Category: News

Micha: We showed amazing determination; this win will drive us forward

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Dor Micha helped Maccabi Tel Aviv to victory and might have scored a second goal for the club in their 1-0 win over Maccabi Haifa. He was denied by the woodwork in the second half, but the own-goal scored in the 37th minute by Haifa defender Terrence Sainsbury was enough for Maccabi to accrue 10 points out of possible 12 after four rounds of league play.

“There are situations when you have to play for a result, and that’s what we did today,” Micha said after the game. “Even though our level is not at its highest at the moment, we battled and showed dogged determination, we all did.”

“We could have killed off the game because we had a few good chances but it didn’t happen. I’m pleased that we have three wins and a draw after four outings this season.”

Micha was substituted in the 67th minute and said it was “because I had a bit of cramp, but it’s nothing serious.”

He said that matches against Maccabi Haifa always brought out something extra from his side and that the win would do much to boost the club’s title ambitions.

“We always manage to give more of ourselves against them. We saw how all the players tried their best and I believe that this win will give us a push for the rest of the season.”

Maccabi make mark with 1-0 win over Haifa

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Maccabi Tel Aviv registered a first-ever victory at their new home at Bloomfield on Saturday when they beat Maccabi Haifa 1-0 in a much-anticipated clash between two leading league title contenders.

Haifa’s Terrence Sainsbury deflected the ball into his own net in the 37th minute after a corner by Maccabi Tel Aviv was headed in the direction of the goalmouth by Nick Blackman. It was an unfortunate error by the Australian defender and the ball crept in by Haifa goalkeeper Guy Haimov’s left upright and he was unable to keep it out. 

Haimov was injured in a clash of heads with teammate Iyad Habashi and play was stopped for seven minutes while the goalkeeper was treated but he continued to play and it’s difficult to say whether the knock he took had an effect on his ability to stop the own-goal.

Neither team displayed the free-flowing football that they are capable of playing but the hosts were nevertheless the stronger team and were worthy of the three points. Maccabi Haifa failed to find a constant rhythm and hardly threatened Daniel Tannenbaum’s goal. 

Haifa had came into the match with a 100 percent record – three wins in their previous three league outings  – while Tel Aviv had registered two wins and a draw. They have yet to concede a goal in any of their four fixtures in the TASE Premier League.

Tel Aviv should have scored at least one more goal and narrowly missed out on enrapturing the majority of the 26,234 crowd when in the second half, Dor Micha struck a powerful shot that deflected off the Haifa post. 

Haimov took a second knock to the head later and had to be substituted by newcomer Josh Cohen, who held his own between the Haifa posts.

Maccabi Tel Aviv lineup: Daniel Tannenbaum, Andre Jerladsh, Eitan Tibi, Jair Amador, Shahar Pivan, Enrique Pavorit, Dan Glazer, Dor Peretz, Dor Micha (Avi Rikan, 68), Chico Ofuedo (Matan Hozez, 87), Nick Blackman (Etey Shechter, 57)

Youth team draws 1-1 with Kiryat Shmona

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Maccabi Tel Aviv’s under-18 youth side and Hapoel Kiryat Shmona saw out a 1-1 draw in the fourth round of action in the youth premier league on Saturday, with Omri Ram scoring Maccabi’s goal in the 42nd minute.

Maccabi had several chances to score in the first half in which they dominated, but the match took on a more even tone in the second period and Kiryat Shmona equalised through Ron Peretz in the 52nd minute.

In other results, Maccabi Tel Aviv “Oded”, the junior A side, beat Beitar Tubruk 2-1 with goals through David Turgeman and Aner Oshmandi, the junior B team had an emphatic 5-0 away win over Ironi Nesher and the C team also registered a 5-0 win, this time at home, against Ashdod.

Micha: I sense another great clash

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After scoring twice in the opening three rounds of the TASE Premier League, Dor Micha and his teammates will line up on Saturday for a much-anticipated clash with Maccabi Haifa at Bloomfield Stadium at 20:30. The midfielder spoke about his feelings ahead of the clash.

“Clearly, for us to score our first goal at the new Bloomfield Stadium will be very special and exciting but regardless, we must improve our sharpness in the top third of the pitch. It’s something we are still missing but I’m sure we will make it happen.”

