Maccabi Tel Aviv are now undefeated in league play through Matchday 29 of the Israel Premier League as they took home a 4:1 win over Maccabi Netanya. Maor Kandil scored first as the defender put away a fine team effort but Guy Melamed’s header drew the host’s even before the break. Omer Atzili entered the contest in the 69’ and immediately impacted the match by drawing a penalty and scoring the spot kick. Itay Shechter added Maccabi’s third goal thanks to an assist by Atzili and Shechter was pushed down in the area late in the game as Vladimir Ivic’s squad was awarded another penalty that Atzili slotted home. Nadav Nidam made his senior team debut during injury time when he replaced Avi Rikan as Maccabi wrapped up a 4:1 victory.
Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Ophir Davidzada, Eitan Tibi, Jair Amador, Maor Kandil, Dor Peretz, Dan Glezer, Avi Rikan, Eliran Atar, Yonatan Cohen and Aron Schoenfeld.
Available on the bench: Daniel Tenenbaum, Shahar Piven, Nadav Nidam, Eli Dasa, Enric Saborit, Omer Atzili, Itay Shechter.
First Half
Cohen had Maccabi’s first chance in the 5’ when he swung in a surprise corner kick, but the Netanya keeper Dani Amos was up to the task while Glezer picked up an early yellow card a minute later. Rikan’s 8’ long distance attempt missed the target and Atar’s 20’ blast from 25 meters also sailed over the goal.
Guy Melamed’s opportunity in the Maccabi box went over the bar in the 25’ and three minutes later the Yellow & Blue broke the ice. Rikan found Schoenfeld and handed the ball off to Cohen who in turn crossed it to Kandil. The wingback then slotted the ball home after a terrific team effort for the 1:0 lead.
Atar’s 30’ attempt was saved by Amos and 7 minutes later Peretz and Schoenfeld threatened the Netanya goal to no avail. However the host’s drew even in the 41’ when Nico Olsak’s corner kick found Melamed in the box as the forward headed the ball with authority into the Maccabi goal.
Second Half
Stav Finish’s 47’ attempt missed the Maccabi goal and in the 53’ Kandil almost scored his second of the contest but his shot went off of the bar and out. In the 60’ Schoenfeld crossed a magnificent ball into the box from the right side but Amos shut down point blank chances by Atar and Rikan to keep the score as is.
Rikan’s 62’ shot from the left side just missed the far corner and went out and two minutes later Rajkovic was up to the task to stop Melamed’s header. The same Melamed looked to have scored in the 65’ but the play was called offside. Omer Atzili came on for Atar in the 69’ and within four minutes drew a penalty when Ali Muhamed tripped him up in the box.
Atzili took the spot kick and sent it home for a 2:1 lead in the 74’. Cohen was replaced by Itay Shechter two minutes later as Ivic made his second substitute of the match. Rikan’s 83’ screamer just whistled by the post but two minutes later he teamed up with Atzili as Shechter found the back of the goal. The aforementioned Rikan lofted a ball into the box to Aztili off a give and go as #7 handed it to Shechter who easily tapped it home for a 3:1 advantage.
In the 90’ Shechter was knocked down in the box good for a penalty that Atzili once again put behind Amos for a 4:1 lead as the match headed into injury time. Nadav Nidam made his debut as Ivic’s third substitute when he replaced Rikan as the Yellow & Blue closed out a 4:1 win at the Netanya Stadium.
