Preview

Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD17 WINNER League match seeking to return to winning ways and record their 11th victory in the league against struggling Ashdod.

Three days after the dramatic 2-2 draw away to leaders Hapoel Be’ersheva that kept that status quo at the top of the table, Zarko Lazetic, made five changes from the side that started at Turner.

Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal while Raz Shlomo and Nemanja Stojic lined up as the two central defenders in front of Maccabi’s keeper. Tyrese Asante on the right and Sagiv Jehezkel on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Issouf Sissokho returned to the anchorman role just behind Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz. Osher Davida who made a second half substitute appearance at Be’ersheva minutes before assisting Jehezkel’s equalizer, was named on one wing. Weslley Patati who scored Maccabi’s second at Turner, was named by Lazetic on the opposite flank. Eran Zahavi led the line and the team out with the captain’s armband as the 37-year-old is aiming to add to his 2 league goals and 5 in all competitions.

On the bench, Lazetic, named goalkeeper Simon Sluga, Roy Revivo, Stav Lemkin, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Joris van Overeem, Elad Madmon, Ofir Davidzada and Ido Shahar

First Half

Backed by an almost full stadium, Maccabi came close to draw first blood as early as the fourth minute. A long ball into the path of Osher Davida released the pacey winger down the right before his cut back found Dor Peretz, whose effort rolled across the face of goal and wide. Ashdod almost punished at the opposite end as Mohammed Kna’an found himself inside the area, but his effort was saved by Roi Mishpati. Maccabi continued to look dangerous going forward as another attack in the 14th minute saw Peretz break into the box. Peretz had his initial shot blocked and before he managed to have a second attempt Zahavi pulled the trigger, yet his powerful half volley shaved the upright.

Right on the half hour mark Ashdod took the lead against the run of play as they caught Maccabi’s defense flat following a misplaced pass by Tyrese Asante. Kna’an was sent clear through, took the ball around Mishpati who charged off his line and sent a cross which was headed in by Roy Levy. A Sagiv Jehezkel solo run down the left took him inside the box before teeing up Gabi Kanichowsky whose shot deflected off a defender for a corner. Three minutes later, in a bid to try and breach Ashdod’s defense, Issouf Sissokho, decided to break through the middle but was tripped on the edge of the area by Maor Yashilirimak who a as consequently booked. Zahavi blasted the free kick that missed the top corner but referee Yigal Frid spotted an infringement a fact which would have cancelled the goal had it gone in.

In the 39th minute Jehezkel went down clutching his ankle, limped off and was replaced by Roy Revivo. Maccabi came close to level the score on several occasions before the interval as Patati headed an Asante cross over the crossbar. Asante himself blasted a shot which was saved by a combination of Ariel Harush and the post as Maccabi continued to try grab an equalizer. Inside injury time Maccabi was inches away from cancelling Ashdod’s lead with a spectacular goal as Peretz met Patati’s cross with a volley that beat Harush but crashed against the post.

Second Half

With no changes during the interval, Maccabi emerged for the second half desperate to grab a goal and turn the match on its head. In the 59th minute, Kanichowsky, floated a ball over Ashdod’s defense where Zahavi met it with the sweetest of volleys only for Harush to pull a stunning save and turn the ball over the crossbar. Ashdod struggled to clear the resulting corner and Maccabi were rewarded for their pressure with a well-deserved equalizer right on the hour mark. Revivo sent Kanichowsky into the area before his square ball found Peretz who swept it home to level the score. Zahavi had a chance to complete the comeback within a minute, but he curled his shot to the wrong side of the post. In the 65th minute however, Zahavi, sent the 20,844 fans at Bloomfield into the air. Davida picked the ball on the halfway line and broke forward before delivering a pinpoint cross from the left which Zahavi volleyed in to score Maccabi’s second and his third league goal.

In the 74th minute Revivo, Zahavi and Davida were involved in Maccabi’s third as Revivo sent Zahavi into the area before Harush charged off his line and dived at the feet of the 37-year-old striker. Davida pounced on the loose ball and from a tight angle blasted it into the top corner.

Lazetic made a double substitution almost instantly to add fresh legs as Kanichowsky and Zahavi bowed out and were replaced by Joris van Overeem and Dor Turgeman. Maccabi continued to run riot as Ashdod collapsed with Davida adding another assist on 82 this time for Peretz who drilled in his second to make it 4-1. Peretz was given a standing as he walked off the pitch with Sissokho while Ido Shahar and Elad Madmon were sent on for the closing stages.

In the 90th the two substitutes combined as Raz Shlomo picked Van Overeem with a perfect pass over the Ashdod defense. The Dutchman who was in excellent position to score, decided to repay Turgeman for the assist he gave for his goal against Sakhnin, and opted to roll the ball to the young striker who tapped home Maccabi’s fifth.

Raz Shlomo made his 30^th appearance for Maccabi this season in the 2-2 draw against Hapoel Be’ersheva and 41 in total since joining the club last winter. The 25-year-old central defender faced the media ahead of Saturday’s home match against struggling Ashdod and said: “We are preparing for this match just like every other match. We will arrive at a full stadium and wish to win every game against every opponent we face.” The fact Ashdod lost their last four matches makes no difference to Shlomo, who added: “:”The recent results of our forthcoming opponents do not interest us at all. Every team that turns up to play against us wishes to prove themselves and gives a bit extra. We need to be prepared to making transitions, to play with high pressure and to be patient.”

On dealing with a tough and challenging fixture list, Shlomo said: “I am not tired but only waiting for the next match. We are happy with this schedule as we know we are privileged to be playing in Europe.”

On playing alongside his defensive partner Nemanja Stojic, Shlomo said: “He is a great central defender and an even better person. I am learning from him a lot and playing alongside him. He is a massive addition to us on the pitch and in the dressing room.”

Idan Nachmias didn’t hide his disappointment at the end of the match which saw Maccabi concede a late goal that denied them victory at Be’ersheva. “We were still leading in the 90th minute, but ultimately we leave here disappointed from this draw. Both teams had a good momentum during the game as Be’ersheva are a very good and well trained team. We played a good game here tonight. To be able to make a comeback at this stadium and then to lose it in the end is painful.”

Nachmias, reflected on Be’ersheva’s controversial injury time goal that had his keeper Roi Mishpati clearly pushed inside his box in the build up and during the goal he conceded: “I didn’t see the first foul, but before the corner was awarded there was a clear push on Mishpati. It wasn’t given and it is pointless to talk about it as it just gets me angry.”

The draw kept the status quo at the top with Maccabi trailin Be’ersheva by a point, as Nachmias spoke of the title race: “If we continue believing in this way I am confident we will do it. We have the belief in our ability even at one of the most tough stadiums in the league. To make a comeback like this is not simple and I am proud of the team.”