Haifa feel that they are favourites in this clash, what do you think? “Once we are on the field of play, it is irrelevant. As far as I’m concerned, they can be considered favourites but we are aware of the importance of this game and we will be fully prepared for the occasion. It’s no secret that we still have to improve our ability and even though we have won two of our three league matches, we still need to improve and in this encounter we will really want to show that we are getting better.”

Micha declined to discuss how Maccabi see Haifa’s weaknesses but said the side had been preparing and unlike last season, when the play flowed freely and they were all-dominant, Saturday’s clash felt as if it would have all the hallmarks of a proper tussle between two clubs with title ambitions.

“This year it feels as if we will be playing in a big encounter as we have done over the years. It’s always great to be a part of such an occasion and I just hope we are able to win all three points,” he said.

Micha said that after the poor start to the season and the disappointment of not qualifying for European play, the team is now more evenly balanced in defence and it has shown this through tightening up and not conceding goals.

“Our opponents have not been able to create many chances against us, so now, if we manage to sharpen our attack, we will be much better and will approach the level we expect to reach.”

A more even level of play in both halves, where until now there have been marked differences, will also be an important aim and Saturday’s clash will be the time and place to show that improvement, he said.

Stats ahead of Maccabi Haifa

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Most-played league clash: The league fixture between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa is the most-played in the league and the upcoming one on Saturday will be the 160th time that the two sides have clashed in the league.

Of those matches, Maccabi Tel Aviv have won 64 times, Haifa have won 48 and 47 have ended in a draw. The goal difference favours Tel Aviv 227-198. 

In home matches, Maccabi have hosted 81 times in the league and have won 40 of those, 23 were draws and Haifa won 18. The goal difference is 124-75 to Maccabi.

At Bloomfield, which will host for the first time since 2015-16, 42 matches have been played with 14 wins for the hosts, 15 draws and 13 wins for Haifa. 

Most appearances and goals: Over the years, 275 players have turned out for Maccabi against Haifa. Avi Nimni and Sheran Yeini have the most individual appearances, standing at 33 each. Among the 92 different goalscorers for Maccabi, Shiye Glazer was the most prolific, having found the target 22 times. Far behind in second place is Eran Zahavi with 10, followed by Avi Nimni with nine.

Early clash means success: The two clubs have met in the fourth round of the league on nine previous occasions and none has ever ended in a draw. Tel Aviv have won five times and Haifa have won four.

Maccabi go into the clash with a nine-match unbeaten streak in the league — six wins and three draws.

 

Opposing records: Marco Balbul, Maccabi Haifa’s coach, has faced Maccabi Tel Aviv on 10 occasions, five with Haifa and five with Sakhnin. Has has notched only one win, has managed three draws and has lost six times. Haifa forward Nikita Rokavica has scored six goals against Maccabi in the past five seasons, the most by any league player against the hosts on Saturday.

When the “F-15” struck at Kiryat Eliezer

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Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Maccabi Haifa at the new Bloomfield Stadium on Saturday and preceding the kickoff, the home team will honour is former star striker, Benny Tabak, who later held a managerial role at the club.

In anticipation of the ceremony, we look back at one of Tabak’s most memorable seasons. Tabak was nicknamed the “F-15” after the fighter jet that Israel had acquired at around the same time. 

Tabak took his place in the lineup against hosts Maccabi Haifa at Kiryat Eliezer but things did not start out well, as legendary central defender Avi Cohen put the ball in his own net in the seventh minute. Baruch Maman then added to the visitors’ woes with a second goal in the 23rd minute.

But just when it appeared as one of the main title contenders were setting off on the wrong foot, Maccabi took the initiative and moved into top gear as Tabak surged forward to open his goal-scoring account.

The diminutive Tabak pulled one goal back with his first goal in the 32nd minute, a strike from 10 metres out which was too good for Haifa goalkeeper Shalom Schwartz. With an additional six minutes on the clock, Tabak slotted home a pass from Viki Peretz to level the scores. Peretz put the visitors in the lead in the 76th minute and Tabak completed his hat trick two minutes later. It was a result that made all Maccabi’s rivals sit up and take notice that this was going to be their season, and indeed, it ended in a thrilling league and cup “double.”