Category: News
Kanichowsky: “At levels like this you need the extra”
A 1-0 defeat to Porto in Belgrade on MD8 of the Europa League phase closed the curtain on Maccabi’s European campaign. Gabi Kanichowsky said at the end of the match at the Partizan stadium: “I think we looked good. The fact Porto were running the clock inside injury time says everything. We didn’t manage to score and I think that sums up our campaign. We were good but at these levels you need the extra. We will use that as a learning experience.”
Maccabi ended the inaugural league phase in its new format in 29th place with 2 victories over Besiktas and RFS. But of the six other matches, besides the defeats Ajax and Bodo/Glimt all the defeats were by a single goal margin. “We spoke about it at lunchtime, if we would have beaten Braga or drawn there on MD1 everything would have been different. It is a sore feeling of a missed chance but if against sides like this one feels a miss we are probably in the right direction. One needs to understand what teams we are playing against, to avoid making mistakes and when you get chances put them away.”
On the busy schedule Maccabi was forced to endure which will no longer include European trips and leave the team focus on the league, Kanichowsky said: “I feel that it’s a miss not to be in the knockout phase. Up until now we had a crazy schedule. Now we have time to prepare before matches, to rest and regain energy. We could find the time to train, prepare for our opponents properly and come fresh to every match which is good for us but also an opportunity for our match to return to Bloomfield.”
Lazetic’s summary of the Porto match
Defeat to Porto ends Maccabi’s EUROPA League
Preview
Maccabi returned to the Partizan stadium for the final home match of the EUROPA League phase as they hosted Portugeuse giants FC Porto on MD8.
After seven matches Maccabi were ranked 29th with six points knowing that only a miraculous victory over Porto together with other results going their way would see them squeeze into the top 24 places and the knockout phase.
Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic made several changes from the side that played in Mondays’ match at Haifa which was abandoned after 45 minutes due to crowd trouble.
Goalkeeper Simon Sluga kept his place to make his debut European appearance for Maccabi with Stav Lemkin and Raz Shlomo lining up as the two central defenders in front of the Croatian custodian. Tyrese Asante on te right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive back-four. Issouf Sissokho was named in the anchorman role with Ido Shahar and Gabi Kanichowsky who were back in the side to form the midfield trio. Kanichowsky, who returned after a foot injury, led the team out with the captain’s armband. Weslley Patati and Osher Davida supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation with Dor Turgeman leading the attack seeking his 14th goal in all competitions this season.
On the bench Lazetic named goalkeepers Roi Mishpati and Idan Trau, Idan Nachmias, Joris van Overeem, Nemanja Stojic, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada, Hisham Layous, Roey Magor and Dor Peretz
First Half
Some 150 fans who travelled from Israel and 300 from Portugal welcomed both teams to the Partizan stadium in Belgrade for the match that would end the league phase,
Maccabi avoided an early scare as a throw in caught the defense not [prepared and left Danny Namaso clear through. But Simon Sluga charged off his line and dived at the feet of the Porto striker to clear the danger.
In the 41st minute a perfectly timed through ball released Dor Turgeman but as the young striker pulled the trigger his shit sailed wide of the target.
The halftime whistle sent both teams into the dressing room with the result still goalless.
Second half
Zarko Lazetic made his first change after the interval as he introduced Joris van Overeem for Gabi Kanichowsky at the restart.
In the 50th minute Osher Davida charged down the right but saw his cross cleared by Porto’s defense. At the opposite end a minute later Joao Mario’s carved Maccabi’s defense open as he released Namaso who rolled his effort narrowly wide. In the 58th minute however, the visitors took the lead after João Mário crossed into the area before Nico Gonzalez flicked with his head beyond the reach of Sluga to break the deadlock. A minute after the hour mark Davida managed to beat Diogo Costa in Porto’s goal but saw his effort strike the woodwork. Lazetic made a triple substitution in the 70th minute as he introduced Nemanja Stojic for Tyrese Asante, Dor Peretz for Ido Shahar and Elad Madmon for Turgeman.
In the 86th minute Peretz had the ball in the back of the Porto net as he reacted first to a Madmon header which crashed against the post, but the referee assistant raised his flag for offside and the goal was disallowed.
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Lazetic ahead of Porto
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Preparing for Porto
With six points from seven matches, Maccabi, which are currently 29th in the table with six points, host the Portugeuse giants for the final match in Belgrade.
Zarko Lazetic’s side is three points away from the 24th place, that guarantees a place in the knockout phase. Porto, are also battling to qualify as they are 25th with 8 points after 2 victories, 2 draws and 3 defeats.
After practice, the team left for Ben Gurion airport, where they will jett out to the Serbian capital.
Match at Haifa abandoned at HT
Preview
Maccabi arrived at Sammy Ofer for the MD20 WINNER League match away to Maccabi Haifa in second place, six points adrift of leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva.
Having beaten Haifa twice this season, 2-0 at the corresponding fixture which Maccabi hosted at Teddy in October as well as 3-1 in the Toto Cup Final in December, maintaining that unbeaten record is imperative for the title race and bragging rights.
Head Coach Zarko Lazetic handed goalkeeper Simon Sluga his debut league appearance as the 31-year-old Croatian custodian who featured twice for Maccabi in the State Cup, started in goal at the expense of Roi Mishpati.
Idan Nachmias and Nemanja Stojic lined-up as the two central defenders in front of Sluga with Tyrese Asante and Roy Revivo completing Maccabi’s back-four. Joris van Overeem and Issouf Sissokho were bot assigned to the engine room with Dor Peretz at the top of the midfield trio leading the team out with the captain’s armband. Osher Davida on one flank and Weslley Patati on the other supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation with Dor Turgeman leading the line seeking to add to his 9 league goals and 13 in all competitions.
On the bench alongside Mishpati, Lazetic named Stav Lemkin, Eran Zahavi, Raz Shlomo, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada, Hisham Layous and Ido Shahar.
First half
A packed Sammy Ofer stadium welcomed both sets of players onto the pitch as the two sides wore Tshirts marking the return from captivity of Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher. Two minutes from the start Dor Turgeman was sent into the area but a last gasp tackle by Abdoulaye Seck prevented the Maccabi young striker from pulling the trigger. Seconds later Haifa’s central defender Rami Gershon fell to the found clutching his hamstring and limped off before being replaced by Tomer Lans. In the 10th minute Dor Peretz found himself with only Shareef Keouf to beat but Maccabi’s captain sliced his shot wide of the post.
In the 26th minute the hosts took the lead after Dolev Haziza was given the time and space down the right before his shot bounced off the post, struck Tyrese Asante and rolled in. Weslley Patati tried his luck with a left foot shot on 36 which sailed high and wide from the edge of the area. Due to flares thrown onto the pitch from the home fans sector, the fourth official signalled 11 minutes of added time. Seconds later Osher Davida blasted a left foot drive that Haifa’s keeper punched away. Davida had another effort clawed away by Keouf a minute later as the winger continued to look dangerous from the right flank.
After a discussion in the dressing room between the local police commander, the match delegate, the referee and representatives of both clubs, the police decided to abandon the match in fear of safety for the players and fans.
