Preview

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD30 WINNER League match against third place Maccabi Haifa with a two-point-lead at the top of the table. After 29 league matches, Zarko Lazetic’s side scored the same number of goals as their number of points (66) and conceded 29 goals.

Maccabi’s 20th victory of the season, a convincing 4-1 win over Maccabi Netanya, led Lazetic to minimal changes to his starting line-up. Stav Lemkin replaced the suspended Nemanja Stojic to partner Raz Shlomo as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Simon Sluga. Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s back four. Issouf Sissokho kept his place as the anchorman with Joris van Overeem and Dor Peretz completing Maccabi’s midfield trio. Osher Davida who scored a goal and set up one more against Netanya was named on one wing with Weslley Patati on the opposite flank. Eran Zahavi who scored a brace against Netanya kept his place upfront as the 37-year-old marksman who scored six goals this season is seeking to extend his tally.

On the bench Lazetic named, goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Avishay Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Gabi Kanichowsky, Elad Madmon, Ofir Davidzada, Hishm Layous and Ido Shahar.

Prior to kickoff Maccabi held a ceremony to mark the contribution of goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum who made 110 appearances in 8 seasons at the club winning 11 titles (3 championships, 1 State Cup, 4 Toto Cups and 3 Super Cups).

First Half

Boosted by an entire stadium filled with only Maccabi due to the punishment Maccabi Haifa were carrying the hosts began the match with a spring in their step. With less than two minutes on the clock Osher Davida was fouled by a Haifa defender as Weslley  Patati stepped up to whip in a cross which flashed just wide of the post. A Patati free kick in the 11th minute from the opposite flank saw Eran Zahavi rise above Haifa’s defense but guide his header over the crossbar. Maccabi continued to dominate as two minutes later Dor Peretz sent a square ball across the face of goal but Joris van Overeem couldn’t connect. 

Davida tried his luck with a long range left foot effort which narrowly missed the top corner on 23. Roy Revivo carved Haifa’s defense with a perfect pass to release Zahavi but the veteran striker sent his shot wide of the post. Within a minute Peretz teed up Davida but his left foot effort was directed straight at Shareef Keouf. In the 27th minute Maccabi struck the woodwork twice as Revivo’s header bounced off the post before Issouf Sissokho sent a dipping cross which beat Keouf but came off the crossbar.

A slick Maccabi attack ripped through Haifa’s defense on the brink of halftime as Van Overeem released Peretz whose shot was equalled by Keouf. Seconds later Davida fired a shot from inside the area that once again sailed agonisingly wide.

Second Half

Six minutes after the restart the deadlock was finally broken as Zahavi picked the ball near the corner of the area before burying a powerful right foot shot in the bottom far corner. In the 59th minute Bloomfield was silenced as Xander Severina was given the time and space in Maccabi’s penalty area before firing a deadly left foot shot that beat Simon Sluga to level the score. 

Lazetic made a triple substitution in the 69th minute as Idan Nachmias replaced Stav Lemkin, Gabi Kanichowsky came on for Joris van Overeem while Dor Turgeman stepped in for Davida. Kanichowsky could have scored with his first touch as he was released by Revivo but a last gasp tackle by Abdoulaye Seck denied the diminutive midfielder before he could pull the trigger. In the 77th minute a spectacular Raz Shlomo goalmouth clearance denied Din David what seemed like a definite Haifa goal.

Roy Revivo completed another 90 on the left side of Maccabi’s defense during the 4-1 victory over Maccabi Netanya at Bloomfield. The victory saw Maccabi secure top spot for at least another week as the gap at the top from second place Hapoel Be’ersheva currently stands on five points.

On his 27^th appearance in all competitions this season, Revivo, who will celebrate his 22^nd birthday next month, saw his side’s fifth victory in succession. “We are delighted to win five successive league matches which means there is continuity and that suggests that things are working well” Revivo said. “There are many ups and down in football, as just as we had a two-goal lead and conceded then suddenly you remember that everything can happen in football. I know we have a winning team here regardless of tactics as everyone plays for each other, giving it all to win balls which is fun to be part of such a team.”

On the 3-2 victory over Hapoel Hadera which saw Maccabi bounce back from a two-goal deficit to a three-goal comeback, that proceeded the run of victories, Revivo reflected: “I think one should treat every match separately but there was some breaking point at that stage as we were a little confused and didn’t know what to do. Yet we knew how to bounce back which is proof of our mental strength and resilience.”

Revivo, who could have ended the match with a first half spectacular volley, was left at the end of the match to praise Eran Zahavi overhead bicycle kick. “He truly deserves it. I am speechless as he is such an inspiration to everyone in the dressing room. One can see how hard he works whether he is playing or not and at his age I am still learning from him daily on how to work.”

Eran Zahavi crossed the 200 mark as he scored a brace in the 4-1 victory over Maccabi Netanya on Saturday to lead Maccabi to their fifth league victory in succession. Maccabi’s 20th victory of the season took the point tally to 66 and the number of goals scored to 66 as well. The 37-year-old striker didn’t get carried away as he said at the end of the match: “We did our job and won a very important match tonight especially after beating Hapoel Be’ersheva last week. We kept the first place which is the most important thing and we are looking forward.”

Zahavi, who scored a few spectacular goals in his career, said of his overhead bicycle kick which doubled Maccabi’s lead on the night: “I haven’t scored for a while so it was a special goal but the most important thing is that we won tonight and played well as a team. There was an amazing atmosphere in the stadium and this was my 200th goal for Maccabi so it had to be something special”

Zahavi who made his 10th league start and 37th appearance in all competitions said of his season so far: “The situation was a little new to me and I am dealing with it ok overall. Obviously I would have been happy to play as much as possible but I must respect the coach’s decision and do the best I possibly can when I am on the pitch. This is what I tried to do today and throughout the season. Sometimes it works better and sometimes less, but my job is to be a professional all the way till the end.”

On the race for the title with Hapoel Be’ersheva that are now five points adrift but with a match in hand they will play away to Maccabi Haifa on Monday, Zahavi added: “From my experience we must look only at ourselves, try and win every match and not to look at our rivals. In the end we need to do our job and if we will stick to that in the end we will reach the trophy. We kept the first place for another week which is what we need to do going forward.”

In the 59th minute the fans held banners marking the 59 hostages still held in Gaza and in particular three Maccabi fans – Gali & Zivi Berman as well as Omri Miran. On the fans’ gesture, and Maccabi’ activities throughout this difficult period, the captain summed up: “I am so proud of our club and the way in which it conducts itself ever since October 7th last year. We don’t forget anyone, support the families, those who return from captivity and those who are still there. I am so proud but we must continue and can’t afford to forget anyone as we will continue to do it.”