Preview:
Maccabi arrived at the Yud Alef stadium for the MD4 WINNER League match against local side Ashdod SC aiming to maintain their 100% record. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made four changes from the side that beat Hapoel Jerusalem 2-1 at Bloomfield on Wednesday.
Nemanja Stojic made his first Maccabi start replacing Raz Shlomo at the heart of defense alongside Tyrese Asante. Roy Revivo who scored and added an assist against Jerusalem was named at left back with Idan Nachmias completing Maccabi’s defensive line in front of Roi Mishpati.
Issouf Sisskho in the anchorman role, sat behind Gabi Kanichwsky who led the team out with the captain’s armband and Ido Shahar who completed the midfield trio.
Osher Davida who scored the winner on Wednesday and Hisham Layous supplied the width on both wings to Maccabi’s formation with Dor Turgeman spearheading the attack.
On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Ofek Melika alongside Eran Zahavi, Joris van Overeem, Yoas Malede, Wesley Patati, Elad Madmon, Ofir Davidzada, Dor Peretz and Nor Bitton.
First Half
Maccabi were welcomed by a large number of travelling fans that dominated the stands producing an atmosphere that resembled a home match. It took Maccabi seven minutes to create the first chance on goal as Dor Turgeman flicked an Osher Davida free kick into the path of Nemanja Stojic’s whose close range header sailed over. Three minutes later Maccabi’s defense was almost caught by an Ashdod counter attack which resulted with Mohammed Kna’an drilling a shot wide. Gradually Maccabi began dominating as Turgeman was sent into the box but was blocked by a defender before he could pull the trigger. In the 23rd minute Roi Mishpati spread himself to block Roy Levy’s volley after the Ashdod winger managed to ghost into Maccabi’s area.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 27th minute as Maccabi’s pinged Ashdod inside their own area before Turgeman pounced on the loose ball before burying it in the bottom far corner. Three minutes later Ido Shahar came close to double the lead as he was sent clear through before Ariel Harush charged off his goalline to block. Shahar landed awkwardly on his knee in the process, limped off and was replaced by Dor Peretz. In the 36th minute Maccabi got their well deserved goal as Stojic met Davida’s cross to double the lead with a close range header.
Peretz could have made it three in the 40th minute as he was sent into the area but from a tight angle slid the ball to the wrong side of the post.
Second Half
Ashdod’s coach Eli Levy made a double substitution after the break as Shahar Hasson replaced Harush in goal while Ebenezer Mamatah came on for Stav Nachmani upfront. Four minutes after the restart a pyrotechnics from the visiting section caused a delay of a few minute until the smoke cleared the pitch and visibility restored.
In the 70th minute, Lazetic reacted with a double substitution of his own as Joris van Overeem and Wesley Patati replaced Gabi Kanichoesky and Davida. Five minutes later Turgemam slipped the ball to Hisham Layous who found himself with only Hason to beat but Ashdod’s keeper managed to block and deny Maccabi from scoring a third.
Lazetic made another double change as Elad Madmon and Eran Zahavi replaced Layous and Turgeman in the 80th minute adding two fresh forwards for the closing stages. Peretz snapped a shot which flashed across the face of goal after Patati managed to find an opening in Ashdod’s defence on 83.
In the 90th minute Patati tried catching Hason off guard with a free kick from a tight angle, but Ashdod’s keeper managed to punch the ball out. In the 90th minute Patati tried catching Hason off guard with a free kick from a tight angle, but Ashdod’s keeper managed to punch the ball out.
The full time whistle confirmed Maccabi’s 100% record remains in tact with attention now turned for the Europa League as the team will travel to Portugal ahead of Thursday’s match against Sporting Braga.
