Category: News
Maccabi beat Reineh 2:1
Preview
Maccabi returned to league after a three-week-long international break as the team arrived at Green stadium in Nof Hagalil for the MD11 match against Maccabi Bnei Reineh.
On the back of last week’s Europa League 3-1 victory over Besiktas, and with Zarko Lazetic serving a one-match touchline ban following his dismissal against Bnei Sakhnin – Maccabi had some changes both on and off the pitch.
Roi Mishpati whose crucial penalty save against Besiktas helped Maccabi to the victory over the Turkish side, kept his place in goal. Raz Shlomo and Idan Nachmias lined up as the two central defenders in front of the Maccabi keeper. Ido Shahar on the right and Idan Nachmias on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz who both scored against Besiktas together with Joris van Overeem as the anchorman, remained as the influential midfield trio. Henry Addo returned to the starting line up on one wing and Osher Davida on the other supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation with Dor Turgeman leading the attack.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Simon Sluga, were Roy Revivo, Stav Lemkin, Tyrese Asante, Eran Zahavi, Sagiv Jehezkel, Wessley Patati, Elad Madmon and Issouf Sissokho.
Maccabi’s two assistant coaches, Drazen Bolic and Bojan Leontijevic, guided the side while Lazetic was watching from high up in the stand.
First Half
Backed by the support of around 3,000 traveling fans who arrived at Nof Hagalil, Maccabi began the match on the front foot. Dor Turgeman came close in the 10th minute as he rose above Reineh’s defense but guided his header wide. A minute later Osher Davida curled a left foot dipping shot from the corner of the area which beat the keeper but rattled the crossbar. In the 21st minute Maccabi almost scored in spectacular fashion and at the end of an outstanding team effort. Joris van Overeem chipped the ball to Turgeman who flicked it on to Dor Peretz. Maccabi’s captain on the night who found himself behind Reineh’s but with his back towards goal, tried an overhead kick but saw his effort bounce wide.
Right on the half hour mark and against the run of play Reieneh took the lead after Ezekiel Henty lifted the ball over Nemanja Stojic and rifled his shot past Roi Mishpati and into the bottom far corner. In the 42nd minute Muhamed Usman Edu was given the time and space to charge forward before Mishpati needed a double save to ensure Reineh don’t double their lead.
Second Half
With the team trailing by a goal at halftime, Maccabi made a triple substitution after the interval. Ido Shahar, Osher Davida and Henry Addo were all replaced by Sagiv Jehezkel, Wessley Patati and Elad Madmon at the restart.
Maccabi began the second half, determined to grab an equaliser right from the off. In the opening minute, Reineh’s keeper pushed a close range header over the crossbar, but the referee assistant raised his flag for offside. In the 51st minute, Patati’s dangerous cross picked Peretz’s run, but the captain was fouled as he attempted to head the ball. Referee David Fuxman was called by the VAR to the screen before awarding a penalty. Jehezkel stepped up, sent Omar Nahfaoui the wrong way, and buried the spot kick in the bottom corner to level the score on 52. Six minutes later Maccabi completed the comeback as Van Overeem fed Madmon who slipped the ball to Turgeman on the edge of Reineh’s box. The striker still had his work cut for himself as he skipped past a defender with a drop of a shoulder and then rounded the advancing keeper before sending the ball in to the net.
Maccabi made their fifth and final substitution as Issouf Sissokho replaced Gabi Kanichowsky for the final few minutes. Peretz was inches away from scoring Maccabi’s third with a close range header in injury time but Nahfaoui pushed the ball over his crossbar.
Maccabi and the importer of BYD vehicles to Israel sign sponsorship deal
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Shlomo Motors the importer of BYD cars to Israel signed a new sponsorship deal. As part of the agreement the company’s logo will appear on the sleeve of the club’s official kit.
This year BYD manufactured its’ 10 million new energy vehicle (NEVs). Shlomo Motors LTD represents BYD in Israel and has been importing and distributing the company’s electric passenger cars since 2022.
Shlomo Motors CEO, Jacki Aviv said: “A collaboration between two powerful and leading brands in their fields, is just natural. As an integral part of our desire to a far-reaching audience and similar to BYD Global who sponsored the recent UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, we launch this commercial endeavor with Israel’s football champions Maccabi Tel Aviv. We all hope that together we will reach new achievements and records.”
Maccabi’s CEO, Ben Mansford, added: “Maccabi Tel Aviv FC is delighted to welcome BYD as a new sponsor – Israel’s leading electric vehicles provider and a global leader in new energy vehicle sales. We are really looking forward to beginning our relationship with them. We welcome BYD to the Maccabi family.”
Ever since the brand was launched in Israel, BYD swiftly became the leading electric vehicle sold across Israel (according to official figures of the Ministry of Transport and Road safety of the past two years). More than 35,000 private vehicles delivered are 26.7% of the actual electric vehicles market segment in 2024.
Over that period the BYD brand became a success story by setting unprecedented achievements in record time: The brand accelerated its’ growth to become the fifth largest vehicle brand in Israel in 2023-2024 with the BYD Atto3 as the most sold car in Israel (amongst all cars) with close to 25,000 cars delivered.
State Cup: Maccabi face Hap Jerusalem in 8th round
Maccabi will begin its’ 2024/25 State Cup journey with a home tie against Hapoel Jerusalem following the 8th round draw which took place at the IFA headquarters on Monday.
