Omer Atzily, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s midfielder spoke about his side’s 2:1 win over Pyunik from Armenia in the second leg of Third Round Qualifying at the Netanya Stadium:

“We didn’t begin the match well and we gave up a goal but we’re happy that we were able to comeback and take the pressure off of us. After the Hapoel Tel Aviv contest we will start preparing for the first leg of the Playoff Round.”

Showing character:
“We were panicking but we also weren’t expecting to give up an early goal where we had to comeback but we showed a tremendous amount of character and moved on.”

The matches against Pyunik:
“We showed that we were the better team across the two legged tie and we had plenty of chances. If we would have scored more goals, the results would have been better but there are many surprises in Europe of late and we’re content that we did what we needed to.”

About his play:
“I’m happy to play just like anyone as there isn’t any better feeling than getting onto the pitch. I believe that once I score a goal that will open the way for others, but all in all I feel good and have been playing well.”

The upcoming Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv:
“A Derby is a Derby. I still haven’t even showered after playing this match, so I’ll do that, celebrate a bit and begin preparing for Hapoel tomorrow.”

Dor Micha took questions from the assembled media following the Yellow and Blue’s 2:1 victory over Pyunik.

On the game:

“We made it tough on ourselves and it wasn’t easy. But with the help of the fans we made it through to the next round and achieved our target.”

Scoring a goal:

“I always try to score as much as possible, today I got into some good positions and I was able to score one. I am really trying to improve on my finishing.”

About the squad’s potential:

“I think we have a lot of potential and ability, but I believe we are far from the final product as to where we want to be.. We are now going into a very critical time for the club and we need to be organized and ready.”

The last Israeli team in Europe:

“For Israeli football we want everyone to progress, but for us we will do everything we can to qualify for the group stage. We have to look at ourselves and improve what we can.”

Vladimir Ivic addressed the media following the 2:1 victory against Pyunik in
Netanya, Israel in the second leg of third round of Europa League qualifying:
“It was a tough game, against a team who is organized and play direct football and counter attack. We lost confidence after conceding the goal but we created a lot of chances and scored two goals in the second half. We must have more concentration for the entire game.”

 

On Maccabi’s Performance:

“We want to be dominant for all 90 minutes but we aren’t there yet. We are still at the beginning stages, and we know what we have to improve. We work every day and have good professional guys who try to understand our demands..”

Shechter’s play:

“We know Shechter is one of the best strikers in Israel. He came off the bench and worked for the team. He is a very good professional.”

Goal on a set piece:

“To be honest, we work a lot on set pieces on the training ground. The goal itself was made by the players’ decision during the game, and they took responsibility and scored.”

On being the last Israeli team in Europe:

“This is not good for Israeli football, I would want every team to progress, but now we are focused on Sunday and then we can begin to prepare for the next game.”

 

After Maccabi Tel Aviv drew with Pyunik 0:0 in the first leg of Third Round Europa League Qualifying in Yerevan, Armenia, the decisive return match took place this evening at the Netanya stadium.

Maccabi were thrilled to welcome 150 children from the Gaza Periphery, who made the long journey, thanks to Maccabi’s Tel Aviv partners, Bon Tour, which provided the transportation while sponsor Pizza Prego made sure that everyone had dinner to accompany the match for the guests.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Jair Amador, Enric Saborit, Dor Peretz, Ruslan Barsky, Dor Micha (C), Eliran Atar, Omer Atzily and Vidar Kjartansson.

Available on the bench were keeper Haviv Ohayon, Eyal Golasa, Dan Glazer, Sheran Yeini, Matan ozez, Aaron Schoenfeld, Itay Shechter.

First Half

Pyunik took the early lead in the 10’, when Denis Voynov ran through on goal past Eitan Tibi and scored with a clinical finish as he hit the post and the ball rolled into Maccabi’s goal. After much appeal from the Maccabi’s players about a potential offside ruling the goal stood.

Maccbai were given space to create chances and in the 21^” Omer Atzily tested the Pyunik keeper with a quick shot from outside the box, the shot stopper made the timely save as he dove to his right while the clearance was completed by the Pyunik defenders. 

