Three days after being held to a 1-1 draw by Maccabi Petah Tikva and four days before hosting Maccabi Haifa for a crucial league match, Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Bloomfield stadium in a bid to put all domestic issues aside in favor of the European mission.

Ahead of the first ever Conference League group stage match, Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen made three changes from Saturday’s line-up as Ofir Davidzada stepped-in for the injured Enric Saborit. The rest of Maccabi’s defense remained unchanged with Andre Geraldes, Idan Nachmias and Luis Hernandez assigned to supply the protection on Daniel Peretz in goal.

Sheran Yeini returned to the side to make his 70th appearance in Europe for Maccabi, only three behind record holder Eytan Tibi, as the veteran skipper joined Dan Glazer in the midfield engine room. Dan Biton, completed the midfield on a more attacking role with the task of feeding the front-line that welcomed Eduardo Guerrero back from international duty. Gabi Kanichowsky, who made his debut against Petah Tikva kept his place, as did Stipe Perica who led the attack in a bid to add a goal to his tally which was opened at the weekend.

First Half

It took Maccabi 13 minutes to launch the first serious threat on Alashkert’s goal but when they did so, a move involving four players resulted with the opening goal. Gabi Kanichowsky chipped the ball from the left to Eduardo Guerrero who knocked it down for Dan Biton whose short pass released Stipe Perica.

The tall Croatian striker still had his work cut out as he skipped past an Alashkert defender and fired his shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Ognjen Cancarevic for the first ever Conference League goal.

Two minutes later, Perica who scored his second goal in three days came close to bag his second of the afternoon but was denied by Cancarevic’s feet. Within two minutes Alashkert were back on level terms though as their Portuguese forward Jose Embalo silenced the stadium with a powerful low drive that beat Daniel Peretez to make it 1-1 on 17.

Two minutes after the half hour mark Maccabi were back in front as Biton released Kanichowsky into the area with a clever pass. The diminutive midfielder restored Maccabi’s lead with his debut goal that proved too powerful for Cancarevic.

On the stroke of halftime, an Ofir Davidzada cross reached Biton whose attempt of a shot was blocked and as the ball fell to Kanichowsky he fired a shot that was caught by the keeper. Inside injury time Eduardo Guerrero broke into the area and was brought down by an Alashkert defender which led to Norwegian referee Espen Andreas Eskas awarding a penalty. Biton stepped-up and took a weak shot that was easily caught by Cancarevic, but, luckily for Biton, Eskas spotted an infringement and ordered a re-take which Biton fired home to make it 3-1.

Second Half

Despite the two goal lead at the interval, Van Leeuwen made a double change as Avi Rikan and Matan Hozez replaced Guerrero and Biton for the restart.

Just before the hour mark, Hozez and Andre Geraldes exchanged passes before the winger was brought down winning a free kick. Hozez whipped in the free kick which was cleared by Alashkert’s defense that managed to handle every cross sent in their direction.

In the 67th minute Van Leeuwen made another double change as Sheran Yeini was replaced by Shahar Piven and Kanichowsky bowed out to a standing ovation allowing Brandley Kuwas a chance to make his Maccabi debut.

It didn’t take Kuwas too long to make an impression as four minutes after his introduction the Dutch born winger played a key role in Maccabi’s fourth goal. A clever pass from Kuwas carved Alashkert’s open canceling their offside trap to release Perica who found himself with only the keeper to beat but unselfishly squared the ball to Hozez who scored to make it 4-1 on 71.

Perica was given a standing ovation himself as he was replaced in the 80th minute allowing Osama Khalaila 10 minutes to make an impact.

A minute later, Hozez’ attempt of a cut-back was blocked and reached Piven whose shot cleared the crossbar.

The referee’s final whistle sent Maccabi’s players to celebrate the victory with the 6,934 fans who attended the match. All parties involved, will congregate at Bloomfield once again on Saturday for the league match against Maccabi Haifa which is set to be a completely different affair.

Daniel Peretz, will continue playing at Maccabi Tel Aviv for at least three more years after signing a three-year-deal with an option to extend by two more seasons.

After signing the new deal, Peretz told the club’s official website: “I am delighted to extend my contract at the club I grew-up at from the age of 6. Today I am fulfilling a dream that is a result of intense daily work that began in the Youth Academy and is evident at the first team. I would like to thank all the staff at the Youth Academy that worked with over the years, the club’s senior officials for the faith shown in me, my teammates and obviously my family who has been following me all those years. From here on, we will return to work hard in order to continue making progress with Maccabi and reach all our targets we will place before us”.

