Maccabi last night (Saturday) won one of the most dramatic derbies witnessed here in recent years. Djordje Jovanovic’s injury time winner led Maccabi to a 3-2 victory over Hapoel in the Tel Aviv derby which led us to look for some interesting statistics following the match.

Last night victory took the all-time record to 57-46 in Maccabi’s favor. The record of an 11 victory gap between the two clubs also stretched Maccabi’s unbeaten league run to 16 in succession and 21 in all competitions.

This is the second time in history that Maccabi scores an injury time winning goal. Djordje Jovanoviv 93^rd minute was scored at the exact minute Eran Zahavi scored in the memorable 3-2 derby victory in the 2013/14 season.

Jovanovic joins five more Maccabi players who scored in their first two league appearances. The 22-year-old Serbian striker joins Alejandro Kenig (1990/91), Ben Luz (1994/95), Yevgeni Kashenetsev (1995/96), Eran Levy (2005/06), Moussa Konate (2011/12).

Up until yesterday, Ben Luz was the only player to score winning goals in his first two matches (December 1994).

In his first two matches, Luz scored the winning goals against Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hapoel Be’ersheva, but these matches were not back-to-back.

Stipe Perica’s opening goal was scored after 160 seconds (3^rd minute) and is ranked fourth in Maccabi’s fast goal list in derbies.

Dan Biton, dished out two assists for Perica and Gabi Kanichowsky) and played a key role in Jovanovic’s winner. Biton joins a list of 7 players who assisted two goals in derbies.

The 26-year-old midfielder stretched his recent good form with assists in 3 matches in succession. Over the past five seasons, only Eli Dasa (2018/19) and Eduardo Guerrero (2020/21) reached such an achievement.

All three goal scorers, Perica, Knichowsky and Jovanovic scored their debut goals in Tel Aviv derby matches.

 

 

“I have no words, it was a crazy game” Biton said after the match, “I am over the moon we managed to clinch it. Our amazing set of fans deserve this for pushing us throughout the game right from the start. I am proud of my teammates as everyone left their hearts on the pitch”.

Biton, who set up Maccabi’s first two goals for Stipe Perica and Gabi Kanichowsky before being involved in the dramatic late winner, spoke about his recent good form, added: “I don’t like to talk about myself. We have a good coach and excellent players. The victory is not just me, but all the guys left their hearts on the pitch tonight and I am just over the moon”

Preview

Currently ranked third in the table with 38 points from 21 matches, Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the second Tel Aviv derby of the season. Maccabi’s coach, Mladen Krstajic, made a single change to his starting line-up from the side that beat Kiryat Shmona last week as he kept both the defence and midfield unchanged.

Daniel Peretz remained in goal with Enric Saborit and Idan Nachmias as the two central defenders while Andre Geraldes and Ofir Davidzada completed the back-four 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, Gabi Kanichowsky and Dan Biton in a diamond shaped midfield.  Eylon Almog, stepped-in for Tal Ben Chaim as Krstajic’s only change as he joined Stipe Perica as the two frontmen. Djordje Jovanovic who scored last week’s winning goal against Kiryat Shmona, remained on the substitutes bench alongside Matan Baltaxa, Matan Hozez, Tal Ben Chaim, Brandley Kuwas, Sheran Yeini, Avi Rikan, Eyal Golasa and Daniel Tenenbaum.

First Half

Bloomfield stadium was packed to the rafters as a sell-out crowd was present for the Tel Aviv derby creating an electric atmosphere. Maccabi began the match with purpose and intention and didn’t take long before the deadlock was broken.

Three minutes after the start, Stipe Perica controlled the ball inside the centre circle before knocking it down to Dan Biton. The diminutive midfielder rode a couple of Hapoel tackles and released Perica clear through. With only the keeper to beat, the tall Croatian striker kept his calm and slotted the ball past Ernstas Setkus to silence Hapoel’s fans and send the Yellow and Blue fans into a state of delirium.

