Ori Azo joins Ashdod SC after an agreement was reached between the two clubs for a season-long loan deal of the 20-year-old winger.

Azo will return for a second loan spell at Ashdod for which he scored 2 goals in 12 appearances in the second part of the 2024/25 season. Earlier in the season Azo scored 9 goals in 19 appearances in all competitions for Ramat HaSharon during a six-month long loan spell with the second division side.

He will now continue his development with Ashdod for the 2025/26 season.

Good luck, Ori!

Ali Camara’s 95th minute winner earned Maccabi Tel Aviv a dramatic 2-1 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem at Bloomfield. The 28-year-old Guinian defender who opened his Maccabi account in the most dramatic fashion said at the end of the game: “I think I wasn’t the only happy person in the stadium, the fans and the players too, we are all happy today with the last-minute win.”

Camara’s winning goal secured a fourth victory this season that kept Maccabi’s 100% record in tact: “Those three points were very important for us. We want to keep winning every match, even though it’s not easy. Today it came at the very last moment, but we are happy to take the points at home.”

Camara, whose side were reduced to 10 men following the second half dismissal or Roy Revivo tried explaining what has been going on behind the scenes:
“We spoke in the dressing room about winning every match, and today was the fourth match of the season. We wanted to keep up the performance and keep improving,” Camara said. “Today our character was very important, especially with one player less, and we are happy about that.”

The central defender who joined Maccabi in the summer from Swiss club Young Boys and became one of the leaders of the team, spoke of his settling in: “I feel very good. The players, the fans, the club, everyone welcomed me very well. Today I’m very happy and I enjoyed myself on the pitch.”

Ahead to the Europa League phase which kicks off on Wednesday with a tough match away to PAOK Thessaloniki, Camara added:
“We will continue with the process we started a month ago. We are trying to do many positive things. It’s great for us to begin the Europa League, and we will keep working and improving.”

Preview

Three weeks after their 4-0 victory over Maccabi Netanya and four days after defeating Hapoel Petah Tikva by the same result, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD4 WINNER League match against Hapoel Jerusalem.

Zarko Lazetic’s side scored four goals in each of their 3 league outings so far as they recorded a 4-1 win away to Ironi Tiberias last weekend, featured the new fourth kit.

Just like in the midweek match against Hapoel Petah Tikva, Lazetic made five changes to his starting line-up. Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal as did defenders Ali Camara and Tyrese Asante while Raz Shlomo returned to the heart of defense and Roy Revivo to the left back position. Issouf Sissokho kept his place as the anchorman while Ido Shahar who came off the bench to score a late penalty against Petah Tikva, returned to partner the Mali midfielder in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz continued to lead the team out with the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old will aim to continue his goal scoring form. Osher Davida who scored the opener and added an assist at Petah Tikva, kept his place while Kervin Andrade returned to the side for his home debut.

After opening his account against Maccabi Netanya at Bloomfield before adding another last weekend against Ironi Tiberias, Ion Nicolaescu, started upfront.

Yoav Gerafi who recovered from the hamstring injury he picked against Pafos, returned to the squad for the first time. On the bench alongside Gerafi, Lazetic named Sagiv Jehezkel, Denny Gropper, Kristijan Belic, Elad Madmon, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Helio Varela and Itamar Noy.

First Half

Maccabi began the match with a blitz trying to score an early goal with Osher Davida twice bursting his way into the visitors’ box. The pacy winger tried cutting the ball back, but once it was intercepted by the keeper and the second time cleared for a corner. Maccabi came close to score from Davida’s resulting corner which was headed wide by Roy Revivo. Maccabi continued to press as Dor Peretz flashed a shot wide of the post before Revivo sent another close-range header which narrowly missed the target. Maccabi continued to dominate as Revivo and Kervin Andrade combined in the 14th minute to tee-up Ido Shahar whose shot sailed high over the crossbar.

Revivo continued to look lively down the left and in the 22nd minute he charged into the box appeared to go down after colliding with Tamir Haimovich. Referee Idan Leiba awarded Maccabi a penalty but after he was called to the screen by the VAR, cancelled the spot-kick, and booked the left back for diving.

The fourth official signaled 2 additional minutes and on the stroke of halftime Maccabi had the ball in the back of the net. A long diagonal ball found Revivo who rose at the far post and headed across the face of goal where Davida nodded home. But the referee assistant raised his flag for offside before VAR confirmed the goal should be disallowed. With the score still at a blank, the halftime whistle sent both teams to regroup in the dressing rooms ahead of the second period.

Second Half

Neither coach made changes after the interval, as the second half began like the first with Maccabi trying to grab an early goal. In the 52nd minute Revivo charged down the left and slipped the ball to Kervin Andrade who spun around his marker, but his shot was blocked by a Jerusalem defender.

Two minutes later Davida broke down the right and squared for Shahar whose attempt of a flick struck the side netting. Andrade kept causing Jerusalem all sorts of problems as the diminutive Venezuelan winger skillfully charged down the left into the touchline but saw his effort turned away by Nadav Zamir’s feet. Lazetic made a triple substitution in the 64th minute as Issouf Sissokho was replaced by Kristijan Belic, Sagiv Jehezkel came on for Davida while Elad Madmon stepped in for Ion Nicolaescu.