Maccabi had a chance on the stroke of halftime from an Eli Dasa cross that was put over the bar by an Enric Saborit header. Maccabi found themselves frustrated with a tough task ahead in the second half, down 1:0 with the need to score two goals to qualify for the Playoff Round.

Second Half

Itay Shecter came on for Vidar Kjartansson before the second half began, in an attempt to give Maccabi a boost, and he did just that by testing the Pyunik goal in the 47’ with nice shot on the turn, that was pushed away for a corner kick.

In a great spell of passing, Shechter spread a fine ball out into the path of Eli Dasa, who whipped in a great cross on the ground for Shecter who passed the ball off, while receiving a challenge, to Dor Micha who swept it into the back of the net on his left foot to score the equalizing goal in the 54’. 

Maccabi found themselves with plenty of chances, in the 65^’ Omer Atzily had a strike deflected back to him outside the box and hit the ball while on the ground, directly at the Pyunik Keeper.

In the 67’ Maccabi took one of these chances quite ruthlessly with a routine right off the training ground. Eliran Atar played a quick give and go from the corner flag and stroke the ball with tremendous power, that took two deflections and still found its way into the back of the net good for a 2:1 advantage.

In the 81’ Eliran Atar had a thunderous strike denied by the Pyunik crossbar and after 5 minutes of stoppage time, Maccabi heard the referee’s final whistle as the Yellow & Blue advanced to the Playoff Round of the UEFA Europa League.

Matan Baltaxa, 22, has joined Bnei Yehuda on a season long loan-deal after an agreement was reached between the two clubs.

Ruslan Barsky, who just signed a new 4-year contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv is ready for Thursday’s Europa League qualifying contest against Pyunik:

Also on the Website:
Ivic: “I am positive and believe in my players”

“We are home at our stadium and with our fans with one goal, to advance to the next stage.”

About the first leg:
“Pyunik was a very tough team and in the first leg they knew how to play against us. The 1:1 draw wasn’t the greatest result for us but it isn’t terrible. We will come into the match and press from the first minute at our home stadium in order to take the lead as quickly as possible.”

Taking advantage of opportunities:
“We had chances in Armenia but we couldn’t take advantage of our opportunities. I am sure that we will do much better tomorrow.”

Returning to the Yellow & Blue:
“It’s a great feeling to be back at Maccabi Tel Aviv and a part of the team that I grew up in along with a number of other players. I will continue to work hard.”

Focussing on doing the best:
“Once I returned to Maccabi, I never really thought about anything else and I focussed just on being here. I didn’t think about my future what was going to be, I am focussed to make sure that I would do my best here.”

Improving on loan:
“I think that the loan helped me and it gave me the chance to improve as each season went by. I was able to come back to the team as a much better player.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach addressed the assembled media at the prematch press conference ahead of Thursday’s (20:30 Israel time) return leg against Pyunik from Armenia at the Netanya Stadium in the Third Qualifying Round of the Europa League:

“Our target from the first day was to improve the team and up until now we have played 6 matches, 5 in Europe and one in the Toto Cup. After each match we look back, review and discuss things to see what needs to be improved and what needs to be continued. We didn’t do well with some of our chances and passing game last match and we tried to fix that over the past 7-8 days. I am positive and believe in my players that it will be ok tomorrow.”

Creating chances and scoring:
“We are just at the beginning of the season and we have to create chances. If we don’t create chances then it would be a problems for me. When we create then the team works. Our attack begins with the keeper and the defending starts with the striker. We need to take advantage of the chances that we have. It’s just the beginning of the season and we have quality players. We will be able to fix it.”

Availability status of the players:
“All of the players are ok and can play tomorrow.”

About the strikers:
“I am happy with all of them as they work hard and are professional. They all try hard to be in the lineup and they are all positives guys. Every striker goes through a period of time when they can’t finish. Everyone in football understands that. I hope that they start to score as they are working hard. I am satisfied with all of them.”