The 24-year-old midfielder successfully converted a second half penalty to score his 10^th goal in all competitions this season before adding another assist to take his tally to 3 this season. At the end of the match, Shahar faced the media and said: “”When you score an early goal, it opens up the game and gives confidence.”

The victory which ended a run of winless matches booked Maccabi’s place in the Round of 16, as Shahar admitted: “It’s been a long time since we had such a big win with a wide margin, and it was very important. Of course, we want and need to look like this in every match and do everything to make it happen. It’s not been an easy period for us, we needed this, and the way we played mattered too. I also want to say to all the fans who came here, we really appreciate them showing up in the winter weather and with no roof over the stands.”

On Helio Varela’s early goal that set the tone and made what seemed like a tough tie against a top-flight club much easier, Shahar added: “I think in many matches this season we started well but couldn’t manage to score. When you score an early goal, it opens up the game and gives you confidence.”

Shahar who maintained his 100% success rate from the penalty spot, said: “Elad (Madmon) wanted to take it, and so did I. He was also the one who drew the foul. The coach decided that I would take it, so I did. Elad Madmon is an excellent penalty taker, and I really like him.”

On Maccabi’s recent run of form, Shahar shared: “It hasn’t been an easy time, with all the talk around us. We, the players, the only thing we can and should do is play football and win matches — to please the fans. That’s our job. Everything beyond that is not up to us, and we don’t want to get into it.”

With regards to Maccabi’s busy schedule which will see the side return to league action at Bloomfield on Tuesday, Shahar added: “We’re used to this schedule, playing every 3–4 days. We’ll come fully prepared. We know Tiberias, they’re a tough team, they beat Be’ersheva in the last round. We’ll come to win at home. As for Europe, we want to be in these kinds of competitions every year, it’s every player’s dream. That’s why we win championships and trophies. In the last two years, we’re the only Israeli team still playing in Europe.”

“We had an excellent defensive performance today. Even during the rough patches, I’m sure everyone takes personal responsibility, for better or worse. Everyone does everything they can not to make mistakes. As a team, we’re very united and supportive of each other. I’m sure that will continue.”

Shahar also spoke about his close friend Osher Davida, who scored a brace: “I’m happy for Osher, he’s a very good friend of mine. I’m glad I got to assist him today. He’s had games this season where he played well but didn’t manage to score. I hope this brace opens the floodgates for him. I’m sure he’ll keep scoring, assisting, and being a major factor here.”

In conclusion, he spoke about the internal competition within the squad: “At Maccabi, there’s always competition for spots. I think it’s good for the team. As long as I’m on the pitch, I’ll do everything to help the team, the club, and the fans.”

 

Following the convincing 5-0 victory over Hapoel Haifa on Saturday, Maccabi face a tough tie in the next round of the State Cup. A Tel Aviv derby against arch city rivals Hapoel await Maccabi in the round of 16 following the draw which took place at the IFA Headquarters on Sunday.

Ten teams from the top-flight and six teams from the national division went into the draw before former Maccabi striker Itay Shechter (2018-2021) who won the Cup at both clubs pulled Maccab’s name out. This will be the first time both teams meet this season and the first time in the Cup since the Cup Final victory in the 2020/21 season.

Round of 16 draw results: (matches to be played on January 13^th – 15^th):

Round of 16 draw:

Hapoel Tel Aviv – Maccabi Tel Aviv

Hapoel Petah Tikva – Maccabi Bnei Reineh

Maccabi Netanya – Maccabi Jaffa (2^nd)

Ironi Kiryat Shmona – Beitar Jerusalem

Hapoel Be’ersheva – Hapoel Jerusalem

Hapoel Ra’anana (2^nd) – Maccabi Haifa

Bnei Yehuda (2^nd) – Maccabi Herzliya (2^nd)

Kafr Qassem SC (2^nd) – Hapoel Kfar Saba (2^nd).

Davida, whose goals booked Maccabi’s place in Sunday’s Round of 16 State Cup draw which takes place at 11:00 said after the match: “Honestly, it’s impossible to explain how important this was for us as a team and for me personally. I am happy for us, and I hope this is the start of a new path.”

On ending a long spell where he didn’t find the back of the net which coincided with the recent sticky patch the team is experiencing, Davida added: “It is not easy when the goals don’t come and there are no assists. There were matches where I played well, but personally I don’t measure success by numbers, that’s football and that’s okay. I’m happy it finally happened, but we need to bring this into the league as well.”

