Preview:

Seven days after beating Hamrun Spartans, Maccabi returned to the TSC Arena in Backa Topola for the first leg of the Europa League Playoff against Dynamo Kyiv.

Maccabi’s 200th match in European competitions will see them face the Ukrainians for the first of a two-legged tie which will ultimately decide who advances to the Europa League phase. Next week, Dynamo Kyiv host Maccabi at the Lublin Arena in Poland for the return leg.

 

Following the transfer of Dor Turgeman to MLS side New England Revolution and the potential departure of Weslley Patati, Maccabi’s coach, Zarko Lazetic, made several changes to his side starting line-up.

Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal with Heitor and Ali Mohamed Camara lining up as the two central defenders in front of him. Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive back four that would try and contain the Ukrainian side that feature former player Eduardo Guerrero.

The eligibility of new signing, Kristijan Belic, allowed Lazetic to name the Serbian midfielder alongside Issouf Sissokho in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz, was named at the top of the midfield trio, leading the team out with the captain’s armband on his 78th European match for the club. Osher Davida on one wing and Sagiv Jehezkel on the opposite flank supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation. Elad Madmon who scored two late goals in the campaign so far, spearheaded the attack. On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Ofek Melika, Raz Shlomo, Denny Gropper, Yonas Malede, Nemanja Stojic, Noam Ben Harosh, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy, Saied Abu Farchi, Ido Shahar, Itay Ben Hemo and Ion Nicolaescu

First Half

A thunder and lightning storm forced kickoff to be postponed by 15 minutes, but when the match got underway Maccabi created a great chance inside the opening minute. Sagiv Jehezkel slipped the ball into the path of Dor Peretz who found himself behind Dynamo Kyiv’s defense. But the Maccabi skipper couldn’t gain control of the ball, and the chance was missed. Maccabi continued to dominate as Issouf Sissokho fed Jehezkel down the left, only to see his cross blocked allowing goalkeeper Ruslan Neshcheret to collect.

In the 8th minute Kristijan Belic dispossessed a Kyiv opponent deep inside the visitors’ territory before picking Dor Peretz whose powerful shot was blocked by the advancing keeper. Four minutes later, Maccabi were rewarded for their efforts with Jehezkel and Peretz combining well for the opener. Jehezkel picked Peretz’s run into the box before the Maccabi captain drilled the ball home past Neshcheret to score his first of the season. The Kyiv keeper denied Davida in the 17th minute as two minutes later he was also kept busy this time by a dangerous Madmon shot on 19. Two minutes later, Neshcheret could do nothing against a Davida curling left foot shot that sailed past him but rattled the post.

A last gasp Tyrese Asante tackle on the edge of the area managed to block an Andryi Yarmolenko left foot drive after a confusion between Ali Camara and Peretz gifted Kyiv the ball just inside Maccabi’s half. Right on the half hour mark Vladyslav Vanat created the time and space inside the box but saw his effort roll across the face of Roi Mishpati’s goal and wide of the target. A minute later, the visitors were back on level terms. Vanat carved Maccabi’s defense open with a through ball to Nazar Voloshyn whose shot went in off the post to beat Mishpati. Roy Revivo who looked lively down Maccabi’s left flank drilled a left foot shot from the edge of the area which Neshcheret could only palm over his crossbar on 41. The halftime whistle sent both teams to try and dry out in the dressing rooms

Second half

With no changes after the interval the two sides returned to the pitch for the second half as the heavy rain didn’t stop pouring. Three minutes after the restart Jehezkel remained on the ground following a rough tackle by Kostiantyn Vivcharenko which went unpunished by referee Giorgi Kruashvili. Davida lost possession on the edge of Kyiv’s area before Issouf Sissokho was cautioned for a foul on Voloshyn. The referee was called to the VAR to review the tackle on Jehezkel and after watching the replays on the screen showed Vivcharenko the red card. Maccabi took advantage of the numerical advantage eight minutes later as Belic sent a perfect square pass across the face of goal allowing Jehezkel to sweep the ball home and restore Maccabi’s lead. Jehezkel had a powerful shot saved by Neshcheret on 61 before Belic was booked for a mistimed tackle on a Kyiv player. Lazetic made two changes in the 66th minute as Belic and Elad Madmon came off to a standing ovation by the 100 Maccabi fans as they were replaced by Ido Shahar and Ion Nicolaescu.

