Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach summed up his squad’s 3:1 victory over Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium on Matchday 14 and spoke about taking it one match at a time:

“Game by game. It’s one game for 3 points”

Satisfied with first 70 minutes, disappointed with last 20 minutes:
“Exactly like this. We played a big part of the game well and sometimes when you put players on the bench you need help from them in the last few minutes. All of them know that they must give 100% the whole game if they are coming off the bench or if they are starters. We will discuss this between us and look ahead to the next game on Saturday.”

About Eliran Atar:
“He had a good game. The previous games he played pretty good as did the other players. All of them know that they have to be serious and if they aren’t they can be punished. Concentration must be 95 minutes, not 65, 45 or 70.”

Smiling after a victory:
“I hope at the end of the season.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa 3:1 at Sammy Ofer Stadium on Matchday 14 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika thanks to two first half goals by Eliran Atar and a single marker by Dor Peretz thanks to a corner by Atar to start off the second half. Sintayehu Sallalich scored Haifa’s lone goal as Yellow & Blue keeper Predrag Rajkovic had a brilliant second half to quell the Green threats time after time. This Saturday, Maccabi will head to Teddy Stadium for a State Cup Round of 32 match against Beitar Jerusalem.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Eric Saborit, Shahar Piven, Sheran Yeini (C), Mor Kandil, Dor Peretz, Ruslan Barsky, Dor Micha, Omer Atzili, Eliran Atar, Itay Shechter.

Available on the bench: Haviv Ohayon, Jair Amador, Chico Ofoedu, Yonatan Cohen, Aron Schoenfeld, Dan Glazer, Avi Rikan.

First Half
Maccabi began the contest off well finding the back of the goal in the 4’ via Atar to take a 1:0 lead. Peretz sent a tremendous ball from the midfield to Kandil on the right side who sent a perfect cross into the box that the striker finished off to give the Yellow & Blue the advantage early on.

Haifa had their first chance of the match in the 9’ when Georges Mandjeck gave Mohammed Awaed a through ball but Rajikovic was up to the task, while 8 minutes later Atzili’s attempt towards the far corner was saved by Green keeper Guy Haimov. Barsky picked up a yellow card in get 18’ and Awaed had another quality chance for Haifa in the 22’ but Rajikovic was in place once again to make the save.

Maccabi almost doubled the lead thanks to a short corner but Yeini and Shechter couldn’t find a way to get the ball behind Haimov as they headed it out in the 34’ and eight minutes later Peretz sent a 22’ meter scorcher that Haimov parried away. But just seconds later Atar headed home a brilliant Micha cross into the box for a 2:0 lead as the side’s headed into the break.

Second Half
The Yellow & Blue opened the second half the same way the first half began, with a goal as Peretz scored off an Atar corner kick to give Maccabi a 3:0 lead in the 47th minute. Piven was issued a yellow card in the 54’ while Micha’s attempt two minutes later was saved by Haimov.

Dan Glazer replaced Barsky in the 59’ as Ivic’s first substitute of the contest. Awaed’s long distance chance went out in the 62’ while Nikita Rukavytsya’s header three minutes later was caught by Rajkovic. Atzili’s 67’ attempt was just saved by Haimov and then it looked like Shechter’s header made it 4:0 for the Yellow & Blue but it was called off by the linesman.
Sallalich pulled a goal back for Haifa in the 70’ and Ivic then made his second substitute when he inserted Chico Ofoedu for Atar. Rajikovic again was up to the task in the 76’ when the shot stopper saved a Roie Kehat clean chance in the box and three minutes later Shon Weissman’s attempt to keep the score as is.

Avi Rikan was introduced in the 85’ in favor of Micha as Maccabi wrapped up a 3:1 win over Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium ahead of their State Cup Round of 32 match on Saturday night at Beitar Jerusalem.

Hapoel Ramat Hasharon 1:1 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv (U19)
Guy Tzarfati’s squad drew away at Ramat Hasharon as the side’s split the points thanks to a goal by Nadav Nidam. For the Full Match Report Click Here

Hapoel Tel Aviv 1:3 Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv (U17)
The Under-17 team defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Derby as Or Roizman bagged a brace and Tal Torgman scored a lone marker.
Head Coach Eliezer Ben Aharon summed up the win: “Derbies are games that have extraordinary energy created by the rivalry between the clubs and that was the case this time as well. Many emotions caused a lack of concentration and inaccuracy in simple actions during the first half of the match. We continue to improve match by match and I’m proud of the players for their investment in the club.”

