Preview
Three days after the dramatic victory over Nice in the first leg of the Conference League Play-Off and four days before the return leg at the Allianz Riviera stadium, Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium for the opening league match against Maccabi Bnei Reineh.
With the return leg in mind, Maccabi’s coach, Vladimir Ivic, made several changes from the team that played Nice as he allowed some of his players a much needed rest against Bnei Reineh.
Daniel Peretz and Enric Saborit were the only two to keep their places in an otherwise totally changed defence which saw Idan Nachmias and Shahar Piven line-up alongside the Spanish defender at the heart of defence. Ofir Davidzada who was introduced as a second half substitute against Nice and Maor Kandil who came on for the final few minutes on Thursday, were named by Ivic on the left and right respectively.
After serving his one-match touchline ban, Dan Glazer, who was limited to a spectator’s role against Nice, led the team out with the captain’s armband. Alongside Glazer at the heart of midfield, