Preview
Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD21 WINNER League encounter with Beitar Jerusalem after a busy week that included a match in Haifa which was abandoned and a Europa League defeat to Porto in Belgrade.
Maccabi began the match with 41 points from 19 matches due to last week’s abandoned match against Maccabi Haifa at Sammy Ofer. Beitar that inflicted Maccabi one of its’ two defeats of the campaign when both sides met at Teddy earlier this season, were two points adrift with 40.
Lazetic, named Simon Sluga in goal once again with Idan Nachmias and Nemanja Stojic as the two central defenders in front of the Croatian keeper. Tyrese Asante and Roy Revivo completed Maccabi’s back-four on the right and left, respectively. Joris van Overeem and Issouf Sissokho were assigned to the engine room with Dor Peretz at the top of the midfield trio. Osher Davida and Weslley Patati were the two wide players in Lazetic’s formation while Eran Zahavi led the line as Dor Turgeman served his one-match touchline ban.
On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Stav Lemkin, Raz Shlomo, Gabi Kanichowsky, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada, Hisham Layous and Ido Shahar.
First Half
A Bloomfield stadium packed with almost entirely Maccabi fans, welcomed both sets of players onto the pitch. Prior to kickoff Maccabi’s captain Eran Zahavi removed the shirt of Emily Damari who was released from captivity after 471 days in Gaza. The shirt will hang in Maccabi’s dressing room until Damari returns to Bloomfield while Emmily sent a video message thanking everyone for their support which was broadcast on the giant screens. “Thank you for your support and I hope your vocal support would reach from Bloomfield to Gaza” Damari said.
Maccabi began the match determined to stamp their authority right from the start and score an early goal. Six minutes from the start, Weslley Patati, stripped Ismaila Soro of the ball deep inside Beitar’s half. But his attempt of a right foot shot from the edge of the area was saved by goalkeeper Miguel Silva. Osher Davida tried a shot which was blocked before Omer Atzili flashed a shot across the face of goal at the opposite end. A well drilled corner in the 15th minute saw Patati, and Joris van Overeem combine well before Eran Zahavi received the ball on the penalty spot but blasted his shot agonizingly wide. Yarden Shuah forced a save from Simon Sluga and Patrick Twumasi tried to catch Maccabi’s keeper off his line with a long-range effort that landed on the roof of the net. Maccabi’s best chance came in the 25th minute as Issouf Sissokho dribbled before releasing Patati whose pinpoint cross was headed by Dor Peretz over the crossbar. Ori Dahan was booked by referee a referee Snir Levy for a mistimed tackle on Patati and Beitar were lucky not to concede free kick in a dangerous position for a Gil Cohen pack-pass which Silva picked.
A mistake in Maccabi’s defense allowed Twumasi to run through in the 37th minute but Sluga dived to his left and saved to keep Maccabi’s goal locked. Davida came close in the 40th minute as he rose unmarked at the far post to head a van Overeem cross which sailed high once again. Nemanja Stojic limped off with a calf muscle injury and replaced in the 41st minute by Stav Lemkin.
Second Half
With no changes to either side at the interval, both teams emerged for the second half as the score remained goalless. The visitors could have taken the lead in the 55th minute as Dor Micha carved Maccabi’s defense with a through ball to Yarin Levy who missed the target with only Sluga to beat. Seconds later Lazetic made his second substitution as Gabi Kanichowsky replaced Sissokho in midfield. A minute after the hour mark Roy Revivo burst forward and pulled the trigger but saw his effort sail high and wide.
Maccabi kept on the pressure on Beitar’s defense and came close to break the deadlock twice in the space of two minutes. A corner which fell into the path of Idan Nachmias whose half volley was caught by Silva. Seconds later Davida flashed a shot that rolled across the face of goal and wide. Despite Maccabi’s dominance Beitar took the lead against the run of play as Patati conceded a free kick which Shuah fired against the wall before Ismaila Soro drilled the rebound which found the bottom corner. Peretz could have leveled the score almost instantly as he was put through by a Zahavi flick but from a comfortable position shot wide. Peretz had another good chance in the 80th minute as Davida’s cross found the midfielder but Silva pulled a reflex save to block the close-range effort for a corner. From the testing corner Maccabi managed to equalize as Bloomfield erupted. Patati curled the corner which was flicked by Lemkin at the near post before Nachmias forced the ball in.
Lazetic added a fresh pair of legs as Elad Madmon replaced Zahavi for the closing stages. In the 90th minute as Maccabi tried to clinch a late winner and went up for a corner, Beitar charged for a counterattack with Adi Yona bursting forward. Lemkin’s attempt of a last gasp tackle saw him penalized for handling the ball in the box as Beitar were awarded a penalty. Shuah stepped up to take the spot kick, but Sluga came to Maccabi’s rescue and saved. Madmon could have sealed the win as Davida’s cross placed the young striker in the middle of the area, but his header was off target. The full-time whistle ensured the point will be shared as Maccabi will seek a victory elsewhere.
