Maccabi Tel Aviv began the preseason with a 3:0 victory against Slovakian side DAC Dunajska Streda in Austria as brand new Head Coach Shota Arveladze had a chance to see his team up close and watch Barak Itzhaki, Orlando Sa and Eden Ben Basat all score for the Yellow & Blue.

For his first match in charge the Georgian started Daniel Lifshitz who just signed a new contract with the club in goal as a defensive quartet of Dan Glazer, Tal Ben Haim, Dor Peretz and Omri Ben Harush played in front of the Swedish born keeper. Shlomi Azulay, Eliel Peretz and acting captain Gal Alberman manned the midfield while Barak Itzhaki, Tal Ben Chaim and Orlando Sa provided the attack.

FIRST HALF

The contest opened up with Streda having the first opportunity in the second minute as Branislav Luptak’s chance from close range went over the Maccabi goal after the Slovakian midfielder pounced on an Erik Hacienda’s free kick rebound off of the Maccabi wall. Five minutes later winger Ben Chaim came steaming down the left side only to have the Streda defense send the ball to safety at the last second.

The 12th minute saw Maccabi’s Portuguese striker Sa head the ball towards the Slovakian goal but the keeper was able to knock it away to keep the match goalless. Streda’s Senegalese midfielder Pape Sarr had the match’s next chance, however, Glazer was able to make sure the ball didn’t find the back of Lifshitz’s goal.

But in the 19th minute it was the Yellow & Blue who found the opening marker of the match as Ben Chaim was brought down in the box by Peter Stepanovsky allowing Itzhaki the opportunity to convert the spot kick to give Maccabi a 1:0 lead.

Just one minute later, Sa doubled the Maccabi advantage after taking a fantastic deep ball by Itzhaki and scoring from in close. Azulay attempted to add to the lead in the 28th minute but his free kick from 24 meters out couldn’t find the goal while Sa’s 34th minute opportunity was saved by the Slovakian keeper as the Yellow & Blue went into the break with a 2:0 lead.

SECOND HALF

The second half opened with wholesale substitutions by Coach Arveladze as Yossi Benayoun made his Maccabi Tel Aviv debut and was joined by Carlos Garcia, Eitan Tibi, Dor Micha, Nosa Igiebor, Guy Aviv, Eden Ben Basat and Avi Rikan on the pitch for the final 45 minutes of the match. Keeper Daniel Lifshitz was subbed out in the 62nd minute in favor of Haviv Ohayon as Maccabi looked for a 3rd goal.

And that’s exactly what Ben Basat did nine minutes later 16 meters out from the left side of the pitch as the striker padded the advantage. Eliel Peretz had a quality chance in the 88th minute that went out for a corner as the match ended 3:0 in favor of the Yellow & Blue.