Five days before facing Hapoel Be’ersheva for the first leg of the Super Cup at Teddy stadium, Maccabi Tel Aviv continued their pre-season preparations with a 3-0 friendly victory over Bnei Yehuda at Bloomfield.
Twelve minutes from the start, Dor Peretz was released into the box by Eduardo Guerrero before the midfielder’s attempt to find Eylon Almog was squandered by the advancing Bnei Yehuda keeper.
Peretz blasted a powerful right-foot drive which narrowly missed the target on 22. Ten minutes later as Peretz was fouled on the edge of the area, Enric Saborit took the free kick but fired hus shot against the wall.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 33rd minute as Almog dribbled into the area before his shot hit the base of the post only to see Peretz react first and fire the rebound into the roof of the net.
After the restart, Eitan Tibi and Nick Blackman came in for Sheran Yeini and Itay Schechter in defense and upfront respectively. Within four minutes Blackman caught Bnei Yehuda’s defense napping to beat the offside trap and with only Omer Niron to beat doubled the score with ease.
Blackman forced two saves from Niron within 3 minutes as he first fired a shot from the edge of the area before being denied by the feet of Bnei Yehuda’s keeper from close range.
Right on the hour mark, Almog could have increased the lead even further after being teed-up by Blackman. But his shot went agonizingly wide as his last action before almost the entire team was replaced and nine players were given 30 minutes to impress.
In the 75th minute Ronen Hanzis combined well with Blackman to break into the area. But before the talented young winger managed to slot the ball home, he was dispossessed by a last gasp tackle.
Blackman grabbed his second and Maccabi’s third in the 84th minute as Hanzis carved Bnei Yehuda’s defense open, released Dor Turgeman whose square ball was blasted home by Blackman.
Daniel Peretz reacted well in goal to deny Bnei Yehuda’s attempts to get on the scoresheet as he first tipped a close range effort above the crossbar and then needed a double save to keep out a low drive.
Maccabi’s Performance Director, Patrick Van Leeuwen, who guided the team, said after the match: “Before the game we agreed that we are going to increase the pressure, this was our last friendly match before our first official match of the season. We tried to test the players, to push them, to play with the same starting line-up for 60 minutes and to introduce the rest of the guys. I liked what we showed, the combinations, the movement of players didn’t always work but they created some movement. I am satisfied with what the players showed”.
Nick Blackman who scored a second half brace, said at the end of the match: “It was a tough game and a good workout for the guys, obviously pre-season is about implementing the ideas from the coach and I think we are gradually doing that every day. It was hot as you can see from my face. All the boys put in a real shift but obviously it is pre-season and we are using these games and training sessions to get as fit as possible. So the heat makes it a little bit harder but obviously we are all going to benefit in the long run”.
On the close season, the Barbados international forward, added: “I think we had about 10 days off so we just had to use this time to rest and recharge as it was a long season last season, but it is finished now and we have new goals and new things to aim for this season so we are all working towards those”. Blackman who scored three goals last season, and bagged a couple tonight, added: “Yes it is good it is pre-season – I had a really difficult year last season. I am always thinking, believe in my abilities and know what I am capable of when given a run of games. You know it is pre-season so it is just about working hard and obviously goals just give you confidence and personally this is something I would like to take into the season”.
On not seeing his family: “It has been really difficult actually. Obviously I have been here for seven months, me and the rest of the foreign boys. They have their wives or their significant others with them, but for me I have been here alone. So yeah, it has been tough, but it has been a tough period and a lot of people lost their lives so I am grateful that I am in full health and my family are in full health and that is the most important thing when we are talking about this scenario”.
Ahead of Saturday’s Super Cup first leg against Hapoel Be’ersheva at Teddy stadium: “It is the beginning of the season, obviously not the regular league season but it is another piece of silverwear and a step towards it. We are talking about two games but if we can put in a good performance in the first game it will stand us in good stead for the second leg so that is what we are aiming to do”.
