A sixth victory in succession

Maccabi’s amazing spell continued yesterday with a 1-0 victory over Hapoel Kfar Sava, which was the champions’ sixth league victory in succession. For the first time since December 2019 Maccabi reaches this landmark.

Maccabi’s longest successful run since 2000 stands on 8 victories in succession (March 2013) and three more runs of 7 wins.

The most one-sided match

Yesterday’s match was the most one-sided match as Kfar Sava ended the match without a single shot on target.

This is the second time this season, together with the match against Kiryat Shmona, where a team fails to find the target during an entire match.

As for the shots on goal, Maccabi held a clear advantage of 22-1 – the highest ratio this season.

Those who led the ‘threats on goal’ chart on the night were the two midfielders: Dor Peretz (7) and Avi Rikan (6).

Dan Biton enjoyed another good game with 5 of 6 accurate key passes.

The statistic which indicates on Maccabi’s free-flowing attacking game is the number of accurate key passes (10) – the largest number of any team this season.

The impressive record at Hamoshava

The victory at Hamoshava stadium stretched Maccabi’s successful run against Kfar Sava to four clean-sheet victories since their return to the top flight last season.

This was also Maccabi’s Sixth victory in succession with a clean sheet at Hamoshava stadium (Maccabi Petah Tikva, Hapoel Ra’anana, Hapoel Kfar Sava, Sektzia Nes Ziona and Bnei Yehuda) – a record for an away team in the league.

Strong at the top

Aleksandar Pesic’s winner was not only his 8^th goal this season but also the eighth goal Maccabi scored from headers this season. Pesic (3), Yonatan Cohen (2), Dor Peretz (1), Louis Hernandez (1) and Etey Shechter (1).

Since scoring 9 headers by MD21 in the 2009/10 season, Maccabi hasn’t scored so many headers until this stage of a season.

Pesic extended the successful run of winning every time he scored a goal – seven matches so far.

Throughout Maccabi’s history, there are 18 players whose goals led to victories in the first seven matches during which they scored.

Tal Ben Chaim who set up last night’s winning goal, assisted for the 19^th time in the league to climb to number 24 in the all-time assist charts.

“We showed that when we come prepared we manage to create chances against teams that pack the defense against us and I am delighted that we exploited them”, Peretz said, “Hapoel Kfar Sava has been showing good football since they made (managerial) changes, they are a team with a high level of football, we need to be ready, to prepare like we should and simply do our job”

Amit Glazer, 20, joined Bnei Yehuda on loan until the end of the season. The defender who played 39 times for Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam last season, made his senior Maccabi debut during in the Toto Cup final against Bnei Sachnin before adding another appearance in the Champions League qualifier against Salzburg.

Pregame
Maccabi’s Head Coach Patrick van Leeuwen, who guided the team to an amazing record of 22 points from a possible 24 since being appointed, made four changes from the side which recorded the dramatic late victory over Bnei Sachnin.

Enric Saborit, who completed his one-match touchline-ban, returned to the left side of defense at the expense of Ofir Davidzada. Andre Geraldes, Eytan Tibi and Luis Hernandez kept their place to complete the back-four while the midfield trio of Dan Glazer, Dor Peretz and Avi Rikan also remained unchanged. Van Leeuwen made two more changes to his frontline as Matan Hozez and Eylon Almog made way for Dan Biton and Tal Ben Chaim who were both named as the two wingers. Aleksandar Pesic led the attack with Etey Shechter, Nick Blackman and Eduardo Guerrero waited for their chance on the bench together with Sheran Yeini, Maor Kandil, Matan Baltaxa and Shahar Piven.

First Half

Maccabi took the initiative early on but in the fourth minute it was Hadera who took the lead from their first corner. Maxim Plakuschenko crossed the corner into the box before Jonathan Cisse headed home past Daniel Tenenbaum.

In the 16th minute, Enric Saborit tried testing Rubi Levkovic from long distance, but the Spanish left back’s shot, was gathered with ease by Hadera’s keeper. Three minutes later Maccabi were back on level terms through Avi Rikan who latched onto Dor Peretz’ knockdown from a Louis Hernandez long throw. Rikan brought the ball down and sent a low drive which went in off the post.

In the 23rd minute the comeback was complete as Dan Biton whipped in a pinpoint cross with his left and Aleksandar Pesic was given the time and space to head the ball in and make it 2-1. Rikan tried to send a chip over Levkovic on 28 following good work by Peretz, but the ball didn’t rise high enough to beat Hadera’s keeper.

Saborit went into the referee’s book in the 40th minute for a foul on Liran Rotman before Plakuschenko blasted the free kick directly at Pesic. A minute later, Rotman fired a shot forcing Tenenbaum to bend over and collect.

In the 44th minute, a comedy of errors in Maccabi’s defense, resulted with a mix up inside the area as the ball pin-balled in the five meter box before it was cleared.

Second Half

Van Leeuwen made his first change after the interval as Eduardo Guerrero replaced Tal Ben Chaim for the restart. A minute later, Biton began one of his trademark dribbles down the right flank, cut inside and unleashed a left-foot shot which sailed over the crossbar.

Maccabi continued looking dangerous as Guerrero came close after being released by Biton before his effort was blocked. Pesic also broke clear through following a Guerrero pass but the Serbian striker was stopped by the advancing keeper. Maccabi looked destined to score a third as Rikan had a left foot shot pushed out by Levkovic on 52. In the 56th minute Levkovic was beaten by Dan Glazer’s right foot shot, but the crossbar denied the midfielder his debut goal of the season. Levkovic continued to keep Hadera in the game as he denied Guereero and then Peretz right on the hour mark.

Maccabi were finally rewarded for their efforts in the 69th minute as Biton latched onto a square ball, caught Hadera’s defense flat and released Pesic who kept his calm and slotted home his second and Maccabi’s third. This was the final contribution of Pesic and Biton on the night as both players came off together with Glazer as part of a triple substitution which saw Etey Shechter, Matan Hozez and Sheran Yeini introduced for the final 20 minutes. 

Peretz came close to replicate his winning goal against Sachnin this time from a Kandil cross, but the midfielder’s header was caught by Levkovic on 82.

8 – matches in succession Maccabi kept a clean sheet against Hadera.

Maccabi has only one longer record, which is also a league record of 10 matches without conceding against Rishon Lezion set in October 1994.

Maccabi kept 13 clean sheets in 23 league matches against Hadera – 57%. The highest percentage of the 24 opponents Maccabi had met for more than 20 league matches.

Three of the 15 victories over Hadera were secured in injury time – 20%. The last time Maccabi beat Hadera in injury time was in the 2018/19 season. Just like Saturday, Dor Peretz scored the winner in the 95^th minute.

Maccabi’s highest victory against Hadera was a 4-0 win in the 2018/19 season.

Dror Bar Nur scored a total of 5 goals against Hapoel Hadera as he is Maccabi’s leading scorer against them.

Dan Glazer and Enric Saborit made 7 appearances against Hadera as they made the most apperances against them from the current squad. Maccabi’s all time appearance record, Miko Belo, made 12 appearances against Hadera and holds that record as well.

Two members of Maccabi’s current squad spent loan spells at Hadera during the 2018/19 season. Eylon Almog scored 4 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions. Eden Kartzev scored 2 goals in 16 appearances in all competitions.

Hadera’s newly appointed coach, Menachem Koretzki, met Maccabi Tel Aviv on 12 occasions. His record: 10 defeats, a victory and a draw.