Three minutes later Maccabi increased their lead as with Revivo found Peretz in the middle if the Kyiv penalty area. Maccabi’s captain shrugged off a challenge by a Kyiv defender before firing in his second of the night to make it 3-1 on 69. In the 78th minute Davida raced half the length of the pitch to carry a counterattack before feeding Jehezkel whose shot sailed wide of the post. Two minutes later Mispahti got a hand to turn Eduardo Guerrero’s powerful shot over the crossbar. Lazetic made another change as Jehezkel bowed out and was replaced by Saied Abu Farchi who came on for the final seven minutes. Lazetic made his two final substitutions on the night as Nemanja Stojic and Itamar Noy replaced both Ali Camara and Sissokho in the 90th minute. The full-time whistle ended the first half of the tie as the two sides will meet in Lublin next week where it will be decided who advances to the Europa League Phase and who will play in the Conference League.

Maccabi’s forthcoming Europa League Playoff first leg against Dynamo Kyiv will be the club’s 200^th match in European competition – the most among Israeli clubs.

Maccabi featured in Europe in a total of 26 seasons so far, including over the past 13 season in succession.

Maccabi’s first European match, a 2-1 victory over Malta’s Valletta FC was played 33 years ago on August 19^th 1992.

The most recent match on August 14^th was also against a Maltese opposition – a Europa League 3^rd qualifying return leg 3-1 victory over Hamrun Spartans.

Maccabi’s overall record in 199 matches currently stands on 87 victories, 42 draws and 70 defeats.

No less than 20 coaches guided Maccabi in the various European competitions over the years.

Thursday’s Playoff first leg against Dynamo Kiev will be the 19^th European match of Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, in Europe. The 43-year-old Serbian will become the coach who guided Maccabi in the most European matches surpassing fellow countryman Vladimir Ivic and Nir Klinger who are both on 18 matches each.

A total of 238 players represented Maccabi in the various European competitions. Sheran Yeini made the most appearances in Europe for Maccabi featuring in 84 matches, with Maccabi’s current captain, Dor Peretz, second on the appearance chart with 77, three more than Eytan Tibi who made 74 European appearances.

Ninety different players scored for Maccabi in European competitions with Eran Zahavi leading the goalscoring charts with 30. Dor Perez who took-over the captaincy from Zahavi is second with 14 goals, one more than Eliran who has 13 goals to his name.

Out of 17 seasons since the Playoff phase was introduced in the 2009/10 campaign, the two-legged tie against Dynamo Kyiv will be Maccabi’s 14th appearance in a European playoff round.

Eran Zahavi, once again is Maccabi’s leading scorer with 7 goals in a European playoff.

Sheran Yeini appeared in 15 playoff matches and is also Maccabi’s appearance record-holder at this stage, out of the 104 players who featured in playoff matches.

Maccabi has faced Dynamo Kyiv in European competitions 4 times.

A 1-1 draw at Bloomfield followed by a 3-3 in the return leg in Kyiv during the 2011/12 Europa League group stage.

Both clubs faced each other in the 2015/16 Champions League group stages with Dynamo Kyiv winning both matches 1-0 at Sammy Ofer and 2-0 at the Olimpiisky stadium.

Following the successful collaboration last season, Mossad Capital Group has grown significantly and is responsible for Real Estate transactions in Israel totaling more than NIS 2.3 billion.

Mossad Capital group works in cooperation with over 150 leading financial planners in Israel, who find in Mossad Capital Group a wide range of complementary investment solutions for effective financial planning for their clients.

Over the past year, founders Moti Dvir and Ran Sadikario have established and acquired a variety of additional companies synergistic with the group’s activities.

In addition to Mossad Capital, which operates in the Israeli real estate sector:

Totzeret Ha’aretz – specializing in residential land with approved master plans in advanced stages.

Horizon Dubai – the largest and most significant company supporting investors in Dubai, with transactions amounting to hundreds of millions of shekels.

‘Shavim Yoter Community’ – the community of IDF reservists and security personnel, dedicated to those who deserve more. The community works across a variety of areas aimed at improving the quality of life for reservists and security forces by creating a strong consumer body that provides access to numerous benefits and opportunities in finance and real estate. Today, the community numbers over 20,000 reservists.

