Category: News
Blast from the Past: When Maccabi opened up a dream season against Haifa
עונת 2012/13: מכבי ת”א -מכבי חיפה 1:2
From Basel to a northern blitz: Tibi talks about his season opener
משחק הפתיחה שאיתן טיבי לא ישכח
“I remember our first match in 2013/14 against Hapoel Acre after we were knocked out of the Champions League qualification rounds following a 3:3 draw against Basel. Barak Itzhaki scored the first goal versus Acre and then Eran Zahavi added the second in a 2:0 win which sent us on our way to the championship.”
“It was an amazing feeling after growing up in the Youth Department”. Dor Peretz’s season opener
משחק הפתיחה שדור פרץ לא ישכח
“My first match was at the beginning of the 2015/16 against Bnei Sakhnin at Bloomfield Stadium. It was an amazing feeling to go onto the pitch as a Maccabi player for the First Team after growing up in the Youth Department. I’m happy we won the match and that we got off to a good start after the contest we had in Basel. I hope that the beginning of this season will be similar.”
“It was like a dream”. Yeini’s unforgettable season opener
משחק פתיחת העונה ששרן ייני לא ישכח
“I remember my season opener against Bnei Yehuda under Ran Ben Shimon who had been my coach with the Under-19 side. We were very close and he believed in me so I began the season with the First Team. I didn’t start but he brought me on in the 60’ or 70’. After I was introduced we drew even at 1:1 and then in the 90’ I scored my first goal with the First Team, Maccabi Tel Aviv on a header. I can remember it in slow motion, I scored and it was like a dream. I didn’t know if I should or shouldn’t celebrate. But when I saw it on video, it was so quick and so exciting. It was a great moment in my career.”
Yeini: “I trust the squad that we have here”
Matchday 1 of the Ligat Ha’Al, Israel Premier League features Maccabi Tel Aviv hosting Maccabi Haifa on Sunday (21:00) at the Netanya Stadium. Captain Sheran Yeini spoke ahead of the contest at the prematch press conference:
“We’re not concerned about the amount of chances we’re getting. The match on Thursday will have no impact on Sunday’s opener. It will be a tough match and we’re playing a difficult opponent. This will be an interesting game.”
His status on the squad:
“I’m always here for the club and I feel appreciated by them as well. I’m always available for the coach and players whenever needed. Every player wants to play but I’m just another player on the squad. Everything is fine. I’ll wait for my chance and when I do I’ll give my best. This is something normal in football and I understand the situation.”
About the match against Haifa:
“We’re all professional and there have been many different situations, but we will come prepared. Athletes don’t think negatively. We will come as prepared as possible and hope that we can get the best possible result.”
This season’s squad:
“We have a very strong squad this season. We are working together well and we have a good staff. I trust the squad that we have here.”
Ivic: “We need to work even harder”
What changed in the second half?
“We created a couple of chances before the first goal, and we created a good moment for our striker and he scored a goal. We must improve a lot, we need to learn better how to win the game”.
Dor Micha’s performance?
“Micha is a creative player, all of us know this, and he has played a lot. But we changed some players from our previous game, this is how we want to play in order to stay fresh and healthy”.
The upcoming Europa League Playoff Second Leg:
“The game on Thursday will be totally different, a different style. We have 3 days to prepare in the best possible way in order to progress to the next round. I believe we can do it”.
Ivic: “We know what type of game to expect”
Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach addressed the assembled media ahead of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Sunday night season opener against Maccabi Haifa at 21:00 at the Netanya Stadium:
“We know that they are one of the biggest teams in Israel and we will begin the third competition. We know about Haifa and we prepared for them. We must be ready and we will play the best squad and we also know what type of game to expect.”
The first loss of the season at Sarpsborg:
“This is a part of football and no one likes to lose the game and it’s the forts on ewe lost this year. We aren’t satisfied with the result but this is life. It’s behind is now and we have to look ahead to the Haifa match.”
Eliran Atar’s status:
“We will have to wait and see after the training.”
The busy schedule:
“The next match is always the most important one. Maccabi Haifa is on Sunday and that’s where our focus is.”
Maccabi “Shachar” defeats Bnei Sakhnin 2:1
The title defense is underway as Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv visited Bnei Sakhnin. The Club’s U19 side visited the Galilee as Head Coach started 8 veterans and 3 new players.
Starting XI: Daniel Peretz, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Amit Glazer, Tomer Machluf, Tamir Glazer, Mufleh Shalata, Yoav Hofmayster, Rave Assayag, Omer Barami, Eyal Hen.
First Half
The first quarter hour saw both clubs feeling each other out as the side’s didn’t create many chances with play taking place primarily in the midfield. In the 16’ Sakhnin had the first opportunity of the contest as Muhammed Kahlayla’s shot from the left of the box hit the outside netting. Four minutes later Chilaka began the Maccabi attack from the right side, sent the ball to Barami who crossed it to Assayag but the latter couldn’t get to it in time as the ball went out.
Maccabi then took control of the contest as Assayag had a header chance that hit the post while just before the break, Mahluf sent a ball to Tamir Glazer who tipped the ball to Assayag but his shot went out as the half ended deadlocked at 0:0.
Second Half
Assayag stole the ball in the middle of the pitch in the 48’ as he sent the ball to Barami who passed it to Hen on the left side but the opposing keeper blocked the attempt. As Maccabi continued to press, the Yellow & Blue finally found the back of the goal. Tamir Glazer sent the ball to Shalata who handed it off to Barami who put it behind the keeper for a 1:0 lead.
Sakhnin then pressed to draw even but Adam Suad’s 56’ opportunity from long distance went over the goal, however a 61’ free kick was headed in by Muhammed Osman to even up the contest at 1:1. The host’s continued to pressure the Yellow & Blue goal but a Peretz save and a Shtrozberg clearance kept the score as is. In the 72’ Sakhnin again threatened Peretz’s goal but Osman’s attempt went over the goal.
In the 78’ Maccabi almost took the lead but Tal Yagudayev who had come on as a substitute hit the post. However in the 85’ Bar Cohen who also was introduced earlier into the match found the back of the goal with the winner to take the 2:1 opening day victory and the three points.
