A year – maybe a little more from our last meeting at Bloomfield. To see the stadium full, all in Yellow and the power of the voices from the stands is something that I find it hard to define. When I step onto the pitch and see you all going mental in the stands, I will not exaggerate by saying, it takes me back to the days I loved so much.

To return to the days when I was a kid who arrives at the stadium with the rest of the family. Jumping in joy with every goal that is scored and shedding a tear in moments of sadness I knew we will emerge of on top. In such moments when the energies that pour from the stands are so powerful, you feel an integral part of the game.

Such energies, that reach us players on the pitch, were so badly missed in the last year. Your strength effects our game. Makes us stronger against our opponents. Turns Bloomfield into our home and you as a living wall that protects us and pushes us towards our target – victory.

When I was a kid, those powers went through my bones when I bounced on the seats in the stand and knew that one day I will be there on the pitch. I knew that if there is one place I want to grow up at is Maccabi Tel Aviv.

When I signed the contract extension at Maccabi Tel Aviv I felt the massive love that you give. I know that I am staying at the place I can be the best and the place that is best for me.

After a year without you in the stands you are back. It is exciting but at the same time pinches a little – that all of you could not attend this derby. We will still hera your voice from the stands, but they will not be as full as we would like them to be.

 

We want to see you in every game and at every moment and hope that we could thank you all soon. So for those of you who will not attend the derby – we know that everywhere we go you are behind us and I believe that we will see you all in the stadium.  

 

Maccabi will host the second derby of the season in a match which would conclude the regular season. Shortly before the encounter, Maccabi’s Head Cpach, Patrick van Leeuwen, spoke about the preparations for Saturday’s Tel Aviv derby, and said: “As soon as we ended the Cup tie against Hapoel Haifa we began preparations for the derby. We relate to every match as a separate match, but this an interesting match in particular as it is a local derby and a match that will be attended by fans so it becomes even more interesting”.

Dan Glazer will continue playing at Maccabi Tel Aviv after the 24-year-old midfielder signed a three-year contract extension with an option to extend.

After signing the new deal, Glazer told the club’s official website: “This is a very exciting day for me. Ever since I began playing football at the age of 6 I dreamed of becoming a leading player at Maccabi Tel Aviv. I completed all the training path the club has placed before me and in the last three years with the senior side, I experienced many magical moments. I am certain that this is only the beginning. I am enjoying every moment and hope that we will continue getting excited together, win titles and achieve all the targets this enormous club is aspiring for”.

Maccabi’s Head Coach Patrick van Leeuwen, added: “It is always a good thing for a club to sign a contract extension in the senior side with a home-grown player. Dan is a player who followed the path the club put before him to become the player that he is today. He is a player with great character who is always there for his teammates both on and off the pitch whilst making progress on a daily basis”.   

Glazer, made his first footballing steps at the age of six when he joined Maccabi’s Youth Academy. After making his senior debut at the age of 17 at a Toto Cup match in 2014, Glazer, who captained Maccabi’s U-19’s to win the Youth Championship and led the side during the UEFA Youth Champions League campaign – spent several seasons on loan with Beitar Tel Aviv and Maccabi Netanya. Glazer returned to Maccabi for the 2018/19 campaign and in his first two full seasons, won two league titles back to back, a Toto Cup as well as the League’s Player of the Season Award in the last campaign.

This season, Glazer, made 30 appearances for Maccabi in all competitions and a total of 112 wearing the Yellow and Blue, added another Toto Cup medal. Glazer scored a solitary goal for Maccabi against Maccabi Netanya on May 11^th 2019.  

Glazer, who made 8 appearances for the Israel national team, also represented the various young national teams on 53 occasions.  

A man of the match performance from Daniel Tenenbaum helped Maccabi to a 3-2 victory over Hapoel Haifa that booked a place in the State Cup Quarter Finals draw. Shortly after pulling a spectacular injury time save to deny Hapoel Haifa a dramatic equaliser, Tenenbaum said: “I am here to help our team. It was a good save to be honest but the most important thing is that I helped the team qualify. Did I grasp the magnitude of the save? Not really but the most important thing is that we are through to the next stage”.

Maccabi are through the State Cup Quarter Finals after a 3-2 victory against Hapoel Haifa in a dramatic end to end match at Sammy Ofer. Tal Ben Chaim, Niso Kapiloto (og) and Nick Blackman scored the goals that booked Maccabi’s place in the draw for the final eight.

