Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Netanya 4:1 and one player who reached a milestone with the club was keeper Predrag Rajkovic who made his 200th appearance for the Yellow & Blue.

The Serbian began his career at Maccabi in 2015/16 when the Yellow & Blue defeated Hapoel Beer Sheva 1:0.

Rajkovic reached the accomplishment over the four seasons he has been at the club. Of the 200 appearances 134 have been in the league, 42 in Europe and the balance in other competitions. The keeper has conceded 159 goals in total but has also recorded a clean sheet 95 times.

In addition, the shot stopper didn’t concede a goal in 69 (51%) of the 134 league appearances. Rajkovic is the keeper with the highest percentage of matches without conceding of 12 Maccabi keepers who have appeared in at least 50 contests.

Rajko also has one assist in the 200 appearances which came in a 3:0 State Cup win over Bnei Lod when he supplied the helper on Vidar Kjartansson’s goal.

In terms of European appearances, Rajkovic with 42 matches has the most of any Maccabi keeper and is 5th on the all-time list of Yellow & Blue leaders.

The biggest win was 6:0 over Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 30 in 2015/16.

Rajkovic is one of three keepers who won the league Championship under the age of 24 with Maccabi. The only two older shot stoppers are Meno Shvarts in 1978/79 and Avraham Bendori in 1949/50.

The longest streak without conceding a goal is 5 which took place in February 2017 in 4 league matches and one Cup contest.

Nikita Rukvytsya is the player who has scored the most goals against Rajkovic with 7 goals. Itay Shechter who is now his teammate and Dia Saba are next with 4 goals a piece on the Serbian.

In honor of the milestone: Amazing Sale on Rajko’s Keeper Kit!

Just days after the State Cup Semifinal, Maccabi Tel Aviv put on a terrific performance at Maccabi Netanya as the Yellow & Blue took home a 4:1 win. Itay Shechter who scored the third goal was all smiles following the contest:

“We played a great game from the first minute after a few tough days. When a club like Maccabi doesn’t take the Cup it hurts and it’s disappointing but we played well and I ant to acknowledge my teammate who assisted on my goal. He scored twice and received a penalty from me as a gift.”

Putting our foot on the gas:
“We know we didn’t play our best, but it wasn’t that Bnei Yehuda played much better. It was disappointing to lose at the start of April but we had some good training sessions and we lifted our heads. Maccabi is a strong club and we will continue to put our foot on the gas.”

Omer Atzili added: “I’m happy that we won and I took the loss really hard and I barely slept. But we recovered and we have a goal to go undefeated this season and break the record.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach looked back at his side’s 4:1 win over Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 29 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika:

“In the last period I agree it was one of our best games, We have played a lot of good games this season and today we used a lot of players who haven’t played much this season. But they showed character, took advantage of the opportunity and they showed that they have the desire to play at Maccabi.”

Using players who haven’t appeared in many games this season:
“I haven’t used many players over the past few months and some were left out of the squad, but they players today deserve my compliments and they were true professionals.”

The State Cup match:
“It was tough but we have only lost one game since August. I don’t think we lost this game. Today we had VAR and last game we had VAR but they didn’t use it on a number of situations, 3-4 that were clear as it was a very important game. However, I give credit to Bnei Yehuda for advancing.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv are now undefeated in league play through Matchday 29 of the Israel Premier League as they took home a 4:1 win over Maccabi Netanya. Maor Kandil scored first as the defender put away a fine team effort but Guy Melamed’s header drew the host’s even before the break. Omer Atzili entered the contest in the 69’ and immediately impacted the match by drawing a penalty and scoring the spot kick. Itay Shechter added Maccabi’s third goal thanks to an assist by Atzili and Shechter was pushed down in the area late in the game as Vladimir Ivic’s squad was awarded another penalty that Atzili slotted home. Nadav Nidam made his senior team debut during injury time when he replaced Avi Rikan as Maccabi wrapped up a 4:1 victory.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Ophir Davidzada, Eitan Tibi, Jair Amador, Maor Kandil, Dor Peretz, Dan Glezer, Avi Rikan, Eliran Atar, Yonatan Cohen and Aron Schoenfeld.

