Nick Blackman’s goal in the 2:1 win over Kiryat Shemona was his 6th league marker this season and now leads the club in that category. Vidar Kjartansson found the back of the goal for his 5th league strike of the campaign as he draws even with Omer Atzily in 2nd place.

Dor Micha picked up his 3rd assist of the season to lead Maccabi while Eli Dasa assisted on his first when he found Vidar Kjartansson in the box.

The right side of the Yellow & Blue attack was lethal as Blackman and Dasa teamed up numerous times, 24 to be exact to lead the club in passes between two players.

Dasa and Micha also gave Maccabi many of there opportunities. The right back made 6 key passes the most on the team, with 6 of them being accurate. Micha made 3 key passes with all of them finding their intended target. In fact, Dasa was also fouled 5 times – the most of any other Yellow & Blue player.

The back line was also very active pressuring Kiryat Shemona as Eitan Tibi won 14 of 17 tackles and Sheran Yeini was successful 9/11 times. Jean-Sylvain Babin was an aerial force winning 6 of 7 battles.

Dor Peretz stood out again and led the side with 9 steals while Cristian Battocchio was the fastest player on the pitch running at 33.4kph. Peretz was second at 31.8kph.

Dor Micha covered the most ground over 90 minutes – 10.6km while Vidar Kjartansson and Dor Peretz were just behind with 10.5km each.

Maccabi Tel Aviv will begin their Israel State Cup journey against FC Bnei MMBE HaGolan VeHaGalil after being drawn against the northern club at the Israel National Team headquarters on Sunday. The Yellow & Blue will play in the Round of 32 against the Liga B side and the match will take place at the Netanya Stadium between January 4-8, 2018.

Other Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al clubs also entered the draw in this round. Last season Maccabi made it all the way to the State Cup Final, where they fell to Bnei Yehuda on penalties.

FC Bnei MMBE HaGolan VeHaGalil advanced to the Round of 32 after defeating Beitar Nordia Jerusalem 3:2 last round as the side sits in 9th place with 17 points after Matchday 13 of the Liga B North A League.

Maccabi continued on with their positive momentum after taking the 3 points against Kiryat Shemona in a 2:1 win. Nick Blackman, the Yellow & Blue striker spoke about a myriad of items following the match including the Israel National Team and also complimented his teammates:

Jordi Cruyff, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach addressed the media at the post match press conference following his club’s 2:1 win over Kiryat Shemona on Matchday 15 of the Israel Premier League:

“We had chances but we don’t finish games off like last week and today. Instead of playing 60 minutes and finishing it off we have to play 95 minutes. We have to find a way to kill off a game. The players have played well with a lot of intensity.”

Goals:
“Both goals were off crosses from the right to Vidar and Nick, but we gave up a goal in the 45’ and that’s something we can’t do.”

About Nick Blackman:
“When a team doesn’t play well it’s hard but he’s stepped up. He’s big and is able to hold the ball. He’s scoring good goals and his connection with the teammates are getting better. He’s a different kind of player and something that the Israel National team needs a player like that who can take long balls.”

Winning convincingly:
“Even though we played well, we have to kill off games and I can’t be happy with that. We have to win convincingly and not suffer.”

Eyal Golasa not playing:
“He was a bit overused and tired. When he is feeling good he can play well, but when he can’t give 100% maybe it’s better to have another player that can.”

Fighting for a spot in the squad:
“It’s very clear, a player must be unhappy when he’s not playing but has to show team spirit. It’s good to have a competitive squad and to have the players fight for the squad. Any player on this team can be on the bench.”

Love for Tel Aviv:
“I like this club, city and people. Being here for 6 years really speaks for itself.”

Juan Pablo:
“I have a very good relation with Juan Pablo. It was a very painful moment as a sport director. It was difficult if it was fair or unfair. After a few moths those moments were gone, we have a great relationship.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv continued their fine play of late and the club’s Icelandic striker, Vidar Kjartansson chipped in as he scored the first goal in a 2:1 win over Kiryat Shemona:

“I feel good and the club has played well over the last few matches. We’re improving. Personally after not playing last match it was good to come back, score and help the team win.”

About his success against Kiryat Shemona:
“It must be a prophecy of some sort and if you think that you like to play against them then it also helps out.”

The miss near the end of the match:
“I haven’t played 90 minutes in a while. I can’t miss like that but we won the match and it didn’t really effect the match.”

The club’s recent form:
“The recent matches have put us back on the right track. If we continue to play like this we will stay in the race. But we have to concentrate on each match and play like a team. We’ve begun to do that and we are improving as a team.”

The Yellow & Blue wrapped up a tidy 2:1 win to take the 3-points against Kiryat Shemona at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday 15 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al. Vidar Kjartansson scored in the first half while Nick Blackman headed home a second half winner after Ahmed Abed had helped the visitors draw even in the 45’.

Head Coach Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajikovic, Eli Dasa, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Eitan Tibi, Sheran Yeini, Dor Micha, Dor Peretz, Cristian Battocchio, Avi Rikan, Nick Blackman and Vidar Kjartansson. On the bench were Daniel Tenenbaum, Jose Rodriguez, Barak Itzhaki, Eliran Atar, Aaron Schoenfeld, Tal Ben Haim and Ofir Davidzada.

First Half
Kiryat Shemona had the contest’s opening chance in the 5’ when Ahmed Abed took a through ball and went one on one against Rajikovic, but the Serbian shot stopper made a terrific foot save to keep the match goalless early on. Maccabi had their first attempt two minutes later when Rikan sent the ball to Vidar who tried to get a quality shot off but couldn’t, however Peretz launched a scorcher that went off the right post which was then cleared by the defense.

Maccabi’s pressure paid off in the 19’ when Blackman sent a pass to Dasa down the right side which the defensive back fed to Kjartansson who put the ball behind the Kiryat Shemona keeper Itamar Nitzan for a 1:0 lead. In the 27’ the Yellow & Blue almost found their second when Dasa crossed the ball to Micha who in turn sent it to Rikan, but his attempt just went wide off the right post.

Ten minutes later, Vidar left the ball for Battocchio but his laser beam was stopped cold by Nitzan while in the 41’ Vidar turned in the box and launched a curler that Abu Abid was able to clear with his head. However, just as the half was about to come to a close, Ahmed Abed made his way by Babin and scored to draw Kiryat Shemona even at 1:1.

Second Half
Maccabi looked to take the lead early on in half number two and that’s what they did in the 53’ when Micha crossed a beauty of a ball to Blackman in the box who headed it behind Nitzan for a 2:1 advantage. However, two minutes later Kiryat Shemona almost evened up the contest when Dasa’s header to clear a Rian cross had to be caught by an alert Rajikovic.

Ofir Davidzada was introduced for Avi Rikan in the 61’ while 4 minutes later Didier Brusso picked up a 2nd yellow and a red card for stomping on Dor Peretz which left Kiryat Shemona with ten players for the balance of the match. Davidzada passed the ball to Micha in the 70’ and crossed it to Blackman in the box, but his header went over the goal and two minutes later Cruyff made his second substitution when he inserted Eliran Atar in favor of Sheran Yeini.

The Yellow & Blue’s third substitution came in the 81’ when Jose Rodriguez came on for Cristian Battocchio. Maccabi had a chance to score their third but Vidar put the ball right into Nitzan as the match ended in a 2:1 win for the Yellow & Blue.