Preview:
Maccabi returned to Batumi for the Conference League Playoff return leg against FC Lugano with a one goal deficit thanks to last week’s 2-1 defeat in Switzerland. Boosted by Sunday’s emphatic 5-2 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem in the league, Kenny Miller’s side know that they require a victory by a two goal margin in order to qualify. Maccabi’s Scottish Head Coach who was a top striker during his playing career, will seek to guide his side and secure a place in the Conference League phase draw which takes place in Monaco on Friday. But will have to manage without 20-year-old striker Saied Abu Farchi who travelled to the US ahead of a move to the MLS.
Ofek Melika who was sent off during Sunday’s match and was replaced in goal by Abu Farchi, kept his place in goal. Ali Camara and Raz Shlomo lined up as the two central defenders in front of Melika while Tyrese Asante on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Issouf Sissokho returned to the anchorman role with Ido Shahar who scored Maccabi’s goal in Switzerland joining the Malian midfielder in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz, will try and continue his goalscoring form as his hattrick against Hapoel Jerusalem took his tally to six goals in all competitions this season. On the wings, Miller named Helio Varela and Osher Davida while Slovenian striker Ester Sokler led the line.
On the bench alongside goalkeepers Roi Mishpati and Shalev Saadya, Miller named Dan Glazer, Elad Madmon, Noam Ben Harosh, Shahar Rosen, Itamar Noy, Hisham Layous, Itai Ben Hamo, Lotem Asras and Ilay Ben Simon
First half:
Around 700 Maccabi fans arrived at the Batumi arena and gave the players the vocal support right from the warm-up.
Eight minutes from the start Maccabi came close as Tyrese Asante made the overlap run to receive the ball from Osher Davida before floating a cross which was cleared by Lugano’s defense. The visitors looked dangerous ad almost took advantage as Ido Shahar was stripped of the ball seep inside Maccabi territory. But Issouf Sissokho kept his composure and gain control before clearing the danger. Maccabi’s first attempt on goal was in the 24th minute as Dor Peretz tried his luck with a dipping half volley from the edge of the area but Lugano’s keeper David von Ballmoos collected with ease. Three minutes later Helio Varela was released down the left before he was brought down Yanis Papadopoulos who was consequently booked. Shahar’s free kick was palmed away by von Ballmoos before appearing to strike the arm of a Lugano defender as French referee Jeremie Pignard awarded Maccabi a penalty. Maccabi’s hopes of a penalty which could have leveled the aggregate score were quashed by VAR that called Pignard to the screen and the spot kick was cancelled. Five minutes after the half hour mark Varela managed to intercept a header which was directed at von Ballmoos to find himself clear in the box, but the Cape Verde winger opted to try and pass to a teammate instead of shooting on target allowing Lugano’s defense to clear. A minute later Mattia Zanotti was also shown a yellow card for a foul on Roy Revivo who found himself in a great position to score on 42. But the left-back who was unmarked at the far post, couldn’t get enough power on his header as he met Davida’s cross. With no goals scored and the aggrehate score still set on 2-1 in favor of Lugano, the halftime whistle sent both teams into the dressing rooms to recover before the second period and fourth quarter of this tie.
Second half:
Neither side made a change ahead of the second half but it was the visitors who came closest to open the scoring six minutes after the restart. A Lugano corner reached Papadopoulos who directed his header on target but Ofek Melika reacted well to save. In the 57th minute Ester Sokler had his first attempt on target as he flicked Varela’s cross von Ballooms collected once again. A minute later Lugano were reduced to 10 men as Zanotti was shown a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Ali Camara.
Four minutes after the hour mark Varela charged down the left and was brought down near the touchline. Shahar floated the cross into the danger zone and found Peretz but the captain who rose high at the far post guided his header wide. In an attempt to try exploit the numerical advantage, Miller made a double substitution as Asante and Sokler bowed out and were repalced by Noam Ben Harosh and Elad Madmon on 65. Three minutes after his introduction Madmon broke into the box and was fouled by Lugano’s captain Renato Steffen. Maccabi’s captain, Peretz, stepped up, kept his calm and buried the penalty passed von Ballooms to put his side in front and level the tie at 2-2.
In the 76th minute Maccabi stretched Lugano’s defense and almost doubled their lead as Ben Harosh whipped a dangerous cross into the box. But Shahar who found himself at the end of that cross, guided his header wide. While Maccabi kept pressing Lugano back to their goal, the visitors managed to hit them on the break on 79. Dereck Moncada put pressure on Ben Harosh who tripped before the Honduran winger raced half the length of the pitch and blasted a shot that sailed into Melika’s top corner to level the score on the night and give Lugano a 3-2 aggregate lead. Miller reacted as he made another substitution introducing Hisham Layous for Shahar for the final nine minutes. Peretz had a shot which went wide on 83 while Revivo had a header saved by the keeper a minute later.
Moncada almost completed their comeback with Moncada racing clear through on 89 but his effort rolled wide. Inside injury time Raz Shlomo’s last gasp tackle kdenied Lugano a goal which would have ended the contest.
Davida had a shot saved by Lugano’s keeper as the full time whistle confirmed that Maccabi’s European campaign is over.
