November 19, 1994. Avram Grant’s Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted Hapoel Haifa at Bloomfield Stadium after a number of poor results including a loss to Beitar Jerusalem and a 3:3 draw with Ironi Rishon Le’Zion in Toto Cup action. After 60 minutes of play the score was still 0:0 and then this happened:
Category: News
Haifa defeats Maccabi “Shachar” 1:0
Prematch
Matchday 10 of the Youth Premier League featured Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv hosting Maccabi “Shmuel” Haifa at the Ramle Stadium. The young Yellow & Blue entered the match after drawing with Hapoel Beer Sheva last week and looked to cut the 7-point gap to the top of the table between the two sides.
First Half
Mohamed Awad had the first chance of the match for the visitors but his effort just went by the post. However, it wouldn’t take long for them to find the back of the goal which they did in the 15th minute via Guy Dahan to give the Greens a 1:0 lead. Dor Galili tried to level the score as he took a fantastic ball in the box but his opportunity was easily collected by the Haifa keeper.
The Yellow & Blue pressed for the equalizer near the end of the first half but Or Dasa’s header of a Galili cross missed the mark.
Second Half
Both clubs began the second half with the same Starting XI that began the contest, however, eight minutes in, Tzarfati made his first substitution introducing Eden Kartzev in favor of Shay Golan.
Kartzev would try his luck from 30 meters out but his long effort was saved by the Haifa keeper. In the 70th minute, Tomer Altman came out of the match injured and was replaced by Netanel Peretz while Amit Shapiro also entered the game for Or Dasa, but chances were few and far between.
Five minutes to time Guy Shetach and Mahmoud Awesat also were brought on but they couldn’t find the goal and Shapira was shown red for unsportsmanlike conduct as Maccabi dropped a 1:0 decision to the Greens.
“We have to improve and start collecting points”
The Maccabi Tel Aviv Captain, Gal Alberman came onto the Netanya Stadium pitch in the 82nd minute which marked his 50th appearance in European tournaments. Number 6 looked back at the campaign that was while looking ahead to league play and Hapoel Haifa on Sunday, 20:15 at Sammy Ofer Stadium:
Alberman: “We have to improve and start collecting points”
“We feel like it was a missed opportunity as we were very close to advancing to the Round of 32 but we didn’t do enough and that’s too bad. We wanted to really get to the next round and try to put some of the poor play that we’ve had recently in the league behind us. We’re disappointed but we’re also content that we won and I hope that we can bring the positives from this game with us into league action as we have to start collecting points.”
Taking the positives:
“There was a change in the atmosphere around the club and the team we played against took the game to a higher level. We have to take those good points from this contest to the Israeli league now and continue forward.”
Criticism:
“We haven’t paid attention to the critics and we knew that when we would have a down time they would come, which is legitimate. We know that we have to improve in the league and start to pick up points. We lost points recently and our level of play was not as good as we have to play more attractive football. We can’t look to far ahead and our goals right now have to be improving in league play and start getting those points.”
Facing Hapoel Haifa on Sunday:
“We have to come into this contest organized and ready to go. It will not be an easy game but we will have to be prepared and bring the energy that we did against Dundalk which we haven’t brought recently into league games. It will be a difficult match.”
50-Club: Gal Alberman’s 50th European Appearance
In the 82nd minute, Shota Arveladze inserted Gal Alberman, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Captain into the match against Dundalk which the Yellow & Blue won 2:1. Few know, but this was Alberman’s 50th European appearance across all Club competitions and now’s the time to honor our Captain and look back at some of his great moments.
Video: Alberman scores against HJD
Highlight: Maccabi defeats Hajduk 2:1
First appearance – Petach Tikva faces Larnaca
Alberman’s debut was against AEK Larnaca at the Ramat Gan Stadium in UEFA Cup action as his side entered the contest down 3:0 after the first leg in Cyprus. Number 6 was in Guy Luzon’s Starting XI that turned the tables and defeated Larnaca 4:0 to advance to the next round of the competition.
Champions League with Beitar
In 2006/07 Alberman added another two matches in the UEFA Cup and the following season participated in the qualification rounds of the Champions League, appearing twice against the Danish side FC Copenhagen.