Maccabi’s Head of the Football Department added: “The progress Daniel made over the years through the path he made, led him to the place he is today. We are certain that the combination of hard work and perseverance together with Daniel’s talent would lead us all to success”.

Peretz, a product of Maccabi’s Youth Academy began his footballing steps at the age of 6. The talented goalkeeper played for the club’s various age groups, and in 2017/18 won the U-19’s youth league championship with Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shahar’. He was loaned to Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam for the 2019/20 season where he gained experience in the second division where he made 36 appearances in all competitions and even scored 2 goals.

The following season, Peretz, returned to Maccabi, joined the first team and made his senior debut at the club in then Toto Cup Final against Bnei Sachnin and helped the team win the trophy. This season, Peretz made 9 appearances in all competitions and kept a clean sheet in 4 of the 6 Conference League qualifiers.

The keeper who earlier this month made his first two appearances for Israel’s Under 21’s during the victories over Hungary and Poland, also represented Israel 25 times at the various young national teams.

Pre Game

In a bid to put the defeat on the opening day of the season to Bnei Sachnin behind them, Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium for the first home game of the season against Maccabi Petah Tikva.

The two week international break gave Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen some time to work with the squad that was bolstered by the new signings of Gabi Kanichowsky and Brandley Kuwas. The diminutive midfielder who grew-up at Maccabi’s Youth Academy but returned to the club from Maccabi Netanya was given a chance to make his second debut as he was named by Patrick van Leeuwen in the starting line-up. Kuwas on the other hand, was named amongst the substitutes waiting for his chance to make a first impression in the Israeli league.

Daniel Peretz, who was in goal for Israel’s Under 21’s in the two victories over Hungary and Poland returned to protect Maccabi’s goal. Idan Nachmias and Luis Hernandez were the two central defenders in front of Peretz, while Andre Geraldes and Enric Saborit completed the back four on the right and left respectively. Dan Glazer led the team out with the captain’s armband as Eden Shamir partnered him in the midfield engine room while Kanichowsky completed Dan Biton on his second home debut completed the trio. Upfront, Kanichowsky was named on one wing while Eylon Alomog on the other as van Leeuwen named Stipe Perica for his home debut to lead the attack.

First Half

The match began with both sides trying to breach their opponents’ defense without much success as Lameck Benda fired over in the 11th minute before Andre Geraldes did the same a minute later.

In the 20th minute, Dan Biton tested Arik Yanko with a left foot shot from 20 meters only to see the Petah Tikva custodian collect the ball.  Three minutes later, a perfectly weighed Gabi Kanichowsky ball into the box was nodded down by Biton into the path of Idan Nachmias who sent a powerful half volley over the crossbar. Maccabi continued to press in the 24th minute as a Petah Tikva attempt of a clearance fell to Eylon Almog whose shot was blocked. Less than sixty seconds later, Enric Saborit released Biton into the area before the midfielder fired his close range effort into the side netting.

Right on the half hour mark the deadlock was finally broken as a Biton cross reached Kanichowsky whose volley was blocked before Stipe Perica pounced on the rebound and slotted home to open his account.

In the 36 minute Van Leeuwen was forced to make his first change as Saborit limped off with a injury to his Achiles and was replaced by Ofir Davidzada.

On the stroke of halftime Petah Tikva had their claims for a penalty waved by referee Gal Leibovic after Benda fell inside the penalty area. Inside injury time however, Maccabi came close to double the score as a Biton corner was headed by Nachmias towards the near post before Luis Hernandez missed the target from point blank range.

Second Half

Shortly after the restart, Perica could have doubled his tally as Davidzada picked him with a clever through ball but the tall Croatian striker who chested the ball was let down by his touch allowing Petah Tikva’s defense to clear. Maccabi’s defense was almost caught by suprise after an attacking corner in the 50th minute which led to a counter attack that was cleared by a last gasp Nachmias tackle. Six minutes later however, the visitors were back on level terms as Benda rose to direct his header past Peretz from close range to make it 1-1. Van Leeuwen reacted almost instantly with two changes as Matan Hozez replaced Almog while Osama Khalaila came in for Perica.

Ben Reichert who was introduced at the start of the second half for Nico Olsak was booked and and received a chorus of boos for a rough challenge on Dan Glazer.

A head collision with Eden Shamir saw Petah Tikva’s central defender Or Balorian forced off to receive treatment for a nose bleed, as this was Shamir’s final contribution onnthe night. Van Leeuwen made his final two changes as Sheran Yeini came in for Shamir while Avi Rikan replaced Biton for the final nine minutes.

Despite six minutes of added time, Petah Tikva managed to cling on and salvage a point at the final whistle.