After Maccabi advanced to the next stage of the Cup, attention will return to the league as Maccabi hosts Ironi Tiberias on Tuesday. “The pressure has been lifted. I hope we will see that on Tuesday. Right now we’re enjoying the victory, but already tomorrow there’s recovery, and on Monday we start preparing for Tiberias. I hope we bring this level into Tuesday’s match. This was very important, and I hope it sets us on a new path, the way you’re used to seeing us. We’re definitely still in the fight.”

Preview

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the Round of 32 State Cup tie against Hapoel Haifa putting aside the weekly league fixtures in favor of a Cup campaign.

Head Coach Zarko Lazetic made several changes from the side which was held to a 2-2 by Maccabi Netanya. With Ali Mohamad serving his one match touchline ban, Lazetic named Raz Shlomo and Itay Ben Hemo as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika. Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s back-four. Issouf Sissokho in the anchorman role was joined by Ido Shahar in Maccabi’s engine room while Dor Peretz was named at the top of the midfield trio. Helio Varela and Osher Davida were named by Lazetic on both wings as the duo will try and supply ammunition for Saied Abu Farchi who led the line.

On the bench alongside goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Lazetic named Heitor dos Santos, Kervin Andrade, Sagiv Jehezkel, Kristijan Belic, Elad Madmon, Noam Ben Harush, Itamar Noy and Ilay Ben Simon.

First Half

The rainy weather conditions effected the number of fans who arrived for this Cup tie as Bloomfield stadium was more than half empty despite the comfortable early kickoff time. The heavy rain which poured right from the start didn’t bother Maccabi as the wet surface was an advantage for Maccabi’s players. Eleven minutes from the start Dor Peretz found Helio Varela inside the visitors’ area before the Cape Verde winger curled a right foot shot beyond the reach of Niv Antman to break the deadlock.

Several minutes later Issouf Sissokho floated a ball over Haifa’s defense into the path of Varela who almost scored his second his second but saw his volley clear the crossbar. Maccabi kept tormenting Haifa down the left as the combination of Varela abd Roy Revivo was too much for Tamir Arbel.

In the 25th minute Maccabi doubled their lead as Varela slipped the ball to Revivo whose cross found Dor Peretz. The Maccabi captain had his initial effort saved by Niv Antman but Osher Davida pounced on the rebound to slot in the second.

Maccabi kept pushing forward and right on the half hour mark got their third. Tyrese Asante charged down the right and squared to Saied Abu Farchi who flicked the ball home from close range.

Second Half

Lazetic made two changes at the restart as Sissokho who was booked midway through the first half was replaced by Itamar Noy while Elad Madmon came on for Abu Farchi. Four minutes after the restart Maccabi were awarded a penalty as Madmon was tripped inside the area. Ido Shahar stepped up sent Antman the wrong way and buried his penalty in the bottom corner to score Maccabi’s fourth.

In the 57th minute Madmon dispossessed a Haifa player deep inside Maccabi’s half before releasing Varela who burst forward and was denied by Antman. A minute later Peretz drilled a shot which flashed across the face of goal. A minute after the hour mark Maccabi scored their fifth as Shahar turned provider sending a pinpoint cross to Davida who nodded home his second on the night from the goalmouth. Lazetic reacted with a double substitution as Varela and Peretz bowed and were replaced by Kervin Andrade and Ilay Ben Simon.

Lazetic made his fifth and final substitution on 78 as Shahar came off to a standing ovation from the 7605 fans who also cheered for the introduction of Kristijan Belic.

“We are obviously disappointed. We received a red card and played an entire half like that. I think if you perform that way you deserve three points,” Asante said. “We are playing well, but at the end of the day you need to take all three points, and that didn’t happen today. We have to keep moving forward.”

On Maccabi’s recent form, the 23-year-old Dutch defender added: “When you play for Maccabi, you need to win every match. That is what we are trying to do. We are working hard, but sometimes we don’t get what we deserve.”

“At the moment, we are on the wrong side of the coin. We need to work hard and wait for things to turn in our favor,” he continued. “I believe 100% that we are capable of doing it.”

On his personal form this season, Asante concluded: “I am trying. In my first season I needed to adapt, to gain confidence and experience. This season I’m trying to give my best, like everyone in the team, and it’s going fairly well.”