Nachmias whose first half goal against RFS was his first in Europe this season and second in all competitions, said after the game of the dramatic victory: “We have plenty of matches lately that we make our lives difficult, but I am happy that today we knew how to win”. The 27-year-old defender who celebrated the goal with a flag that had the name of his close friend Shai Termin who was killed 11 months ago to the day, said: “I’d like to dedicate the goal in memory of my friend who was killed and today was his memorial service. I was sad not to be there but at the same time happy that from here I got the chance to raise his memory even further. I will always keep on doing it whenever I possibly can.”

On the dramatic late penalty save goalkeeper Roy Mishpati said: “I have plenty of things to say abut him, as whoever knows the relationship I have with him knows that he is like a brother to me and I am mighty proud of him. He did cause that penalty but he saved us big time.”

Mishpati took Nachmias’s place in front of the TV cameras and said: “The three points are not mine, it belongs to all my teammates who worked just as hard. I am delighted with the final result, but as one can see the life of a keeper are not simple. I made a terrible mistake in the last minute of injury time, I gave the fans a big fright and I am happy that I managed to make amends by saving the spot kick.”

Mishpati, who came out to punch the ball but collided with an RFS opponent in midair admitted he knew what was about to happen: “I knew there was going to be a penalty as I felt the players’ head. Things like that happen and I am just happy I managed to save the penalty.”

On Maccabi’s future prospects in the competition, Mishpati said: “We spoke about it in the dressing room ahead of the game as we were playing against a side that is very tactical, tough and aggressive. We came prepared, as they didn’t reach too many chances.”

On the fact Maccabi has been struggling lately, Mishpati said: “I am not sure where to point the finger at why it is difficult for us, but there are periods like that in football when results don’t go your way and the ball refuses to go in. We are working on this and give everything on the training field and in team meetings with the coaching staff. I just hope that from here we would emerge to a better spell.”

Ahead of Monday’s return to league action away to Hapoel Jerusalem, Mishpati concluded: “We will be happy with the victory today, return home tomorrow and begin our preparations for Monday’s match.”

Preview:
Maccabi returned to the Partizan stadium in Belgrade for the Europa League MD6 against Latvian side RFS Riga hoping to build on the victory over Besiktas in the previous round. After five matches Maccabi have 3 points and are looking for a result to keep their hopes of qualification alive.

Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic made several changes from the side that was
held to a 1-1 draw by Hapoel Haifa earlier this week. Roy Misphati kept his place in goal in goal with Raz Shlomo and Nemanja Stojic lining up as the two central defenders in front of him. Idan Nachmias returned to the side at right- back while Roy Revivo completed the defensive line at left-back making his first European start since recovering from a knee injury. Joris van Overeem returned to the anchorman role with Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz making up the midfield trio. Hisham Layous and Weslley Patati supplied the width on both wings while Dor Turgeman led the line and spearheaded the attack.

On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Simon Sluka, Avishay Cohen, Stav Lemkin, Tyrese Asante, Eran Zahavi, Sagiv Jehezkel, Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada, Issouf Sissokho and,Osher Davida

First Half

The cold weather conditions and temperature just above zero in Belgrade didn’t seem to phase bot sets of players or the fans who vocally supported their teams at the Partizan stadium.
The Latvians’ appeared to have adjusted better to the elements as Janis Ikaunieks charged forward for a counter attack six minutes from the start but was stopped by a Raz Shlomo perfectly timed tackle. Seven minutes later Lasha Odisharia was teed up on the edge of Maccabi’s penalty box, but his right foot effort sailed over Roy Misphapti’s crossbar. Three minutes later at the opposite end Maccabi took the lead as Idan Nachmias rose high above RFS’ defenders to meet Weslley Patati free kick and head the ball past Fabrice Ondoa.

In the 25th minute Maccabi came close to double their lead at the end of a slick move which saw Dor Turgeman slip the ball to Dor Peretz. With only Ondoa to beat, Peretz tried lifting the ball over the advancing keeper who saved but that wouldn’t have counted in any way as the Maccabi captain was caught offside.

With no change until the halftime whistle, both teams went off to the dressing to warm up and prepare for the second period.

Second Half

Maccabi began the second half on the front foot as Peretz won a free kick on 51 before Gabi Kanichowsky teed-up Turgeman who lost his footing before blasting his shot over the crossbar. A minute later though Kanichowsky lost possession as he charged for a counter attack and RFS hit on the break as Robert Savalnieks was sent clear by Stefan Panic before burying his shot into the bottom far corner to draw level. Raz Shlomo limped off in the 57th minute and was replaced by Stav Lemkin.

Six minutes after the hour mark, Patati tried his luck with a long range effort but the Brazilian’s shot sailed high over the crossbar.