State Cup 8th round draw:
Bnei Sakhnin vs Maccabi Modi’in (3rd)
SC Dimona (3rd) vs Hapoel Be’ersheva
Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Hapoel Jerusalem
Maccabi Bnei Reineh vs Hapoel Kfar Shalem (2nd)
Tzei’rei Um el Fahm (3rd) vs Hapoel Acco (2nd)
Hapoel Ra’anana (2nd) vs Beitar Nordiya Jerusalem (3rd)
Hapoel Haifa vs Hapoel Petah Tikva (2nd)
Hapoel Ramat Hasharon (2nd) vs Maccabi Hertzliya (2nd)
Hapoel Afula (2nd) vs Ashdod SC
Maccabi Haifa vs Ironi Ashkelon (5th)
Ironi Tiberias vs Hapoel Tel Aviv (2nd)
Maccabi Petah Tikva vs Hapoel Kiryat Shmona
Hapoel Be’it Shea’an (3rd) vs Hapoel Hadera
Umm el Fahm () vs Maccabi Netanya
SC Kiryat Yam (3rd) vs Beitar Jerusalem
Hapoel Ramat Gan (2nd) vs Bnei Yehuda (2nd)
Eran and Gabi’s one-two: 5 goals against Reineh. watch
Lazetic prepares for Bnei Reineh
Lemkin: “I will do everything the coach needs me to do”
Stav Lemkin joined Maccabi on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk as the 21-year-old defender who made his 7th appearance for the club during the 3-1 victory over Besiktas faced the media on Sunday night,
“As soon as I arrived here I was welcomed with open arms and I settled in really quickly” Lemkin who played in various positions across the back, said. “I am delighted to be here. I will do everything the coach asks me to do.”
On the competitions for places, he added: “This is a massive club and the competition here is not just for a place in the starting line-up but also for places on the bench. Sometimes you can start and sometimes find yourself out of the squad. But this is natural as there are some amazing players here.”
Lemkin who featured as a right back during the Europa league victory over Turkish side Besiktas on Thursday said: “The victory gave us all a very good feeling, the league victory over Sakhnin before the international break did the same thing as now we are looking forward to the league. We have several important fixtures ahead of us starting with Bnei Reineh and we would really like to come and win it.”
On his decision to join Maccabi despite facing strong competition for places from fellow defenders Nemanja Stojic, Raz Shlomo, Idan Nachmias and Tyrese Asante, Lemkin said: “I believe in my ability and never looked at home many players can play in my position. I was given the feeling that people here count on me and I am rated. I think I am capable of doing nice things here which is what I wanted – fighting for my place and challenging for trophies. This was part of my aim.”
Ahead of Monday opponent, Bnei Reineh, Lemkin added: “They are a tough team that made life difficult both for Maccabi Haifa (2-2) and Hapoel Be’ersheva (1-1). Their position in the table reflects on their ability but we will come prepared. The match against Besiktas is behind us as all we have in mind now is the league match against Reineh”.
Mishpati: “This was one of the most importent saves of my career”
oi Misphati helped Maccabi to their first victory in the Europa League this season as his second half penalty save denied Besiktas what would have been a second equalizer.
In the 71st minute of the match which was hosted by Besiktas in Debrecen, Hungary, the hosts were awarded a penalty after Stav Lemkin blocked a shot with his arm inside the area. Maccabi were leading 2-1 thanks ti goals from Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz as Immobile stepped up to take the spot kick. But, 32-year-old Maccabi keeper denied the Italian striker with a save before Wessley Patati sealed the win.
Speaking after the game Mishpati said: “I have several big saves but this is by far one of the most important ones in my career. We are playing in Europe this season against many big name players. Immobile is probably one of the biggest names I got to play against. I prepared for him, just like I prepare to face any player. He has a variety of shots as he strikes to every corner. But when the score was 2-1 and at a crucial moment of the game came that special moment as I gave everything to save it.”
“We played a game against a top side, which is part of football. Big clubs sometimes experience matches like that. There are players who are mature which is the exact approach we will require against Bnei Reineh on Monday. The league is our bread and butter an that game is clearly the most important”.
Kanichowsky: “It was a special victory”
Gabi Kanichowsky scored his third goal of the season to help Maccabi record their first victory in the Europa League beating Besiktas 3-1. Speaking at the end of the game, the 27-year-old midfielder said: “It is a sweet victory and one which brings a lot of joy. We started the Europa League campaign really but until now didn’t collect any points. So this victory is special.”
When asked what made the difference, Kanichowsky, didn’t hide said: “We conceded a
Kanichowsky who celebrated the goal he scored with what has become a traditional salute to the sky in memory of two of his friends who were killed in action last year, said: “We are in the middle of this period of time where we represent our country. We all know the meaning of this victory. I am delighted for our fans who encountered recently and in general across the country. At the end of the day these are three valuable points for the rest of the campaign.”
Ahead of the return to league action as Maccabi face high flying Maccabi Bnei Reineh, Kanichosky, added: “We knew in advance that this season will be long, hard and extremely challenging. I am a footballer and it’s every player’s dream to be in the situation we are in and play at this level and these competitions. To play every three days with hardly any practice sessions at all. So yes, it is a lot of fun.”