Available on the bench: Daniel Tenenbaum, Shahar Piven, Nadav Nidam, Eli Dasa, Enric Saborit, Omer Atzili, Itay Shechter.

First Half
Cohen had Maccabi’s first chance in the 5’ when he swung in a surprise corner kick, but the Netanya keeper Dani Amos was up to the task while Glezer picked up an early yellow card a minute later. Rikan’s 8’ long distance attempt missed the target and Atar’s 20’ blast from 25 meters also sailed over the goal.

Guy Melamed’s opportunity in the Maccabi box went over the bar in the 25’ and three minutes later the Yellow & Blue broke the ice. Rikan found Schoenfeld and handed the ball off to Cohen who in turn crossed it to Kandil. The wingback then slotted the ball home after a terrific team effort for the 1:0 lead.

Atar’s 30’ attempt was saved by Amos and 7 minutes later Peretz and Schoenfeld threatened the Netanya goal to no avail. However the host’s drew even in the 41’ when Nico Olsak’s corner kick found Melamed in the box as the forward headed the ball with authority into the Maccabi goal.

Second Half
Stav Finish’s 47’ attempt missed the Maccabi goal and in the 53’ Kandil almost scored his second of the contest but his shot went off of the bar and out. In the 60’ Schoenfeld crossed a magnificent ball into the box from the right side but Amos shut down point blank chances by Atar and Rikan to keep the score as is.

Rikan’s 62’ shot from the left side just missed the far corner and went out and two minutes later Rajkovic was up to the task to stop Melamed’s header. The same Melamed looked to have scored in the 65’ but the play was called offside. Omer Atzili came on for Atar in the 69’ and within four minutes drew a penalty when Ali Muhamed tripped him up in the box.

Atzili took the spot kick and sent it home for a 2:1 lead in the 74’. Cohen was replaced by Itay Shechter two minutes later as Ivic made his second substitute of the match. Rikan’s 83’ screamer just whistled by the post but two minutes later he teamed up with Atzili as Shechter found the back of the goal. The aforementioned Rikan lofted a ball into the box to Aztili off a give and go as #7 handed it to Shechter who easily tapped it home for a 3:1 advantage.

In the 90’ Shechter was knocked down in the box good for a penalty that Atzili once again put behind Amos for a 4:1 lead as the match headed into injury time. Nadav Nidam made his debut as Ivic’s third substitute when he replaced Rikan as the Yellow & Blue closed out a 4:1 win at the Netanya Stadium.

Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Maccabi Netanya, this evening, Sunday 20:30 at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday 29 of the Israel Premier League, Ligat Japanika. After returning the Championship to Kiryat Shalom, Vladimir Ivic’s squad have plenty of goals ahead while they wear a special path recognizing the 23 league titles.

Highlights of the last win over Maccabi Netanya

Defender Maor Kandil is looking forward to the challenge ahead while reflecting on the State Cup semifinal defeat: “We’re professionals and a loss is part of that. We are having a great season and we can’t forget that.”

Goals ahead:
“Although we have already won the championship we still have goals ahead of us.”

Making history:
“The season isn’t over yet and we have more records to break. We want to be able to look back in 15 years and be remembered as those who made history that will be difficult to repeat.”

Being happy:
“Anyone who knows me is aware that being happy is an integral part of who I am and that one Cup match won’t take away from the satisfaction of winning the title that we worked so hard on throughout the season.”

Maccabi has defeated Netanya twice so far this season:
“Maccabi Netanya is a very strong team and we are preparing for this matchup in earnest as we want to make history by ending the season with the most points.”

After 28 Matchdays and with 8 contests remaining in the season, Vladimir Ivic’s Maccabi Tel Aviv squad secured the fastest title in Israel football history as they were crowned the 2018/19 champions.

In honor of this historical accomplishment, beginning this evening against Maccabi Netanya the club will wear a special patch on their kits between the club logo and MTA to recognize this achievement. The patch will be gold in color with the number 23 together with the club’s Magen David logo along with the words 100% Maccabi, the slogan that has accompanied the club from the start of the season.
To Purchase the Kit Click Here
The kit with the patch can be purchased at the club’s Official Stores and online without an additional fee. Fans who have already purchased the kit and would like to add the patch can do so for 15 NIS.