward who scored this season 3 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions and last season scored 7 goals in 27 appearances, will join Hapoel Jerusalem on loan until the end of the 2021/22 season.

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC reached an agreement with Serbian outfit Cukaricki for the transfer of Djordje Jovanovic who successfully underwent a medical and signed a contract until the end of the 2023/24 season with an option to extend by two more seasons.

Jovanovic told the club’s official website: “It is a pleasure for me to join Maccabi, such a great and famous club with a rich history. As a passionate player, I can promise to give a 100% every day both in training and on the pitch to fight for everyone at Maccabi especially the fans”.

Head of Maccabi’s Football Department, Barak Itzhaki, told the club’s official website: “Djordje is a promising striker who despite his young age gained a lot of experience playing both in his country and abroad. He is well known in Serbia and is regarded as one of the most talented strikers who still has his very best years in front of him. I am delighted Djordje decided to join Maccabi Tel Aviv and wish him all the best. I would like to use the opportunity to thank Mitch for his continued support which enables us to attract players such as Djordje to Maccabi”.

Jovanovic, (187cm), scored this season for Cukaricki 12 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions which add to the 9 goals he scored in 17 appearances last season after moving from Spanish outfit Cadiz in October 2020.

The 22-year-old striker who represented Serbia’s young national teams at U16, U17, U18, U19 and U21 levels, scored a total of 10 goals in 28 international appearances.

Jovanovic began his playing career at the Youth Academy of his boyhood town Leposavic before switching to Partizan Belgrade where he made his senior debut nine days after his 17^th birthday.

In his first season with the senior side (2016/17) Jovanovic was part of Partizan’s double winning season while the following season (2017/18) scored 4 goals in 19 appearances that resulted with a Cup Final victory.

Belgian side Lokeren purchased Jovanovic in the summer of 2018 where he scored 1 goal in 10 appearances before moving to Spain to join Cadiz in January 2019 where he played 6 games. A loan deal to Cartagena for the 2019/20 season resulted with 5 goals in 18 appearances before returning to Serbia where he joined Cukaricki.

Pre Match

Boosted by the 3-1 victory away to Ashdod at the weekend, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the State Cup Quarter Final first leg against Maccabi Jaffa. The 3rd division outfit featuring veteran players such as Eran Levy and Dovev Gabay advanced from the previous round at the expense of second division side A.S Ashdod at the end of a penalty shoot.

Maccabi’s coach Mladen Krstajic whose squad is still depleted by injuries, as Sheran Yeini and Shahar Piven are still recovering while Eden Shamir has been rested, gave a chance to several other players to impress.

Daniel Tenenbaum returned to goal as the Brazilian born custodian was named in the starting line up at a domestic match for the first time since last season’s State Cup Final. Maor Kandil, was handed a rare start at right back against the club which gave him his senior debut while Ofir Davidzada kept his place at left back. Dan Glazer led the team out with the captain’s armband as the defensive partner of Matan Baltaxa at the heart of defence. Eyal Golasa and Avi Rikan were both assigned to the midfield engine room, with Matan Hozez at the top of the midfield trio. Brandley Kuwas and Eylon Almog were named on both wings with Stipe Perica leading the line upfront.

First Half

Facing three central defenders and a five-man defensive Jaffa line, Maccabi took a while to carve an opening. Ten minutes from the start Brandley Kuwas was brought down by Jaffa’s Ronen Peretz on the edge of the area who was consequently booked. Kuwas took the free kick but failed to get the ball around the wall while Eylon Almog sent a cross into the area several minutes later which Stipe Perica failed to connect onto. In the 26th minute however all three players combined for Maccabi’s opener as Kuwas led fed Perica whose shot was initially saved by Jaffa’s keeper Almog Malul before Almog ensured the ball crossed the line by tucking it home from point blank range.

Perica should have doubled the score two minutes after the half hour mark as Matan Hozez found the tall Croatian striker whose close range effort was saved by Malul. A minute later however, Jaffa’s keeper was beaten for the second time by Almog who blasted a powerful low drive from the edge of the area that made it 2-0.

Second Half

Mladen Krstajic made a double substitution at halftime as Enric Saborit replaced Ofir Davidzada while Osama Khalaila came in for Stipe Perica for the restart. A minute later, Eyal Golasa began an attack deep inside Maccabi’s half, released Almog who teed-up Avi Rikan whose shot cleared the crossbar.

A minute after the hour mark Maor Kandil was shown a yellow card for a foul on Ron Gabay but following the intervention of VAR the decision was reversed and he was sent off instead. Almog had a chance to score his hatrick in the 68th minute but sent his shot high and wide. This was Almog’s final contribution on the night as he was replaced a minute later by Andre Geraldes as part of double change by Krstajic that saw Idan Nachmias come in for Eyal Golasa.

Matan Hozez limped off on 73 and was replaced by Gabi Kanichowsky as Krstajic made his final substitution for the closing stages. Khalaila curled a left foot shot over the bar, then sent a shot wide while Rikan also fired his attempt over the bar in the 86th minute as the numerical disadvantage didn’t prevent Maccabi from creating chances.