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv 0:0 Hapoel Tel Aviv
The Under-16 squad also played a Derby, however, this one ended in a goalless draw as the side’s each took a point. Head Coach Eran Sassi: “This was an organized match from a defensive standpoint as we took Hapoel out of the game and didn’t have any chances on our goal. On the other hand we weren’t accurate enough on the attack and didn’t take advantage of our opportunities.”

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv 1:5 Hapoel Katamon (U15)
The Under-16 squad’s match took place on Wednesday when Ori David’s side defeated Hapoel Katamon 5:1 thanks to goals by Oscar Gloch x2, Oral Bahia, Ofer Nagar and Eliran Avisher. David spoke about the win: “This was a good match from our guys. There were many good football actions that took place using our philosophy that we worked on throughout the week. We scored some nice goals and I’m happy about that as well.”

The path to the league title continues at Sammy Ofer Stadium on Monday at 21:00 when Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Maccabi Haifa to open the second round of Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika matches. The round will last roughly three months until March 7, 2019 when the regular season will come to an end and the playoff round will begin.

Is it just League action that awaits over the next few months? Not really. Just before the opening whistle blows let’s take a look at the upcoming action over the next few months.

Let’s turn the page and begin

This will be the 157th match between Maccabi and Maccabi Haifa, the Yellow & Blue’s most frequent opponent just ahead of Hapoel Tel Aviv (152) and Maccabi Netanya (136).

The record: 62 Maccabi wins, 46 draws, 48 Haifa victories. Goal differential: 222:196 in favor of Maccabi.

The last time Maccabi met Maccabi Haifa to open the second round of matches was in 2012/13 and ended in a 1:0 defeat at Kiryat Eliezer.

Since then Haifa has hosted ten matches in which Maccabi won 5 and drew 5.

In 2002/03 the two sides met on Matchday 14 in Haifa at Kiryat Eliezer and it ended with Maccabi taking home a big 3:2 win that changed the season’s momentum as the Yellow & Blue captured the league title in dramatic fashion.

Watch the highlights of the 3:2 win:

Avi Nimni has the most appearances by Maccabi against Maccabi Haifa with 33. Eli Driks has 31 and Sheran Yeini is in third with 30.

Maccabi has played 15 league matches to date at Sammy Ofer Stadium: 7 against Maccabi Haifa, 6 versus Hapoel Haifa and 2 radius matches against Beitar Jerusalem (1 home, 1 away).

In addition, Maccabi has played 7 other matches at Sammy Ofer: 3 Champions League Group Stage matches and 4 Cup contests throughout the years.

Maccabi’s record against Maccabi Haifa in 7 league matches at Sammy Ofer Stadium: 4 win and 3 draws. Goal Differential: 11:4 in favor of Maccabi.

Last season Vidar Kjartansson scored the fastest goal in Maccabi’s history – 13 seconds into the match in a 3:1 win over Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium.

Kjartansson also scored the latest goal against the Greens which occurred in 2016/17 to draw 2:2 in the 91’.

Sheran Yeini looked ahead to Monday night’s Matchday 14 contest at Maccabi Haifa to open up the second round of Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al matches:

“I’m sure that Maccabi Haifa wants to win and we do as well. We have a game plan that we don’t want to discuss right now in the press conference but we’ve prepared all week for this match and we have to come in focused with a lot of energy as Maccabi Haifa is a good and tough club. We will have to be ready at every moment as they create a lot of chances. It’s going to be a tough match.”

Playing with Shahar Piven:
“Shahar is an excellent player and anyone who played with him in the youth Academy has said only good things about him. The same is true for his time last season with Ashdod when we played against him. When he was there we had a tough time. He’s a very aggressive and strong player. I really enjoy playing with him and I’m happy for him. The more home grown players that can play with the first team the better.“

Focusing on just the next game at hand:
“We want to go into every game to win and we aren’t focusing on anything else, just the next game at hand.”

