Preview
Maccabi arrived at the Netanya stadium ahead of the MD6 WINNER League match against local side Maccabi aiming to bounce back from last week’s draw against Ironi Tiberias and the defeat to Midtjylland in Belgrade.
Zarko Lazetic whose side hasn’t won in their last three outings in all competitions will aim to guide his charges back to winning ways against the side currently ranked 13th in the table with 3 points from 5 matches.
Lazetic made several changes from the side that was beaten in Belgrade as he welcomed back from suspension Tyrese Asante and Gabi Kanichowsky. Asante joined Stav Lemkin, Raz Shlomo and Nemanja Stojic to his back-four that lined-up infront of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Kanichowsky joined Issouf Sissokho and Dor Peretz in Maccabi’s midfield trio with Osher Davida and Hisham Layous also keeping their place on the wings. Eran Zahavi returned to the starting line-up as the veteran striker led the team out with the captain’s armband seeking his first league goal of the season.
The ankle injury Ofek Melika suffered yesterday which is set to sideline him for several months saw Roei Amedi named on the bench. Avishay Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Joris van Overeem, Wesley Patati, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Idan Weinberg, and Nir Bitton were the other substitutes waiting for their chance to make an impact.
Prior to kickoff the players of both teams wore T-shirts marking a year since October 7th which read: Remembering everyone
First Half
Supported by 150 of the 1750 fans allowed in the stadium, Maccabi began the match on the front foot. In the opening minute Osher Davida was isolated down the right wing before cutting inside and firing a shot that narrowly cleared the crossbar. In the 5th minute Davida was sent into the box before his attempt of a cross saw a defender foul him in the process. While referee Gal Leibovic waved to play on, Netanya charged forward for a counter attack. Roi Mishpati saved the initial shot before Heriberto Tavares pounced on rebound and tapped the ball home. But Netanya’s celebrations were shortlived as VAR intervened calling Leibovic to the screen. After inspecting the incident Netanya’s goal was dissallowed and Maccabi were awarded a penalty. Eran Zahavi stepped up, sent Omer Nir’on the wrong way and buried the spot kick to put Maccabi infront with his first league goal of the campaign.
While Gabi Kanichowsky, Dor Peretz and Issouf Sissokho had their work cut for themselves in midfield, Dsvida kept tormenting Netanya down the wing. Shortly before the half hour mark Davida charged down tbe right before cutting the ball back for Peretz whose effort was blocked by a Netanya defender.
Second Half
Lazetic made two changes at the break as Idan Nachmias replaced Stav Lemkin at left-back while Henry Addo came on for Layous at the restart. Three minutes into the second half Netanya were back on level terms as Saher Taji broke through the middle, released Tavares whose cross deflected off Nachmias into his own net. Mishpati was at full stretch as he turned a dangerous right foot drive by Rotem Keller out for a corner on 54.
With his side under the cosh Lazetic made another double change as Joris van Overeem came on Sissokho while Elad Madmon replaced Zahavi in the 65th minute. Six minutes after his introduction Madmon turned his man in the box and created some space for himself to have a shot at goal which was blocked at the goalmouth. Van Overeem tried pushing in the rebound but the Dutch born midfielder was also denied what would have been his debut Maccabi goal. Lazetic made his fifth and final substitution as Wesley Patati replaced Davida on 79 for the closing stages.
Patati almost made an immediate impact as Madmon charged into the box and fed Peretz who slipped the ball to the Brazilian. Despite the ball landing on his strong left foot, Patati rolled the ball straight to the hands of Nir’on.
Netanya’s keeper was at his best with a fingertip save to push Madmon’s thunderbolt over the crossbar in the 88th minute. While Maccabi sent everyone forward Netanya threatened to catch the defense on the break. In the 89th minute however Addo was tripped inside the area by Karem Ja’aber with Leibovic pointed directly at the spot. Madmon picked the ball and with confidence of the veteran striker he replaced, planted the ball in the top corner to make it 2-1. Inside injury time Petetz had a volley miss the target by centimeters as Maccabi almost scored a third before Nemanja Stojic managed to clear Netanya’s desperate attempts to equalise.
