Category: News

Champions end season on a high

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Newly crowned Champions Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium for the final match of the 2023/24 campaign as they host Maccabi Bnei Reineh on MD36 of the ONE ZERO League.

Robbie Keane, who in his first season as Head Coach guided Maccabi to the 25th championship in the Club’s history was seeking to end the season on a high and in front of a full stadium record the 26th league victory of the season.

Keane, whose side suffered only 3 defeats all season and 7 draws, two of which against Bnei Reineh sent out his strongest side. Enric Saborit, who announced his departure after six seasons at Maccabi made his 249th appearance for Maccabi as the 32-year old Spanish defender started at the heart of defense. Saborit was partnered by Raz Shlomo, with Ido Shahar and Roy Revivo completing Maccabi’s back four in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Eden Karzev, Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky were named by Keane in the midfield engine room. Dan Biton and Felicio Milson supplied the width on both wings with Eran Zahavi leading the line upfront seeking to add to his tally as well as the top goal-scorer’s award.

On the bench Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishay Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Joris van Overeem, Yonas Malede, Matan Baltaxa and Osher Davida.

First Half

Similar to the midweek victory away to Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi began the first half at a slow pace. In the 14th minute Dan Biton broke into the box and sent a square ball which was blocked by the stretched arm of a Bnei Reineh defender. But Maccabi’s claims for a penalty were waived by referee Sapir Berman with VAR also chosing not to intervene.

Five minutes after the half hour mark Maccabi came close to open the score spectacularly as Roy Revivo flicked a header towards Eran Zahavi whose overhead kick was saved by Reineh’s keeper Omar Nahfaoui.

In the 39th minute the deadlock was finally broken as Felicio Milson carved Reineh’s defense open with a pinpoint pass to Gabi Kanichowsky who slid the ball passed the advancing keeper.

Dor Peretz could have doubled Maccabi’s lead within two minutes but his effort was blocked on the goalline by the stretched foot of Reineh’s keeper. VAR did intervene inside injury time as Mor Barami stamped on Milson inside the area and awarded Maccabi a penalty.

Zahavi stepped up blasted his spot kick and buried his shot in the bottom corner to send Maccabi with a 2-0 lead with his 20th league goal of the season.

Second Half

Keane made a single change after the break as Joris van Overeem came on for Eden Karzev at the restart. In the 53rd minute Raz Shlomo stripped a Reineh opponent and released a counter attack which left Dan Biton with only Nahfaoui to beat but Reineh’s keeper dived at his feet and denied Maccabi a third goal.

In the 61st minute Kanichowsky received a standing ovation from the 21,145 fans as the 26-year-old midfielder was replaced by Osher Davida.

Keane made a double substitution in the 72nd minute as Roy Revivo and Ido Shahar received their standing ovation with Matan Baltaxa and Dor Turgeman replacing the duo with Maccabi switching to a a formation of two forwards. All of Bloomfield was on its feet in the 79th minute as Enric Saborit bowed out for the final time as a Maccabi player with Idan Nachmias coming on to replace the Spaniard.

Milson toyed with Reineh’s defense in tbe 85th minute with Maccabi’s attack trying to assist Zahavi score, but the veteran marksman had his effort blocked. Reineh was reduced to 10 men after VAR intervened leading to the sending off of Tarel Bushnak on 87. The fourth official signalled 6 minutes of added time before Baltaxa rose above Reineh’s defense to head a Biton free kick over.

Deep inside injury time Zahavi came close as he attempted a back heel flick from a Turgeman cross but the ball sailed wide. The final whistle gave the signal to the celebrations as the team prepared for the renewed tradition of the lap of honour.

 

Thank you Sabo!

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The 32-year-old Spanish defender who joined Maccabi in the summer of 2018, scored 14 goals in 248 appearances in all competitions. Saborit, who made his Maccabi debut during the EUROPA League qualifier against Ferencvaros made a total of 50 appearances in European competitions.

