Preview:
Maccabi arrived at the Ghelamco Arena for the Conference League MD2 match against local side KAA Gent leading the group following the 3-2 victory over Breidablik of Iceland. The Belgian side, who just like Maccabi are also unbeaten in their domestic league, were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine in the corresponding group match. Maccabi’s coach Robbie Keane, who just like Gent also enjoyed a good start to their league campaign, made a single change from the team that beat Hapoel Tel Aviv (5-0)and Hapoel Petah Tikva (2-0) in the past two matches. Derrick Luckassen stepped in to the starting line up as Nir Bitton’s defensive partner with Enric Saborit dropping to the bench. Yvann Macon on the right and Roy Revivo on the left completed Maccabi’s defensive line in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati.
Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role accompanied by Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky were Maccabi’s midfield trio. While on the wings Keane kept Dan Biton and Felicio Milson in support of Eran Zahavi who spearheaded the attack.
On the bench, Keane, named Daniel Tenenbaum, Orlando Mosquera, Avishay Cohen, Enric Saborit, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Ido Shahar and Oshe Davida.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the match on the back foot as the hosts put placed Robbie Keane’s defence under pressure right from the start. In the 7th minute however Maccabi came close to draw first blood as Gabi Kanichowsky received the ball from Joris van Overeem deep inside Gent’s half but his left foot shot deflected out for a corner.
Three minutes later, Omri Gandelman beat Derrick Luckassen to a challenge allowing Gent to break into the area before Tarik Tissoudali’s effort missed the target. Van Overeem was booked in the 13th minute for a foul on Julien De Sart and as Gent continued to dominate Matisse Samoise shot wide on 16. Gift Orban spotted Roi Mishpati off his line and attempted to lob the keeper from long distance in the 19th minute, but the Nigerian striker’s effort luckily cleared the crossbar.
In the 39th minute Gent took the lead as De Sart carved Maccabi’s defence open with a long ball that caught Nir Bitton and Derrick Luckassen off guard. Tissoudali raced clear through and with only Mishpati to beat fired the ball home to give Gent a 1-0 lead.
Abdulkadir Bitigen’s halftime whistle sent both teams to regroup in the dressing rooms and prepare for the second period.
Second Half
Robbie Keane and his Belgian counterpart Hein Vanzhaezebrouk made changes after the interval as Maccabi began the second half well. Milson charged down the left a minute after the restart and was fouled by Samoise deep inside Gent’s half. Kanichowsky whipped in a dangerous cross which was headed by Luckassen across the face of goal but goalkeeper Davy Roef rose high and collected. Omri Gandelman was booked on 51 for a foul on Eran Zahavi while Ismael Kandouss was also cautioned for fouling Milson two minutes later. Zahavi stepped to take the free kick and from the exact spot Kanichowsky crossed earlier he blasted a shot on target forcing Roef to punch the ball away. Maccabi continued their good spell as Macon released Dor Peretz through on 56 but Roef charged off his line and managed to save. Two minutes later Mishpati was at full stretch to keep out De Sart’z powerful drive from the edge of the area as Gent began to impose their authority once again.
Eight minutes after the hour mark both coaches made their first changes as Dor Turgeman was introduced for Biton at Maccabi while Andrew Hjulsager came on for Malick Fofana at Gent. Macon was booked within a minute for a foul on Hjulsager and as the free kick was cleared by Maccabi’s defence Turgeman charged for a counter attack which resulted with a corner. Zahavi rose high to meet Kanichowsky’s corner but sent gus header across the face of goal. Mishpati kept Maccabi in the game with a spectacular save in the 73rd minute as Maccabi’s custodian was at full stretch to claw out Orban’s powerful header. Two minutes later Keane replaced both his full backs as Avishay Cohen and Ofir Davidzada were introduced for Macon and Roy Revivo.
In the 87th minute Maccabi came close as Kanichowsky’s free kick was headed by Peretz towards goal but Roef caught the effort to deny the equaliser. Osher Davida replaced van Overeem for the closing stages, but Gent were awarded a penalty inside injury time which was successfully converted by Tissoudali to seal the 2-0 defeat.
Davida came close as his free kick deep inside injury time eluded Gent’s defence but narrowly missed the target as it was clearly not Maccabi’s night.
