Dor Peretz, the Yellow & Blue midfielder looked back on his side’s 1:1 draw against Maccabi Petah Tikva at the Moshava Stadium on Matchday 11 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika:

“It was disappointing to give up a goal so late in the game, but we have to learn from this. We have another game this week and we have to move forward.”

Continuing on:
“We have to continue on, lift ourselves up and prepare properly for the next match and get ready for Ashdod. Every match is a game in itself and we this one is now over. We have to bring the maximum to the next game in order to take the win.”

Concentrating on how Maccabi play:
“We are concerned about ourselves and concentre on how we play. Our goal is to take the points every game and today we didn’t.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach summed up his side’s 1:1 draw at Maccabi Petah Tikva on Matchday 11 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika:

“This is football. When you have a lot of chances and can’t score a second goal you can get punished and that is what happened today We have to learn from this match and continue on.”

More on the late goal:
“It’s football. Sometimes you can give up a goal in the last minute and the opponent can score and that is what happened.”

Long season ahead and Ashdod coming up:
“We need to continue on and the championship is long. There are many games ahead. Ashdod will be a tough match and we now have 2-3 days to prepare to win this game.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Petah Tikva split the points in a 1:1 dramatic draw on Matchday 11 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika at the Moshava Stadium. Tomáš Sivok scored a header off a corner kick in the 93’ just before the referee ended the match to snatch a point for the host’s. Dor Peretz headed home a 23’ goal thanks to an Omer Atzili pass but Sivok’s last gasp strike gave the Yellow & Blue a point before they welcome Ashdod to the Netanya Stadium this Tuesday in a midweek clash.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Enric Saborit, Captain Sheran Yeini, Shahar Piven, Maor Kandil, Dor Peretz, Dan Glezer, Dor Micha, Avi Rikan, Omer Atzili, Itay Shechter.

Available on the bench were keeper Haviv Ohayon, Jair Amador, Eli Dasa, Ruslan Barsky, Eliran Atar, Chico Ofoedu and Aron Schoenfeld.

First Half
Micha tried to break free in the Petah Tikva box in the 4’ but the defense took care of the threat while in the 11’ Atzili’s corner found Kandil but the defender’s header missed the target and went over the goal. Two minutes later it was Kandil again coming in from the right wing but his shot missed the far side of the goal. In the 22’ Atzili sent a scorcher of a free kick towards the goal, but keeper Yossi Ginzburg made the instinctive save.

Maccabi’s pressure paid off in the 23’ when Atzili received the ball off a short corner and sent a cross into the box that Peretz headed into the goal for a 1:0 Yellow & Blue lead. Peretz lofted a ball into the area to an unmarked Kandil but his header went over the bar in the 33’ while three minutes later Atzili sent Shechter a nice pass into the area, but the Petah Tikva keeper made the stop on #11’s attempt. Rikan’s 37’ chance missed the target as Maccabi took a 1:0 lead into the break.

Second Half
Petah Tikva began to pick up the pace and had a 56’ free kick chance at the top of the box via Lidor Cohen but his attempt missed the target and went over the goal. Two minutes later Atzili’s opportunity hit the right post and Micha’s left footed shot from inside the box was pushed away by Ginzburg as Maccabi began to threaten the host’s goal. In the 61’ Peretz’s header off a corner was caught by Ginzburg and 4 minutes later Micha gave Shechter a brilliant ball in the box but couldn’t get off a good shot as the Petah Tikva defense cleared the threat.

Ruslan Barsky replaced Dan Glezer in the 68’ and Eliran Atar came on for Avi Rikan four minutes later as Coach Ivic freshened up his side. However, in the 77’ it was Petah Tikva who almost scored when Lidor Cohen gave Tai Baribo a fantastic pass in the box as he put his shot just wide of the far post to keep the score as is.

Dor Micha exited the contest in the 80’ as the midfielder was replaced by another striker in Chico Ofoedu as the Yellow & Blue searched for an insurance marker. Shechter’s 81’ chance was just saved by Ginzburg as the Petah Tikva shot stopper sent the ball out for a corner. The host’s looked desperately for an equalizer and they found it via Tomáš Sivok as the center back headed in the tying goal in the 93’ as the referee blew the whistle to end the match, 1:1. Maccabi will now prepare to welcome Ashdod on Tuesday at the Netanya Stadium.

