Elad Madmon, scored his fourth goal for Maccabi and assisted another against Hapoel Jerusalem on the way to a 3-0 State Cup victory which paved the way to the round of 16.   

After the match, the 20-year-old forward, who joined Maccabi from Hapoel Hadera earlier this season played as an attacking midfielder a position which he revealed wasn’t new to him: “For those who don’t know, this was my original position and where I used to play in Hapoel Hadera’s youth department before. I am practicing this position in training and just delighted I was given the opportunity to be named in the starting line-up prove myself. Whenever I get the chance to start or even come on off the bench, I will give a 100% so I am sure it will be ok.”

Madmon, who made his 7^th start in 23 appearances in all competitions, added of his settling in at the club: “It is not easy I must admit, but I am taking everything in my stride because I know the club believes in me and this is my first season here. It is all good, if I don’t get to play here or there is not the end of the world. But I will come and give a 100% in training henece I received this chance against Hapoel Jerusalem. The fact I started some matches in Europe is proof that the coach believes in me and hands me the minutes. Moving from a small club to a big club is never easy, but we are halfway through the season, and I am training as hard as I possibly can ding what the coaching staff are asking of me. I will keep on working hard and I am sure this would benefit me in the future.”

Madmon, who assisted a goal for Eran Zahavi spoke of the influence the veteran marksman has on him: “Eran Zahavi guides you and directs you during the game, he speaks and explains to me what to do and where to be. He really helps me, even though I am not sure everyone could see this against Hapoel Jerusalem, but he made my life easier with the attention he drew to himself. This is what he brings to the game, not just when he starts but also when he is on the bench. This is where his greatness as a player – helping other players especially me when I arrived from a small club. He helps me an awful lot.”

Avi Cohen z”l will always be remembered as one of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club greats. When you say the word Maccabist, a picture of Avi is the first thing that jumps into your mind. Avi will always be part of the Yellow & Blue pantheon off of the pitch especially with phrases like, “To be part of Maccabi Tel Aviv is to be big, beautiful and successful.” But what really distinguished number 5 was his amazing ability on the pitch. In memory of the seventh anniversary since Avi left us, we remember the captain with three of his greatest moments that no one will ever forget.

23.03.1974 The Beginning of a Legend

In front of 6,000 fans at Ramat Gan Stadium, one of Maccabi’s 18-year-old youth players made his debut in the starting lineup against HaKoach Ramat Gan. Itzhak Shneor was the man responsible for giving Avi Cohen his first start for the Yellow & Blue. Dror Bar Nur scored a brace as Maccabi ended the match with a clean sheet.

01.06.1977 Hoisting the Cup and a Double

One of the all time greatest clubs in Maccabi Tel Aviv’s history was the 1976/77 side. The team featured keeper Yugi Sorinov who joined the team that same year and it’s high powered offense was led by Vicki Peretz and Benny Tabak. Wearing the captain’s armband was Miki Belo with the defense anchored by Avi Cohen who had begun his Maccabi career just three years earlier. The season ended with not only the league championship but also the State Cup as it was hoisted in the air by captain Belo on June 1, 1977 marking the first time that Cohen had won two titles in one season.

02.12.1978 The Huge Goal in the Umbrella Derby

Every fan who calls himself a Maccabist must have seen this goal dozens of times. Over 20,000 fans sat through a goalless first half in a torrential downpour at Bloomfield Stadium. Moshe Goldenberg scored a second half goal in the 67th minute, however most fans don’t even remember that marker because of what came next. The goal began off of a Hapoel corner kick when the clearance was headed right to Alon Caplan who took the ball and went coast to coast. The Yellow & Blue almost lost the ball but Moshe Schweitzer picked it up and regained control. His pinpoint perfect pass found Avi Cohen who scored a strike that will never be forgotten.

Preview

Three days after winning the Toto Cup with a 3-1 victory over Maccabi Haifa in the Final, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium to begin their State Cup journey against Hapoel Jerusalem.

Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made no less than nine changes from the side that started on Wednesday in Netanya with several players handed a chance to impress.

Simon Sluga replaced Roy Mishpati in goal as the Croatian 31-year-old custodian made his Maccabi debut. Stav Lemkin and Raz Shlomo lined up as the two central defenders in front of Sluga. Tyrese Asante returned to the right back role while Roy Revivo completed Maccabi’s defensive line at left-back. Issouf Sissokho was joined in the engine room by Ido Shahar allowing Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky a much-needed rest with Elad Madmon started ahead of the two to form Maccabi’s midfield trio. Osher Davida and Henry Addo supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation in support of Eran Zahavi who led the line and the team out with the captain’s armband.

On the bench alongside Roi Mishpati, Lazetic named, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Sagiv Jehezkel, Gabi Kanichowsy, Weslley Patati, Ofir Davidzada, Hisham Layous and Dor Peretz.

First Half

Maccabi began the match on the front foot with Eran Zahavi winning a free kick in the opening two minutes. The veteran captain stepped up and tried to hit the target but saw his effort blocked by Ayano Preda who was standing in the wall. Henry Addo down the left and Osher Davida on the opposite right flank looked lively as Maccabi threatened from the wings. A well drilled corner in the 8th minute saw Roy Revivo tee-up Davida on the edge of the area. But the winger’s powerful left foot drive which took a wicked deflection off a defender’s head was turned by Nadav Zamir over his crossbar. Tyrese Asante came close to break the deadlock from the resulting corner, but the Dutch defender guided his header wide of the post. In the 12th minute Asante released Davida down the right before he cut inside but saw his left foot curler narrowly miss the target.

Shortly before the half hour mark and Addo counterattack down the left saw the Ghanian slip the ball to Issouf Sissokho whose effort sailed over. right before he cut inside but saw his left foot curler narrowly miss the target. Maccabi continued to dominate as Davida’s cut back on 32 found Elad Madmon whose shot was blocked while a minute later Eran Zahavi had a shot deflected for a corner. Zahavi forced another save from Zamir on 42 as the veteran captain sent a low left foot drive which was equaled by the visiting keeper.

Second Half

With no changes at halftime Maccabi began the second half exactly where they left off – trying to breach Jerusalem’s defense. Revivo fired a powerful drive which Zamir failed to hold onto as he punched the ball away. A minute later the deadlock was finally broken as Madmon carved Jerusalem’s defense open to release Zahavi before the 37-year-old buried the ball in the bottom far corner. Maccabi doubled their lead almost from the restart as Davida broke down the right, released Ido Shahar whose square ball found Madmon at the far post to convert home from point blank range.

Right on the hour mark Maccabi came close to increase the lead even further at the end of a spectacular team effort. Madmon released Davida who slipped the ball for Shahar whose pinpoint cross was met by Addo’s header which was clawed out by Zamir. Lazetic made his first substitution in the 67th minute as Addo bowed out to a standing ovation and was replaced by Hisham Layous.

Maccabi got their world deserved third goal in the 70th minute as a counterattack reached Zahavi who turned provider as he slipped the ball to Davida. With only Zamir to beat and despite the tight angle Davida kept his calm and rolled the ball home to make it 3-0. Lazetic made two more changes as Davida and Revivo received their applauds from the 15,447 as they came off with Sagiv Jehezkel and Ofir Davidzada replacing them on 74.

Madmon and Raz Shlomo were also given their chance to be congratulated by the fans as they were replaced by Gabi Kanichowsky and Idan Nachmias in the 80th minute. Davidzada could have scored the fourth but saw his effort crash against the post in what was the final action of the game.

Maccabi will learn their next opponents as the draw for the round of 16 takes place on Sunday, December 29^th at the IFA Headquarters.  

Maccabi will begin their 88^th State Cup run as they host Hapoel Jerusalem at Bloomfield on Saturday.

