Preview
Four days after securing a place in the Toto Cup Final with a 5-1 victory away to Bnei Sakhnin, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the first leg of the Conference League Playoff match against NK Celje.
Knowing that a good result will prove important ahead of the return leg in Slovenia that will decide the tie, Maccabi’s coach Robbie Keane, started with some of the players he rested earlier in the week.
Daniel Peretz, kept his place in goal as the 23-year-old keeper made his 106th appearance for the club on the eve of his departure to Bayern Munich. Enric Saborit and Nir Bitton were named as the two central defenders in front of Peretz, with Yvann Macon at right-back and Roy Revivo at left-back completing the back four. Joris van Overeem returned to the heart of midfield occupying the anchorman role. Dor Peretz, who scored the opener against Sakhnin and Dan Biton who scored the fifth, completed Maccabi’s midfield trio. Yonatan Cohen, kept his place on the wing who scored a brace and Milson who looked sharp on the wing supplied the width with Eran Zahavi leading the line as well as the team out.
On the bench, Keane, named Roi Mishpati, Idan Nachmias, Dan Glazer, Dor Turgeman, Gabi Kanichowsky, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Derrick Luckassen, Ofir Davidzada, Eylon Almog, Shahar Piven and Ido Shahar.
First Half
The support of around 22,030 Maccabi fans at Bloomfield including club owner, Mitch Goldhar, give the hosts the needed umph whilst placed the visitors under pressure right from the off. Maccabi came close to open the score as early as the opening minute with Dor Peretz picking Dan Biton who slid it to Yonatan Cohen. The forward who scored from a similar position at AEK Larnaca in the previous round released a low drive that was collected at ease by Celje’s keeper Matjaz Rozmam.
Maccabi continued to press as Rozman was called into action in the seventh minute as Celje’s keeper first saved Roy Revivo header from Biton’s corner. Eran Zahavi pounced on the rebound and tried firing the ball in but Rozman pulled a reflex save to deny the veteran marksman. Maccabi continued to dominate as Milson tormented Celje’s right-back with his speed and trickery that saw him charge down the left wing. In the 16th minute Peretz had the ball in the back of the net but the goal was disallowed after the referee spotted a handball offence. Two minutes later Cohen was clearly impeded in the box but Lithuanian referee Manfredas Lukjancukas waved for play to continue. VAR’s introduction at this stage of the competition came to the rescue as Maccabi were awarded a penalty. Zahavi stepped up, sent the keeper the wrong way and blasted his spot kick in to open the scoring and put Maccabi in front on 22.
Celje were back on level terms a minute before the half hour mark as Mario Kvesic had an initial effort saved by Daniel Peretz before Gregor Badge fired the rebound with Peretz only managing to parry the ball into his own net.
Celje’s tall players kept on threatening from set pieces as a corner in the 40th minute caused Maccabi’s defense all sorts of problems before the ball was hooked off the line with Peretz already beaten.
On the stroke of halftime Dor Peretz was fouled on the edge of Celje’s area by Nino Kouter who was consequently booked. Zahavi tried curling the resulting free kick beyond the wall but couldn’t keep his shot down as the ball sailed high over the crossbar.
Second Half
With no changes at halftime to either side, both teams returned for the second half after the interval. A minutes after the restart, Biton created a chance on the edge of the box but sent his left foot shot high and wide. Milson repeated that within two minutes as he shook of two Celje defenders but saw his left foot curler narrowly miss the target.
In the 51st Maccabi were awarded for their efforts and restored the lead as Cohen sent Joris van Overeem into the Celje area before the Dutch-born midfielder cut the ball back for Zahavi. The 36-year-old stopped the ball with one touch and with only Rozman to beat fired in his second on the night to make it 2-1.
Klemen Nemanic and David Zec were both booked in the space of two minutes before Biton blasted the free kick straight at the Celje wall. A Dor Peretz counter attack a minute after the hour mark saw Zahavi test the keeper with a dipping right foot shot which forced Rozman to stretch himself and save.
In the 71st minute Zahavi completed his hattrick as he rose above Celje’s defenders to meet Biton’s corner and head it in off the underside of the crossbar for Maccabi’s third. Cohen could have made it four two minutes later but his left foot shot had more power than accuracy.
In the 79th minute Keane made a double substitution as Milson and Cohen came off and were replaced by Eyal Golasa and Dor Turgeman who was desperate to make an impact.
Within two minutes of his introduction, Turgeman came close as he dribbled past two defenders into the area before seeing his effort saved by Rozman’s feet. Gabi Kanichowsky came on Biton and Ofir Davidzada replaced Roy Revivo as Keane made two more changes in the 83rd minute.
Zahavi was given a standing ovation as he was replaced by Eylon Almog inside injury time. If that wasn’t enough to raise the roof, then Turgeman’s powerful half volley which found the bottom far corner and made it 4-1 certainly did. Seconds later Turgeman was fouled by Nemanic who was shown a second yellow card which will force him out of next week’s return leg in Slovenia.