Yellow & Blue Debut
Gal Alberman signed with Maccabi in August of 2010/11 and didn’t play in the qualification matches against Olympiacos and Paris St. Germain. The following season he wasn’t included in the squad that faced Khazar Lankaran FK in the second round and had to wait until the third round to face FK Željezničar to make his first appearance for the Yellow & Blue in Europe by playing in Sarajevo in the Club’s 2:0 victory thanks to a brace by Roberto Colautti. Alberman came on as a 69th minute substitute for Yoshiko Lugassi. 
First European goal with Maccabi
Playing against Hungarian side Gyori in the Champions League qualification rounds, Barak Itzhaki scored in the first half to give the Yellow & Blue a 1:0 lead. But as the match headed into second half injury time, Number 6 came in as a trailer and picked up a loose ball that he slammed into the goal to give Maccabi a 2:0 advantage. If you can’t remember it, that’s why we added the video highlights.
27 opponents
Alberman had the opportunity to visit many countries and play against a variety of clubs across Europe. In total he faced 27 teams and here’s the complete list: Dinamo București, Heerenveen, Larnaca, Copenhagen, Panathinaikos, Besiktas, Dynamo Kyiv, Gyori, Basel, Bordeaux, Frankfurt, APOEL Nicosia, Santa Coloma, Maribor, Hibernians, Plzen, Chelsea, Porto, Gorica, Kairat Almaty, Pandurii, Hajduk Split, Zenit St. Petersburg, Alkmaar and Dundalk.
Deciding Goal
It was just two months ago that Alberman sent a scorcher into the Kairat goal in the 86th minute that helped Maccabi advance to face Hajduk Split in the Europa League Playoff Round. There’s no question that this was one of the greatest goals of his career.
Highlights of victory over Kairat
Appearances in numbers
Champions League – 21
Maccabi Tel Aviv – 19
Beitar Jerusalem – 2
Europa League – 29
Maccabi Tel Aviv – 25
Beitar Jerusalem – 2
Maccabi Petach Tikva – 2
Dasa: “We’ve matured as individuals and as a team”
This Saturday, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv kicks off against Maccabi “Shmuel” Haifa in the Israeli Classico of the Youth Premier League. The Yellow & Blue drew 1:1 with Hapoel Beer Sheva last week at Wassermil Stadium and will look to get back onto the winning track and cut into the Haifa lead atop of the table. One of the important players on Guy Tzarfati’s squad is Or Dasa, the winger who is putting up some fantastic numbers this current campaign with five goals and five assists.
Dasa explained how he has improved and why: “This is my second season with the Under-19 team so I am gaining experience which is helping me improve. Guy Tzarfati has a lot of confidence in me and is giving me more liberty on the attack which is resulting in some good statistics. There’s no question that in the second year there is more pressure to perform and this is being seen on the pitch in match action. You are making plays quicker and you are thinking less about what others are going to say about you.”
On his topsy-turvy start and improvement:
“The club changed head coaches at the beginning of the season, replacing Ori Uzan with Guy Tzarfati and it took some time to get used to. Now we are starting to collect points and giving up fewer goals. We went backwards a bit at Beer Sheva but I believe that we will be back on track against Haifa. If we can defeat them, then we will narrow the gap against a number of teams and the league will be that much closer and more attractive.”
Maturing as a group:
“Last season the majority of the players were in their first campaign with the squad. Today we are more mature and we have a lot of National Team players. I believe that the experience that we have gained will be a tremendous help this season. We’ve matured as individuals and as a team this season.”
About his brother Eli Dasa who he was able to train with on they First Team:
“It was a bit strange but it was a lot of fun. It’s normal for me to see him play and want to reach his heights and then all of a sudden I am training right beside him. I played with him on the same team in a training session and he assisted on my goal. I hope that one day this will also be the case in real games. I want to make it to the places that he has made it to.”
Desire to see more Yellow & Blue fans in the stands:
“It’s not as much fun that fewer fans come to Ramle and I hope that against Haifa they will be there to support us and be the 12th player on the pitch.”
