Dor Peretz, completed a remarkable week as the Maccabi Tel Aviv captain successfully converted a 59t minute penalty on the way to a 4-1 victory over Ironi Tiberias. The 30-year-old who earlier in the week scored a brace for Israel in the dramatic 5-4 World Cup qualifying defeat to Italy, took his seasonal tally at Maccabi to 3 league goals and 5 in all competitions. After the game at Nof HaGalil, which kept Maccabi’s 100% record intact, Peretz who normally doesn’t take penalties but saw fellow teammates Sagiv Jehezkel and Ion Nicolaescu score, said: “I was happy to take the penalty; I was given the opportunity thanks to their generosity. It was a game we started well. We conceded a goal that didn’t really reflect the start of the match, but it was a naïve mistake we cannot afford to make. Thankfully, we kept the same spirit, turned the game around, and hopefully we will continue with this dominance we have shown for the second week in a row.”

Maccabi’s two new signings Kervin Andrade and Helio Varela both made their debut appearances for Maccabi, as the veteran captain said: “The new players who joined us recently are settling into the team, both socially and professionally. We saw that they understand what the coach demands from them and the principles of our game as socially it is also looking good. We are gradually bringing in very talented and hungry players who really embody Maccabi, and hopefully we continue like this.”

The match against Tiberias began a very busy fixture schedule which will see Maccabi play 7 matches in the space of 23 days in the domestic and Europa league: Hapoel Petah Tikva (16.9), Hapoel Jerusalem (20.9), PAOK (24.9), Bnei Sakhnin (28.9), Dinamo Zagreb (2.10), Maccabi Haifa (5.10).

On the busy schedule the team faces, Peretz added: “Every player has a big responsibility to recover properly and treat every match seriously as the most important match. It is the most cliché thing to say, but with three points and another three points, we will do our job. We need to take things seriously and rest between matches.”

On the transition between a high-profile match for the Israel national team to the compact ground at Nof HaGalil for an ordinary league match against Tiberias, Peretz said: “The league is our bread and butter. Honestly. You can experience very big peaks, and I assume we will have some in Europe, but the league is what gives us the privilege to reach those stages. It is a huge honor to represent the national team in these times, but this is what I work for every single day, and what matters most to me and to the team. This is our commitment”.

Preview

Maccabi arrived at the ‘Green’ stadium in Nof HaGalil for the MD3 league match against Ironi Tiberias aiming to maintain their 100% record this season against the only club they failed to beat last season. Having played only one match in the league so far, Zarko Lazetic’s side that will play their rescheduled MD1 fixture against Hapoel Petah Tikva on Tuesday, will aim to emulate the form that saw them beat Maccabi Netanya 4-0 before the international break.

Tiberias that suffered a 7-0 battering away to Hapoel Be’ersheva will try and bounce back by replicating the match against Maccabi in the 2024/25 campaign that saw them salvage a 2-2 draw at Green.

Maccabi’s two new signings Kervin Adrade and Helio Varela were named in the squad for the first time as the 20-year-old Venezuelan started on the wing while the Cape Verde 23-year-old was named amongst the substitutes.

Lazetic made three changes to his starting line up from the side that beat Netanya at Bloomfield as Ali Camara partnered Raz Shlomo as the two central defenders in-front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line. With Issouf Sissokho nursing an injury, Kristijan Belic was handed his debut league start while Ido Shahar partnered the Serbian in the midfield engine room. Dor Peretz led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the skipper who scored a brace against Netanya and another brace for Israel against Italy – will try continuing his good form. Kervin Andrade was handed his first outing as the Venezuelan winger made his debut appearance for Maccabi on one wing with Sagiv Jehezkel on the opposite flank. Upfront, Ion Nicolaescu who opened his account against Netanya continued to spearhead Maccabi’s attack as the Moldovan striker will try to increase his goal tally.

On the bench, alongside goalkeeper Ofek Melika, Lazetic named: Heitor, Denny Gropper, Elad Madmon, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Helio Varela, Itamar Noy and Osher Davida wall waiting for their chance to make an impact.

First Half

Maccabi enjoyed the support of around 4000 fans who filled three quarters of the ‘Green’ stadium. Seconds after the kickoff the match was stopped by referee Orel Grinfeeld as a barrage of yellow and blue confetti stripes were thrown by Maccabi fans onto the pitch covering Roi Mishpati’s goal. When play was resumed, it didn’t take the hosts long to silence the travelling fans as Tiberias broke the deadlock. Guy Hadida’s free kick caught Maccabi’s defense flat allowing Stanislav Bilenkyi to find a gap between Ali Camara and Raz Shlomo before his shot deflected off Roy Revivo to beat Mishpati.

Ion Nicolaescu headed a Tyrese Sante cross wide of the top corner before Ido Shahar was booked by Grinfeeld for a mistimed tackle on Muhammed Ussman. In the 22nd minute Kervin Andrade showed some of the skills he has in his toolbox as he blasted a free kick from 25 meters over the crossbar. Sagiv Jehezkel tried his luck with a left foot shot from the edge of the area on 25 which was easily collected by the Tiberias keeper. In the 29th minute Jehezkel turned provider as he curled a pinpoint cross into the box where Ido Shahar timed his run to flick the ball in with his head and restore parity.