Two minutes later Maccabi were reduced to 10 men after Revivo was shown a second bookable offense for a tug on the shirt of Guy Badash. From the resulting free-kick the visitors took the lead as Ilay Madmon touched the ball for Badash whose powerful left foot drive found the bottom corner of Roi Mishpati. With a goal down and a numerical disadvantage Maccabi had to raise their game. The fans also reacted as they raised their decibels to give the team a massive push. In the 69th minute Bloomfield was on their feet as Belic fed Shahar who drilled in a shot which beat Zamir to level the score. Lazetic made another change as he replaced the tired Andrade with Helio Varela deputizing the Cape Verde winger to left back.

Peretz had two good chances to score after good work by Varela down the wing, but Zamir managed to claw one effort off his line while the second rolled wide. Shahar was replaced by Itamar Noy as Lazetic made his fifth and final change on 86, adding a fresh pair of legs into the midfield.

When it seemed as though all of Maccabi’s attempts to score the winner would fail, Noy broke forward shrugging four opponents in the process as he then released Jehezkel who was brought down near the corner flag. Noy stepped up and sent the free kick into the box where the towering Ali Camara rose high to nod in the winner in the 95^th minute to seal a dramatic late comeback. The celebrations at Bloomfield reached a frenzy as attention now turns to the EUROPA League phase opening match away to PAOK in Thessaloniki on Wednesday. deputizing the Cape Verde winger to left back.

Peretz had two good chances to score after good work by Varela down the wing, but Zamir managed to claw one effort off his line while the second rolled wide. Shahar was replaced by Itamar Noy as Lazetic made his fifth and final change on 86, adding a fresh pair of legs into the midfield.

When it seemed as though all of Maccabi’s attempts to score the winner would fail, Noy broke forward shrugging four opponents in the process as he then released Jehezkel who was brought down near the corner flag. Noy stepped up and sent the free kick into the box where the towering Ali Camara rose high to nod in the winner in the 95^th minute to seal a dramatic late comeback. The celebrations at Bloomfield reached a frenzy as attention now turns to the EUROPA League phase opening match away to PAOK in Thessaloniki on Wednesday.

 

Sagiv Jehezkel returned to Maccabi in the summer of last year after a turbulent spell in Turkey but his first season at the club which resulted with a league title was still plagued by injuries. A fractured cheekbone against Hapoel Be’ersheva in September last year followed by an ankle injury against Ashdod in March, limited Jehezkel to a total of 25 appearances, four goals and 2 assists in all competitions. This season, Jehezkel already recoded 10 appearances in all competitions, but his recent good form saw the 30-year-old winger score twice and add four assists in the last 5 outings.

Having secured qualification to the Europa league phase, Jehezkel and Maccabi now have a 100% record in the league with his side scoring four in each of the three league rounds they played. “Of course, we feel good. I feel good about my form lately, and I’m happy I can help the team” Jehezkel said. “I’m glad the team looks like this, playing according to its principles. We’re doing what we need to do. Always humble and hungry, whether in training or in matches. I’m happy about this period, and we want to keep going in the same way, with humility and hard work.”

On the injuries of last season, Jehezkel reflected: “I had two serious injuries last season and didn’t play for long stretches. That’s part of football, and you need to look at it positively. In the end, we’ve started a new season, and right now I feel good. I’m happy to be one of the leaders here in the team. That was my dream when I came to Maccabi, to be an important figure and help the younger players. I’m happy about this whole period and hope it continues. In the last game, I slightly pulled a muscle in the middle of a shot, but nothing serious, just fatigue from the recent run of games. I was completely fine right after the match.”

Jehezkel who is capable of operating in various positions on the wing, said: “First of all, by nature and how I grew up, I’m an attacking player. I also played right wing for the national team. It is true that I have also played at right back and did it well. I am glad I can play in several roles and give the coach options with me. I’m happy I can help the team in different areas. Right now, I’m trying to give my very best and contribute as much as I can to the team. Now, I feel best in attack, scoring and assisting makes me happy. But if I need to play full-back, I’ll do it in the best possible way.”

On Maccabi’s recent good form, Jehezkel added: “We need to remain calm. It is only the beginning of the season. True, we lost many players last year, but that’s behind us. We’re in a new season with many new players, and they’re settling in well and quickly, understanding what the coach wants and our playing principles. I’m glad we’re managing to bond and connect quickly, and I want that to get even stronger.”

Together with Dor Peretz, Jehezkel is one of the experienced players in a young squad, as he admitted on the connection he has with the Maccabi captain: “It’s a connection that is also off the pitch, we’re good friends, spend a lot of time together, and have great conversations. Dor is an excellent player and makes deep runs most of the time. He receives balls, sometimes from me as well, and manages to score goals. I wish him, and us, many more goals this season.”

Ahead of Saturday’s match against Hapoel Jerusalem that began the season with three defeats from their opening three matches: “Hapoel Jerusalem are a very good team. Most of our matches against them have been close. Right now, Hapoel Jerusalem’s position doesn’t reflect their quality, but we are not focusing on that, we’re focusing on ourselves. We’ll do our preparation and work on the key points for tomorrow. The coach will prepare us in the best way to win the match our way, just like we’ve done so far.”

On Maccabi’s start to the domestic league season which is the opposite of the one their opponents have had, Jehezkel summed up: “I’m happy with the way things are going, but I don’t focus on the 4–0 wins. We work hard in every training session, focusing on our principles and trying to apply them the same way against every opponent. The big wins are just a bonus from the hard work and from everyone giving 100 percent. I’m happy with the results, and we want to keep it going, to win the upcoming games, starting with the next one against Hapoel Jerusalem.”