He played a key role in Maccabi’s Europa League (20/21) and Conference League (21/22), helped the team reach the Round of 32 twice as well as a historic qualification to the Conference League Round of 16 in the 2023/24 campaign .

In six successful seasons at Maccabi, Saborit, won 9 trophies: 3 League Championships (18/19, 19/20 , 23/24), a State Cup (20/21), 3 Toto Cups (18/19, 20/21, 23/24) and 2 Super Cups (19/20, 20/21).

Melika signs five-year-deal

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Ofek Melika (187cm) signed until the end of the of the 2028/29 season as the keeper who won the youth championship with Maccabi Petah Tikva last season, joined Maccabi Tel Aviv FC.

After signing his contract, Melika, told the club’s official website: “To join Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel’s champion, is a dream of every kid who begins his footballing career in Israeli football. Becoming a third generation of goalkeepers at Maccabi and after my father and grandfather is an exciting stage for me. I can’t wait to meet my new dressing room teammates, learn, work hard so I could prove myself and at the same time help the team reach all its targets”.

Melika’s signing at Maccabi makes him the third generation of goalkeepers to wear the Yellow and Blue strip. Ofek’s father, Yaron, featured between 1991-1994 while his grandfather, Shmuel, protected Maccabi’s goal between 1972-1974. The most famous Melika family member to play for Maccabi is Ofek’s uncle, Meir, who as a striker scored 63 goals in 256 appearances between 1987-1996.

Melika, represented Israel’s young national teams 28 times at U17, U19 and U20 levels, featuring in the side that finished third in the U20 World Cup in Argentina.

 

 

 

A perfect game: van Overeem’s outstanding stats

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Maccabi drove out of the Sammy Ofer on Tuesday with three points in the pocket after beating Hapoel Haifa 3-0 on MD35. Joris van Overeem marshalled the midfield with a fine display on the way to an almost perfect performance.

Van Overeem who made his first since recovering from a knee injury, completed 90 accurate passes. The van Overeem show also included 7 long accurate passes, 32 in the final in the final third as well as creating two chances.

Watch van Overeem speak after the match:

Davida: “We did our job in the second half”

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Osher Davida made a second half substitute appearance at Sammy Ofer and in the space of seven minutes changed the course of the game with two assists that helped Maccabi to a 3-0 win over Hapoel Haifa.

Speaking after the game about the impact he made, Davida insisted on complimenting the 4700 traveling Maccabi fans when he said: ”I would first like to pay tribute to our fans who travelled here in numbers as around 5000 turned up and made the long journey late in midweek. I am delighted we are sending them back home happy to continue the celebrations.”

With one match left until the 2023/24 season end as Maccabi hosts Macabi Bnei Reineh at Bloomfield stadium on Saturday, Davida said: “I hope that on Saturday we will continue give our fans a reason to celebrate and end the season on a high. I am happy that in the second half we did our job and won the game.”

Davida who was introduced by Robbie Keane in the 60th minute when the score was still 0-0 but within three minutes delivered his first assist to Eran Zahavi then added another spectacular assist on 71 for Maccabi third goal, mentioned his link up with Dan Biton; “I love playing with Dan (Biton) alongside me in the middle as he is a player who loves playing forward. It gives us so many options and in my opinion he has the best killer pass in the league – so I am happy we did it.”

On the two assists he gave Eran Zahavi that helped the veteran marksman take his tally to 19 league goals and 37 in all competitions: “I am happy I helped him score and hope he continues t do so as I know how important it is for him.”

Davida, who joined Maccabi in the summer from Standard Liege and in his first season scored three goals, added six assists and won his first championship and Toto Cup, summed up: “I am really satisfied with the championship as it was a tough season. We are still in the middle of a war and I hope it will end in peace and the hostages will return. We had many ups and downs this season but we achieved a lot. Ultimately, it was important to win the championship back after three years and I am just over the moon.”