Three minutes after the half hour mark Andrade picked the ball outside the middle of the area and burst in past four defenders. The diminutive Venezuelan winger sent a cross which struck the arm of a Tiberias defender with no response from Grinfeeld and his assistant. After Grinfeeld was called to the screen by the VAR he reversed the initial decision awarding Maccabi a spot kick. Jehezkel stepped up, kept his calm, sent Rogerio the wrong way to complete the comeback and give Maccabi a 2-1 lead on 36.

In the 40th minute Grinfeeld required the assistance of the VAR once again after Shlomo’s through ball carved Tiberias’ defense open to release Nicolaescu through. The Moldovan striker raced into the box and was brought down by Rogerio who charged off his line. The referee assistant raised his flag for offside, but Grinfeeld was called to the screen once again as the initial decision was overturned and Maccabi were awarded a penalty. This time it was Nicolaescu who stepped up, but Rogerio saved the initial spot kick before Nicolaescu slotted in the rebound to give Maccabi a 3-1 lead. For the delay caused by the fans and the time spent for the VAR reviews, saw an extra ordinary 12 minutes added by Grinfeeld to the first half.

Second Half

In what seemed like a carbon copy of the first half Maccabi were given a penalty following the intervention of VAR. Minutes after he was clearly charged down by an opponent without a response from the referee, Dor Peretz was brought down in the area by a defender. Grinfeeld waved play on and while the incident was reviewed, booked Peretz for dissent. Grinfeeld was then called to the screen for the third time and was forced to change his initial decision and award Maccabi a third penalty which Peretz drilled in for Maccabi’s fourth. Three minutes after the hour mark Lazetic made a double substitution as he introduced Osher Davida and Elad Madmon for Jehezkel and Nicolaescu.

Madmon had a shot blocked on 73 before his second effort crept wide of the post. Lazetic made three substitutions as Kristijan Belic, Shahar and Peretz bowed out to a standing ovation and were replaced on 74 by Itamar Noy, Ben Lederman and Helio Varela for his debut appearance. Shortly after, Rogerio, pulled a stunning save as he clawed off his goal line a close range Madmon header in the 79th minute before punching away a Varela drive two minutes later.

In the 88th minute Davida had a shot deflected for a corner from which Maccabi scored their fifth on the night. Andrade’s quick cross into the box was bundled in by Ali Camara but VAR intervened again, and the goal was scratched off for an alleged handball.

Maccabi will now have a couple of days to recover before facing Hapoel Petah Tikva on Tuesday.

 

Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic exploited the absence of the players who are on international duty to let his squad get some valuable playing time against Hapoel Ramat Gan who are coached by former Maccabi U19’s coach Michael Zandberg.
Maccabi took the lead early in the 4th minute as Elad Madmon headed an Itamar Noy free kick to beat Ramat Gan’s goalkeeper Itamar Israeli from close range.

In the 26th minute, Maccabi doubled their lead after Avishay Cohen, playing at left-back, burst into the box and cut the ball back for Yonas Malede who clinically finished with one touch.

Three minutes after the half-hour mark Maccabi increased their lead to 3–0. Cohen, was instrumental once again as he won the ball deep inside Ramat Gan’s half before slipping it to Madmon who found the bottom far corner for his second of the match.

In the 40th minute, Maccabi’s new signing Kervin Andrade scored a stunning goal, firing from 30 meters straight into the top corner.

The visitors cut the deficit in the 55th minute, when Adar Retner slotted home from close range past Yoav Gerafi. Eight minutes later, Maccabi added a fifth as Maccabi’s U19 midfielder Yoav Junio volleyed a Ben Lederman cross with a clinical finish of his own.

Ramat Gan scored their second in the 70th minute, when Omer Senior struck from the middle of the box into the bottom right corner to seal the score at 5-2.

Maccabi: Roi Mishpati (Yoav Gerafi 46), Tyrese Asante, Ali Camara, Heitor (Itay Ben Hemo 46), Avishay Cohen, Itamar Noy, Ben Lederman, Yoav Juino, Kervin Andrade (Rani Rival 65), Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon (Yahli Danor 65).

Maccabi Tel Aviv FC has reached an agreement with Belgian side KAA Gent for the transfer of Hélio Sandro Oliveira Alves Varela. The 23-year-old Cape Verde international forward successfully completed his medical and signed a three-year deal, with an option to extend by an additional season.

Varela (176 cm), born in Almada, Portugal, spent the majority of his career in his home country before moving to Belgium. Since joining Gent from Portimonense in August 2024, Varela made 18 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals.

After completing his medical and signing his contract, Varela, who will wear the number 29 shirt at Maccabi, told the club’s official website: “I’m really happy to join this great club. From the moment Maccabi showed interest, I could feel the power of the club and the amazing fans. This is a big step for me and I’m proud to take it. I can’t wait to wear the yellow jersey and play for our supporters.”

Varela began his footballing journey in the youth academies of Charneca Caparica, CD Cova Piedade, and Vitória Setúbal, before joining Amora, where he made his senior debut in a cup match at the age of 18 years and seven months. In January 2021, he moved to SU Sintrense, scoring five goals in 26 appearances. His performances earned him a transfer to Portimonense SAD, where he scored four goals in 26 matches for the U23 team before being promoted to the senior squad. At Portimonense’s senior side, Varela went on to score six goals and three assists in 38 appearances in all competitions.

On the international stage, Varela has earned 16 caps for Cape Verde since making his debut in October 2023 in a friendly against Algeria.