Maccabi’s record following the break: 29 wins, 18 draws, 8 losses. Goal differential 95:43 in favor of Maccabi.

Over the last two seasons, Maccabi faced the two Haifa clubs but didn’t record a victory. Last campaign they drew 2:2 with Hapoel Haifa and in 2016/17 the fell to Maccabi Haifa 2:0.

Before the break: Victory over Kiryat Shemona

Hapoel Tel Aviv the most frequent opponent after the break – 10 matches. The record: 2 wins for each side and 6 draws.

This Saturday’s foe, Maccabi Petah Tikva is the team that the Yellow & Blue has had the most success against amongst the18 opponents Maccabi has played after the break – 4 wins out of 4 matches.

The biggest win following the break was a 6:0 victory over Hapoel Haifa in 1954/55.

The longest break was following the 1949/50 season and the start of the 1951/52 campaign. There were 490 days between the two seasons (one year and 4 months).

The longest midseason break was during the 1951/52 season when there was a four month break (120 days) during the summer months and the league began again at the end of September when there were 8 matches as Maccabi was crowned champion.

Maccabi will face Petah Tikva and Head Coach Elisha Levy for the first time since the Yellow & Blue defeated Hapoel Beer Sheva in the 2014/15 State Cup Final in which Maccabi won 6:2.

Avi Rikan, the Yellow & Blue midfielder looked ahead to Saturday’s contest at the Moshava Stadium against Maccabi Petah Tikva at 21:00:

“We worked very hard and didn’t rest that much. There was two good weeks of training and we know that all of the matches are difficult and we have a busy schedule to come. We want to start off on the right foot.”

Playing more than once a week:
“Over the past few years we’ve played more than one match a week so we’re used to playing a number of contests in a short period of time. We have a deep squad and we know that all of the players will be needed, especially in a week like this.”

Working hard:
“We really believe in ourselves and the break was a chance to rest up and refresh ourselves. But we also worked hard on things that needed to be improved and that needed work. We believe in the path we are taking.”

Focussing on ourselves:
“Petah Tikva is a tough team that is a quality side and we have to keep an eye on their attack. But as I’ve said we have to focus on ourselves and we know that we have to rely on our own play.

Getting back to himself:
“I had a rough time with a stomach issue and I worked hard with the staff to get back to where I need to be and now I’m back in shape and I believe that I’ll be in the rotation.

The key:
“Before the break we looked at each match in itself and we will do the same going forwards and that will be the key for the upcoming matches.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach addressed the assembled media at the prematch press conference ahead of the Club’s contest at Maccabi Petah Tikva on Saturday night, 21:00 at the Moshava Stadium:

“It’s a strong game against Petah Tikva and we know a lot of things about them. We prepared ourselves to return with a victory and that is our target, We worked hard the last two weeks and the National Team players returned as well after a short break. I’m sure we will be ready for this game.”

Injury status:
“We have some small problems with one or two players but I’m sure they will recover fast. They may to be ready for this first game, Ofir Davidzada and Eyal Golasa but they should be ok for the next few games.”

Having a deep squad:
“We have a lot of games in front of us. From December 1st until January 7 we have 8 games including a Cup game and they schedule is for everyone. We have a lot of players who haven’t played a lot and now they will get a chance, This is something natural and normal. When you have three games per week you have to give a chance to the guys that don’t always play. They want the chance and I’m sure they will be ready to take the chance.”

Transfer market:
“We have an important game coming up and we can speak about squad changes in a month when the transfer market opens. We have a tough month ahead and I’m concentrating on the upcoming games.”

Maccabi’s youth players:
“I watched them twice and my coaching staff went to watch them as well. I believe that we have a lot of young players in the Under-19 squad and some that are loaned out to teams in the second and first division, This is good for the club and the future. One is very talented and can be the future of them team.”