Odisharia was booked for a foul on Patati in the 68th minute before the 21-year-old winger picked himself up to cross the free kick into the box. Just like Maccabi’s first goal, Patati’s free kick was met by a defender, this time Nemanja Stojic who flicked the ball into the far corner to restore the lead.

In the 77th minute Lazetic made a double substitution as Kanichowsky was replaced by Issouf Sissokho while Sagiv Jehezkel came on for Hisham Layous.

In the 88th minute Darko Lemajic had an effort on goal but Mishpati stretched himself to deny the RFS forward.
Shortly after the fourth official signaled seven minutes of added time, Lazetic made his two final changes with Osher Davida and Elad Madmon came on for Patati and Turgeman.

In the final minute of added time the ball was launched into the area before Mishpati came out and collided in midair with an opponent. The referee was called to the screen by the VAR before awarding RFS a penalty which Ikaunnieks stepped up to take. But Mishpati redeemed himself as he saved the spot kick to secure the victory.

Weslley Patati joined Maccabi in the summer from Brazilian side Santos as the 21-year-old who scored his debut European goal on MD5 against Besiktas, is looking forward to another fine display. “I am really hoping that we will we have a good game tomorrow” he said. “The last match we played in Europe had a good result and I hope we continue to play well and get another victory which could help us in the forthcoming matches.”

As Maccabi arrives in Belgrade on the back of a 1-1 draw in the league, Patati said: “The match tomorrow will be totally different. We will need to be focused, correct our mistakes we committed in the past few matches and do everything we are required to do in order to win.”

On his settling in at the club and in Tel Aviv, Patati, who left Brazil for the first time this summer, said: “I am getting used to a new place, new teammates and a new club. I am no different to anyone else as every player needs time to adapt and thank god that all the players here helped and welcomed me amazingly. I struggled with the language at first but I am taking English lessons and making progress so the communication with the players and everyone else is improving.”

With regards to life in Israel, Patati concluded: “At first it was tough as I was alone, but I have help from the staff and friends, my agent’s family are living here so overall I am more and more confident. In every day that goes by I am happier”.

Maccabi hosts Latvian champions RFS Riga at the Partizan stadium in Belgrade on MD6 aiming to build on the victory over Besiktas in the previous round.
The team held their final practice session at the Kiryat Shalom training complex before heading for Ben Gurion airport and flying to Serbia. Shortly after landing at Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla airport, the team will head for the stadium and hold the pre-match press conference.

Zarko Lazetic’s side are that following the victory over Besiktas, a good result against the Latvians could change their fate in the competition. But they face tough competition from the Latvian champions that recently managed to hold both Galatasary and Anderlecht to draws and are also fighting for a place in the competition.

The 27-year-old midfielder whose side were held to their third draw in 13 matches and are currently 2nd in the table with 27 points, said: “We weren’t at our best today but we led 1-0 until the 60th minute yet we must play much better football. We are Maccabi Tel Aviv and this was simply not good enough today.”

On the refereeing decision which saw Hapoel Haifa handed a controvercial penalty, Kanichowsky said: “This seems to be our life, as our livelihood is being harmed through points. Maybe that was a refereeing mistake but this is hurting us on a personal level and that is out of line. I am not going to complain about it because we need to be better as Maccabi Tel Aviv. We will need to improve and simply be better.”

On the difficult spell Maccabi are currently experiencing of 2 draws, 2 defeats and 2 victories from the final 6 league matches, Kanichowsky said: “These things happen to clubs all over the world, there is a lot of overload due to our fixture list, but it is fine, we are still there. We must deal with what we have and just play a lot better. You in the media like to blow things out of proportion and create a lot of noise, as far as we are concerned it is fine. We will have to improve as individuals and as a team, that is it”.

Osher Davida faced the TV cameras at the end of the Maccabi’s second league drawi succession and tried explaining what hasn’t been working: “Plenty of things. Especially on the defensive side. With a few passes, they (Hapoel Haifa) managed to reach our goal too easily and this shouldn’t happen to us. Normally it doesn’t happen but one has to learn from this ahead of the next game and do things better.”

Davida, admitted that Maccabi’s attacking play was also struggling as he added: “Upfront things didn’t work out either. Against Hadera we should have killed the game off earlier and today as well, which is something we would have to learn from. We will need to look at what we could do in future. We play every three days, we need to freshen things up both in defense and in attack.”

But despite dropping four points in three days, Davida remained confident as he said: “There are 20 and something matches still left to play, plenty of points to play for and I am sure we will win plenty of matches. We dropped points but what annoys me more is the fact that so many fans travelled here tonight to see us and we send them home disappointed. I hope we start a spell of victories soon as I really believe in my team”.