Maccabi Tel Aviv left it very late on Wednesday but nevertheless managed to notch a second consecutive 3-1 practice match win, this time over Ashdod SC, as they prepare for the restart of the Premier League playoff phase when play resumes at the end of the month.
Maccabi took the lead against hosts Ashdod in the 25th minute in a counter-attacking move when a Yonatan Cohen shot took a deflection off an Ashdod defender and the ball beat Roey Mishpati in the hosts’ goal.
Ashdod managed to level in the 33rd minute when early substitute Mor Edri struck from long range and left Daniel Tenenbaum no chance of stopping the rising ball.
Maccabi coach Vladimir Ivic substituted most of his players in the second half, while Ashdod coach Ran Ben Shimon changed only two players at the restart. Parity was maintained until the dying minutes, although Maccabi’s players had several chances to score throughout.
Nick Blackman converted a penalty in the 87th minute after Matan Hozez was fouled in the Ashdod area, and seconds from time, Enric Saborit sealed the result after Hozez sent in a cross from the right for the Spanish defender to tap in.
Maccabi’s first match in the playoff phase of the Premier League will be against Hapoel Haifa at home on May 30, kickoff at 20:00. With all 26 matches in the first two phases of the league completed, Maccabi lead the table with 64 points, six ahead of second-placed Maccabi Haifa, who appear to be their only realistic challengers for the title. Beitar Jerusalem are third in the standings on 49 points.
Ashdod are playing in the lower-section playoffs and will not face Maccabi again this season.
Starting lineups:
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Daniel Tenenbaum (Andreas Gianniotis, 46), Andre Geraldes (Maor Kandil, 46), Jair Amador (Shahar Piven, 65), Sheran Yeini (Itay Ben Hemo, 78), Ofir Davidzada (Enric Saborit, 46), Dan Glazer (Dor Peretz, 46), Avi Rikan (Eyal Golasa, 46), Dor Micha (Ruslan Barsky, 65), Yonatan Cohen (Eylon Almog, 65), Omer Atzili (Matan Hozez, 65), Itay Shechter (Nick Blackman, 46)
Ashdod SC: Roey Mishpati (Ron Shoshan, 70), Bentzi Moshel (Mor Edri, 31, Jimi Marin, 80), Gil Cohen, Dudi Tiram, Naor Aboudi (Montari Kamhani, 46), Hamudi Canaan (Nir Hasson, 58), Roey Gordana (Oz Bilu, 58), Shlomi Azulay, Samuel Albi (Yaakov Brihon, 70), Sagiv Yehezkel (Renaan, 34), Din David (Edgi Hyford, 46)