Maccabi appeared in 37 State Cup Finals and lifted the Cup 24 times – ore than any other Israeli club.

Maccabi played their first ever State Cup tie on April 7^th 1928 beating Maccabi Petah Tikva 5-2 in the Round of 16.

Maccabi’s final Cup match was against Maccabi Peta Tikva losing 2-4 in extra time to suffer a Quarter Final exit (5 days short of 96 years before bot sides met for the first time in the competition).

Over the years Maccabi faced 85 different opponents. Maccabi Petah Tikva was the opposition that met Maccabi in the Cup more than any other club (25), with Hapoel Tel Aviv (20) and Maccabi Haifa (19) in second and third.

Benny Tabak leads Maccabi’s top scorers chart in the Cup with 31 goals to his name.

Miko Belo made the most appearances for Maccabi in the Cup, wearing the Yellow and Blue strip on 75 matches.

Jerry Beit Halevi led Maccabi to the most State Cup’s winning Israel’s primary cup competition 4 times (1954, 1955, 1964 and 1965).

Maccabi advanced past the first round of the cup 79 times (90.8% )and were knocked out 8 times holding the highest success rate in Israel.

Saturday’s State Cup tie against Hapoel Jerusalem will be the 6th encounter between the two clubs in the first round of entry. Jerusalem met Maccabi at this stage more than any other club. Maccabi advanced on four occasions (1942, 1964, 1966 and 1996) while Jerusalem knocked them out in 2012. 

Dor Peretz scored twice in the space of 15 minutes to help Maccabi pull a three goal comeback and win the Toto Cup beating Maccabi Haifa 3-1 in the final. Peretz, who took his tally to nine goals in all competitions this season helped Maccabi win the Toto Cup for the ninth time in the club’s history. Peretz, who captained Maccabi on the night and lifted the trophy together with Eran Zahavi said at the end of the match: “In matches like that against Maccabi Haifa, the team that is more aggressive, more dominant and plays with more intensity is the one that looks better on the pitch. Maccabi Haifa did that in the first half but things turned round in the second half. They dropped back a little bit while we began playing with more intensity, aggression, were the ones who win tackles and I think that this is what gave us the goals and the victory in the end.”

Peretz, who also scored a brace at the weekend as Maccabi pulled a similar comeback against Maccabi Petah Tikva on Saturday, spoke of the mental strength him and his teammates share: “In every moment of the game, I believe. I believe in myself, believe in my teammates that we can do it regardless of the score. Tonight we proved it as a team. This change wasn’t done by a single player. In the second half we showed up as a team in all our glory, with the ball and without the ball displaying intensity and aggressiveness. This is what we want to be recognized for and what we’d like to be identified by. On a personal note I’m super happy with our performance and with this victory. We should take the positive things from here and move on to our next task.”

Peretz, who waited for MD14 to score his debut league goals but his since scored five in the space of nine days and in his last three outings, added: “In my role today I should supply goals and assists as I am also judged on that. If I need to look back at the match in the previous round, there were plenty of matches I played but didn’t score the goals. I was satisfied with my performances but didn’t have the goals to show for it. This is what gave me the drive to continue pushing forward and reach those chances which would ultimately go in.”

On the fact Maccabi has been conceding too many goals, Peretz summed up: “We can’t afford to concede that many soft goals which means we didn’t make the lives of our opponents difficult enough. This is something which forces us to chase matches and make them more difficult especially against opponents like Maccabi Haifa. We must be tough in defense and do everything to prevent us from conceding because upfront we have plenty of amazing tools that can score goals.”

On the effect of such an emphatic victory over another title contender, Peretz concluded :”A match against Maccabi Haifa is a match which gives you plenty of energy for the future – whether you or lose. It can have a massive effect on the team. It was extremely important for us to win this match, even if this was the Toto Cup but in order to continue building our momentum. This victory gives us the privilege to carry this momentum to Saturday’s State Cup match against Hapoel Jerusalem on Saturday as we need to continue our good run of form”.