Biton tried his luck with a left foot shot from the edge of the area in the 9th minute forcing Setkus to a double save before Eylon Alomog could tuck-in the rebound. Seconds later, flares and smoke grenades were thrown onto the pitch from Hapoel’s North stand forcing play to be stopped. When the smoke finally cleared and referee Yigal Fried restarted the match, Biton continued to look dangerous as another trademark left foot shot was caught by Setkus in the 18th minute.

In the 26^th minute and against the run of play Hapoel were back on level terms as Ben Biton exploited a mistake in Maccabi’s defence to send a low weak shot that beat Daniel Peretz.

Perica came close as he flashed a shot which narrowly missed the target following a cut-back from Andre Geraldes on 33.

Shai Elias tested Peretz with a shot which was equalled by Maccabi’s keeper in the 37th minute before Ofir Davidzada recovered in time to block a Shlomi Azulay shot shortly after.  A clever flick by Enric Saborit that released Perica on 41 handed Maccabi’s striker a glorious chance to restore the lead before the interval but somehow the Croat side-footed his effort wide.

Despite six minutes of added time, Maccabi couldn’t find an opening as the halftime whistle sent both teams to regroup in the dressing rooms.

Second Half

With no changes to either side at the break, both teams emerged after the interval for another hot- tempered half which began with an Idan Nachmias booking three minutes after the restart. A minute later however Maccabi were back in-front as Almog, dispossessed a Hapoel defender of the ball, picked Perica whose square ball was flicked by Biton into the path of Gabi Kanichowsky. The diminutive midfielder, gave Setkus no chance as he blasted his shot into the top corner to score Maccabi’s second and score his third league and six in all competitions.

Hapoel must have thought they levelled the score in the 54th minute as Osher Davida dribbled past Peretz who was caught off his line, but Eden Shamir cleared the danger from the goalmouth. Mladen Krstajic made his first change a minute later as Djordje Jovanovic replaced Almog on 55.

Hapoel had the ball in the back of the net in the 67th minute as Peretz made an initial save from Shlomi Azulay’s header only for Davida to react first and slot in the rebound. The referee assistant raised his flag for offside, but VAR intervened and ruled the goal should stand thus setting the score at 2-2.

Krstajic added a fresh pair of legs as Tal Ben Chaim replaced Perica in the 86th minute. As the fourth official indicated 5 minutes of added time, Krstajic made his third substitution as Shamir bowed out and was replaced by Sheran Yeini.

Inside injury time, Maccabi took the lead for the third time on the night as Biton floated a ball into the box, Yeini flicked with his head and Jovanovic manage to bundle the ball home from point blank range.
Maccabi’s 12^th victory of the season, increased the point tally to 41 points, six behind Hapoel Be’ersheva and seven ahead of Hapoel.  

So far 160 Tel Aviv derbies were played in the league with the all-time record currently stands on 56 victories for Maccabi, 46 victories for Hapoel and 58 matches were drawn. The total goal tally currently stands on 192-152 in Maccabi’s favour.

With Maccabi winning 56 and Hapoel 46 this 10-match advantage equals the record set in January 1994 and November 1995. Another Yellow victory will sent a new all-time record.

Maccabi unbeaten run in Tel Aviv derbies stands on 15 matches in succession.   

Only two players from the current squad, Sheran Yeini and Tal Ben Chaim featured in the last derby Maccabi were beaten in.

Saturday’s derby will be played on MD22 as the record in the 10 Tel Aviv derbies on this Match Day is balanced with both teams winning 3 and 4 other matches drawn.

Rodrigo Goldberg’s goal led Maccabi to a 1-0 victory over Hapoel in the 2002/03 season which resulted with a Championship.

Watch the video: Goldberg wins the derby in 2002/03

This was the highest attended league match ever (which wasn’t a double header) as 40,000 fans filled the Ramat Gan national stadium.

So far Maccabi faced Hapoel’s current coach, Kobi Refuah, for 12 league matches. Maccabi’s record against Refuah is 6 victories, 4 draws, and 2 defeats with the goal difference currently 14-7 in Maccabi’s favor.