Micha: “We have to bring the same passion”
Dor Micha, the Yellow & Blue midfielder spoke about his side’s 2:1 victory over Irish outfit Dundalk on Matchday Six of the Europa League. Number 15 looked ahead to Sunday’s league encounter with Hapoel Haifa, the change in the team and getting back onto the winning track:
“The energy came back and that was a big difference from the last few matches. It was really a good change and I hope we can bring this to the league and continue onwards and upwards.”
The change in the team:
“We spoke amongst ourselves this past week and we all knew that the situation couldn’t continue the way we played over the past few weeks and we also have to acknowledge the fans who came and filled up the stadium supporting us the full 90 minutes. They really cheered us on and it was very important for all of us.”
Sunday’s match against Hapoel Haifa:
“It’s a very important match and we have to bring the same attitude and passion that we had tonight to league play and we have to begin winning matches and collecting points to get back onto the right track.”
About his play:
“To get out of the situation we are in we all have to take more upon ourselves and I also wanted to try even harder and help out the club.”
Arveladze: “So close but yet so far”
Shota Arveladze, the Yellow & Blue boss looked back at the 2:1 win and the European campaign that was as Maccabi was eliminated from Europa League play following Alkmaar’s 3:2 win over Zenit. The Georgian coach spoke about the atmosphere, the game that was and his disappointment in not advancing:
“It’s hard to be so close but yet so far. Of course we collected some very important points, we won and playing in this terrific atmosphere in the Netanya Stadium is important for the boys. But it wasn’t in our own hands and the result in Holland decided our fate.”
About the game that was:
“We had some great parts and it reminded me of some of the things that this team can do. It’s very difficult to play against Dundalk and they play organized football. We played 8 plus 6 games in our European campaign that started on June 30th and it was quite long, but we represented the club and the country well.”
Game that made the difference in the campaign:
“Losing the game against Zenit at home after being up 3:0 changed the way we played in Ireland and we had to play differently. After a collapse and disaster in the 77th minute that was it.”
The defense:
“I don’t think we gave them too many chances. The defenders all had a reasonable games as did everyone else. Sometimes we have some problems, so when you score you will have less issues. When you score, you concede less.”
Being the coach on Sunday:
“I am not the one who decides that.”
Changing the atmosphere:
“I think we all saw the cheering the stadium and excitement and they all felt good. We gave them the confidence and they knew that they could show what they can do.”
Looking ahead:
“We will give more competition to the players and that they should know that nothing is guaranteed. We have two tournaments to go with the State Cup and the Israeli League.”
About Vidar Kjartansson:
“He had a great game today and worked hard. He must score goals and he knows his job, we are waiting and we believe in him.”
Watch: Maccabi defeat Dundalk 2:1
The Yellow & Blue defeated Dundalk 2:1 on Matchday Six of the Europa League thanks to goals by Tal Ben Chaim on a penalty and Dor Micha, while an own goal by Eli Dasa gave Dundalk their lone marker of the evening. Maccabi’s European campaign ended though as Alkmaar won at home 3:2 over Zenit and claimed second place in Group D.
Prematch
Head Coach Shota Arveladze Starting XI included Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal with a defense of Eli Dasa, Tal Ben Haim, Eitan Tibi and Omri Ben Harush. Manning the midfield was Haris Medunjanin, Nosa Igiebor and 
Eyal Golasa with attacking trio of Dor Micha, Tal Ben Chaim and Vidar Kjartansson.
Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Gal Alberman, Yossi Benayoun, Egor Filipenka, Sagiv Yehezkel, Barak Itzhaki and Eden Ben Basat
First Half
Medunjanin looked to find a goal for Maccabi early on but his 25 meter effort was easily saved by Dundalk keeper Gary Rogers in the 6th minute while just one minute later Micha sent Ben Chaim an incredible pass in the box which the latter scored but was ruled to be offside.
Golasa was issued a yellow card in the 11th minute for a reckless tackle in the midfield on Daryl Horgan but the ensuing free kick missed the mark and was cleared by the Yellow & Blue defense. Micha then had a chance but his shot was saved by Rogers to keep the score at 0:0.