Pre Match

Hapoel Haifa separate between Maccabi and a place in the State Cup Quarter Finals as the Round of 16 tie saw Patrick van Leeuwen’s side return to Sammy Ofer a fortnight after both teams met in the league.

With a tight fixture schedule that will see Maccabi end the regular league season at Bloomfield when they host Hapoel Tel Aviv on Saturday, Van Leeuwen, made four changes from the saide that beat Kiryat Shmona at the weekend.

Eytan Tibi and Luis Hernandez both kept their place at the heart of defense right in front of goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum. Matan Baltaxa returned to the left side of defense in place of Ofir Davidzada who dropped to the bench while Maor Kandil completed the back-four on the right.

Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa and Dor Peretz resumed their roles as the midfield trio while the front three were changed completely. Tal Ben Chaim who completed his one-match touchline-ban returned to the side, as did Eylon Almog and Nick Blackman who both made substitute appearances at Kiryat Shmona. The English born Barbados international forward led the attack at the stadium and against the same opponent he scored the opening goal with his shoulder.

First Half

Five minutes from the start the hosts took the lead in controversial circumstances as Dor Malul handled the ball in the build up to Hanan Maman’s opener. Maccabi’s defense struggled to deal with Ido Shahar’s corner as the ball bobbled off Maman to beat Tenenbaum at the near post.

Two minutes later however, Maccabi were back on level terms as a Haifa defender blocked a header with his hand inside the area before referee Shlomi Ben Avraham awarded a penalty. Tal Ben Chaim stepped up and successfully converted the spot kick past Jasmin Boric.

The comeback was complete in the 13th minute as Ben Chaim turned provider by picking Eylon Almog with a pinpoint cross. The talented winger chested the ball down and sent a shot which Boric saved by the rebound came off Niso Kapiloto to make it 2-1.

Maccabi had the ball in Haifa’s net for the third time in the 20th minute as Almog forced another save from Boric before Eyal Golasa fired in the rebound. But Maccabi’s celebrations were shortlived as Nick Blackman was judged to have been in an offside position and the goal was disallowed. Two minutes later, Blackman capitalized on a mix up between Boric and his defense, but with the goal at his mercy struck the post from 25 meters out.

Ben Chaim had a chance to increase Maccabi’s lead even further as he was put through by a Golasa clever pass on 28, but Ben Wahaba slid-in with a last gasp block to save the danger.

Maccabi totally dominated the play and came even closer to score the third in the 37th minute as Sheran Yeini rattled Boric’s crossbar with left foot shot from the edge of of the area.

A Matan Baltaxa block from an Alon Turgeman shot resulted with a Dor Peretz counter attack that almost ended with a Golasa goal at the opposite end. Seconds later and on the brink of halftime, Tenenbaum pulled a spectacular fingertip save to deny Ruslan Barsky an equaliser.

Second Half

Haifa’s coach Haim Silvas made his first substitution as Yahav Gurfinkel made way for former Maccabi forward Eden Ben Basat after the break. Fourty seconds after the restart, Golasa should have scored Maccabi’s third as he found himself infront of Boric only to be denied by the Bosnian keeper.

Blackman flashed a left foot shot over the crossbar in the 53rd minute and a minute later headed a Luis Hernandez cross onto the roof of the net. Liran Serdal was given the time and space to blast a powerful drive that hit the side netting on 55. 

Eylon Almog curled a left foot shot that crept over the crossbar on 67 as that was his final contribution on the night. A minute later, Van Leeuwen made a triple substitution as Ofir Davidzada, Avi Rikan and Matan Hozez replaced Almog, Baltaxa and Peretz.

Haifa cut the deficit in the 74rh minute as Alon Turgeman squeezed the ball home following a Kapiloto flick from a corner. Etey Shechter replaced the tired Ben Chaim for the final 13 minutes as Van Leeuwen introduced a fresh pair of legs.

Maman came close to level the score but failed to keep his shot down on in the 78th minute. A minute later though all three substitutes combined for what could have been Maccabi’s fourth. Hozez led a counter attack, squared the ball to Shechter who teed-up Rikan for a shot that went wide of he post.

Shechter should have taken the tie beyond Haifa’s reach in the 86th minute as he charged forward for a counter attack but opted to release a weak shot instead of passing to Blackman.

In the 90th minute Haifa were awarded a direct free kick on the edge of Maccabi’s area. Ben Basat blasted his shot on target but Tenenbaum pulled another stunning save to keep Maccabi’s lead in tact. Dan Biton replaced Blackman inside injury time but the game could have ended in dramatic fashion as Hapoel Haifa scored by the goal was dissalllowed for offside.