 

Saied Abu Farchi Abu Farchi, previously scored a goal in a pre-season friendly against AFC Bournemouth ahead of the 2023/24 season and has since had loan spells with Kfar Qassem and Maccabi Bnei Reineh for which he scored 6 goals in all competitions last season.

The young striker who scored his first competitive goal on his first outing this season said: “Every player, every child dreams of this moment, and I am happy the coach gave me a chance and I took it with both hands. I hope to keep continuing like this.”

Abu Farchi, who has been training with the squad and received his first chance this season, added: “Every time I get the opportunity, I will give everything on the pitch, because that’s how I was raised. I’ve been at Maccabi since I was 7–8 years old, that’s the Maccabi spirit, and I’m glad I have it within me.”

Abu Farchi remained confident as he faced the media after the match and said: “I believe in myself and I believe that this year I can break through. I hope to keep going this way. I had a conversation last week with Ben and he told me that this year there’s no chance he’ll let me go. He said that some players might leave and I’ll get my chance and my stage. I got it today, and I’m glad I took it”.

Preview:

A month after hosting the Super Cup at Bloomfield, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the Toto Cup match against Hapoel Jerusalem. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, who secured qualification to the Conference League phase and is facing a crucial Europa League Playoff tie against Dynamo Kyiv made several changes to his starting line up.

Ofek Melika, was named in goal for the first time since his sending off against Pafos in the Champions League. Heitor partnered Ali Camara at the heart of defense as two central defenders who joined in the summer, caught their first glimpse of Bloomfield stadium. Noam Ben Harush and Denny Gropper made their first start as the two full-backs on the right and left respectively. New signing Kristijan Belic was handed his Maccabi debut as the Dutch born Serbian midfielder was named as the anchorman. Ben Lederman, who was an unused substitute in the Super Cup against Be’ersheva, made his first Bloomfield outing in midfield with Itamar Noy completing the midfield engine room. Saied Abu Farchi made his debut start for Maccabi on the wing while Sagiv Jehezkel led the team out wearing the captain’s armband on the opposite flank. Dor Turgeman led the line as the young striker is still aiming to score his first goal of the campaign.

On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Avishay Cohen, Raz Shlomo, Yonas Malede, Nemanja Stojic, Elad Madmon, Ido Shahar, Itay Ben Hemo, Osher Davida.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot attacking Hapoel Jersualem from wide positions as Sagiv Jehezkel and Saied Abu Farchi exposed the visitors’ defense. In the 13th minute Abu Farchi who sent a dangerous cross which was intercepted by the keeper minutes earlier, decided to try have a go himself. The 19-year-old broke into the box and from a tight angle drilled a low drive that went in off the post for his first Maccabi competitive goal. Dor Turgeman came close to double the score as he fired a thunderbolt over the crossbar.

Referee Aviv Klein sent both teams for a water break right on the half hour mark as seconds after the players returned Itamar Noy flashed a shot wide of the post. Four minutes later Dor Turgeman had a solo effort which forced Ben Gotodin to a full stretched save. Turgeman came even closer on 40 as he picked a Sagiv Jehezkel pass took the ball around the keeper and sent a chip which struck the side netting. Maccabi continued to look dangerous as Noam Ben Harush was denied by Gorodin. A combination of the Jerusalem keeper and his crossbar denied Abu Farchi from scoring a close range header.

Second Half

Lazetic made a single substitution after the interval as Abu Farchi made way for Davida after the restart. Jerusalem’s coach Ziv Ariyeh made four changes at the restart but it was Ben Lederman who came close to score, yet his close range effort sailed over.

Noy limped off on 57 and was replaced by Ido Shahar but four minutes later the 7402 fans were on their feet. Turgeman on his 120th game for Maccabi was awarded for his efforts as he managed to beat Gorodin and score his first goal of the season. Turgeman and Belic were given a standing ovation as they were replaced by Elad Madmon and Yonas Malede on 66. 

Madmon rattled the crossbar with a powerful drive from inside the area that beat Gorodin in the 76th minute as Maccabi came close to score a third. Gropper who worked tirelessly down the left flank came off and was replaced by Avishy Cohen for the final few minutes. The visitors were awarded a penalty after Davida was adjusted to have fouled Ohad Almagor before Guy Badash stepped up and successfully converted the spot kick past Ofek Melika.