Concentrating on ourselves:
“We are just looking at ourselves and what we can do. We aren’t looking at the opposition at all but how we can play and play our best.l

Tough week ahead with Maccabi Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Beer Sheva:
“It’s a very tough week as we are playing against quality side’s who are all playing well and we’re just going to work our hardest to perform our best one match at a time.”

Playing our best:
“Things happen in football and we can be prepared as best as possible and still lose. But we must focus on our play and the match at hand. If we do this then we will be able to play our best and increase our chances to win.”

Always a battle against Maccabi Haifa:
“Every match against Maccabi Haifa is difficult whether we have the upper hand or they have the upper hand. Is also don’t think that we’ve had an easy match this season all of the teams we have played have been difficult. We respect every club and in my eyes Maccabi Haifa is an excellent club.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach addressed the assembled media ahead of his squad’s Matchday 14 clash at Sammy Ofer Stadium against Maccabi Haifa on Monday at 21:00:

“We play against the second most successful club in Israel. They deserve respect, they are a big team with a lot of fans; it’s like a Derby. The position they are in is not a realistic position for them. We have prepared for the game and normally our target is to take three points.”

Winning and playing good football:
“For all of us the result is important. For each coach and each team, if you play jive football and don’t get a result, then it’s not good. The key is to win the game and to play good football. It’s not easy, it’s difficult for all of us. At the start of the season we took three points but we didn’t play good football. We all want to play fantastic football and take three points that’s what we all dream about. But our goal is to win and take the three points. We have prepared for a bit more than a week and I’m sure the players understand what to do and what I’m expecting.”

About the new recruit Uros Nikolic:
“He played in Belarus with Dinamo Minsk. He’s an offensive midfield player and we need this position. It’s not that we aren’t satisfied with the players we have but we wanted to have good competition.”

The upcoming transfer window and keeper Predrag Rajkovic:
“What will happen in the future? You’ll have to follow. I don’t want to speak about that as he’s our player. It’s normal to have offers for our players who also play for National team but we will have to see and discuss and see what the best solution for the club will be.”

Eli Dasa’s injury status:
“He has some small problem. We aren’t sure if he will play, maybe yes and maybe no. All the other players can play and Eyal Golasa is fine. Ophir Davdizada is still out but I hope he will be with us soon.”

Concentrating on ourselves:
“We are thinking about ourselves and not about another club. This is what we have done from the beginning and this is what we will do until the end.l

Finishing the season undefeated?
“There are a lot of games in front of us and we all want to win and no one wants to lose. Who knows what will happen by the end of the season.”

Whisky brand Johnnie Walker, the Or Yarok organization and Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club have joined together to battle drunk driving with the goal of raising awareness about the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Watch the video:

Maccabi Tel Aviv players Eli Dasa, Sheran Yeini, Dan Glezer and Dor Peretz were asked to wear special glasses that simulate excessive alcohol consumption and then try to kick the ball and perform simple exercises.

The video shows that it wasn’t easy, but it certainly conveys the message about the physical impact of excessive alcohol consumption and the importance that someone who had been drinking not get into the driver’s seat of a car.

Or Yarok also took part in the production of the video and assisted in the training and supplied the special glasses. According to Or Yarok, one in two drivers (47%) admits that he drove after consuming alcohol at least once during the past year.

In addition, a report that prepared by the organization based on data from the Central Bureau of Statistics in order to estimate the extent of drunk driving revealed that:

* On average, there is one accident a day that occurs when one of the driver’s drove under the influence of alcohol – 360 alcohol related accidents occur on average each year.

* On average, there is an accident every day where two people are injured where one of the drivers was under the influence of alcohol – an average of 684 people are injured each year in alcohol related accidents.

* 18 people are killed in average every year due to alcohol related accidents – more than one person per month.

Erez Kita, CEO of Or Yarok, said: “Driving under the influence of alcohol is an irresponsible act that endangers not only the driver himself, but also others on the road. Alcohol impairs one from the first drop, so simply alcohol and driving don’t go together. It’s important to raise public awareness of the many dangers of drunk driving and I welcome this important collaboration that can save lives. I believe that this joint campaign will help convey our unequivocal message – if you drink do not drive.”

After arriving in Israel yesterday, Uros Nikolic officially began his new journey with Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Serbian midfielder took part in his first training session at the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom and met his new teammates along with the professional staff.