However, the match wouldn’t stay goalless for much longer as Rogers was issued a yellow card after pulling down Medunjanin in the box. Number 4 had received a fine pass from Ben Chaim when Rogers committed the foul good for a Maccabi penalty that was duly converted by the aforementioned Ben Chaim to give Maccabi a 1:0 lead in the 21st minute. But the advantage didn’t hold for long as Chris Shields crossed the ball from the right side of the box to Horgan and an oncoming Dasa who knocked the ball in for an own goal from in close to draw the Irish side even at 1:1 in the 26th minute.
But Maccabi didn’t hang their heads and looked to find a go-ahead marker which they did ten minutes later as Micha scored after taking a gorgeous Ben Chaim pass in the box for a 2:1 advantage.
Second Half
Maccabi came out of the box looking to increase their lead but Tibi’s 58th minute header off a Medunjanin corner missed the mark, while two minutes later Ben Chaim almost found Igiebor in the area but Rogers collected the ball to keep the score as is. Number 4 had a 64th minute long range chance but his shot went way over the goal while Ben Chaim came cutting into the box but his screamer was blocked by Rogers.
In the 69th minute Kjartansson found Ben Chaim with a terrific pass who then in turn handed it to Micha but Number 15 shot way wide with an open goal in front of him. A turnover by the Dundalk defenders created another chance for Maccabi as Micha crossed to an oncoming Igiebor but Number 40 couldn’t get to the ball in time as Rogers made the save in the 73rd minute.
Maccabi made their first substitution in the 82nd minute as Gal Alberman was introduced in favor of Eyal Golasa while news out of Holland was that Zenit had pulled back a goal to cut the Alkmaar lead to 3:2. Two minutes later the Yellow & Blue brought on Yossi Benayoun for Nosa Igiebor while in the 88th minute Eden Ben Basat came into the mix for Tal Ben Chaim as Maccabi picked up the 2:1 victory on Matchday Six of the Europa League. However, due to an Alkmaar win over Zenit by the score of 3:2 in Holland, the Yellow & Blue were eliminated from European completion.
Maccabi Tel Aviv will now look ahead to Ligat Ha’Al action with a clash against Hapoel Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium on Sunday evening at 20:15.
Trivia Time: Maccabi in European Play
Three Matches, Three Wins, Three Moments
There are plenty of unforgettable Maccabi Tel Aviv matches in Europe including some wins that helped Maccabi advance to the group stages of European competition. We decided to choose three of those, three of the greatest victories in Europe for the Yellow & Blue.
As we get ready for tonights’s contest at 20:00 against Dundalk on the decisive Matchday that will determine who will advance to the Europa League Round of 32, we chose some of the best of the best to look back at.
August 2004, Champions League Qualification match, PAOK – Maccabi Tel Aviv, First Leg
Maccabi Tel Aviv faced off against the Greek side in the Playoff Round of the Champions League qualification competition when Israel had two representatives in the tournament. The Yellow & Blue, under the tutelage of Nir Klinger came into the match as the underdog, however the result was a bit different. WATCH
August 2011, Playoff Round Europa League, Maccabi Tel Aviv – Panathinaikos, First Leg
Bloomfield was going crazy. The Yellow & Blue came into the contest with a ton of confidence and belief that they could do it. The top Greek side was considered the favorite, however, Eliran Atar and Moussa Konate didn’t think so.
November 2013, Matchday Four Europa League, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Eintract Frankfurt
TV and radio personality Harel Slutsky looked back at the big win in the 2013/14 campaign: “I have one amazing memory from the match that I wasn’t at. The game against Frankfurt took place as we were filming the show ‘HaYechida’. I was at an army camp in Nordia and I had a ticket to the match but I gave it to my brother. When we were filming they took away our mobile phones but I was able to find out the result from one of the guys from the production team and every time I there was a goal I jumped from one side to the other while thinking to myself, how could I be missing this game. The second half begins and the German outfit makes it 3:2 and I remember that as we were wrapping up the filming, I kept refreshing my phone and all of a sudden I got word that Zahavi scored a penalty. I jumped for joy and the thoughts about missing the match didn’t bother me until the next day.”
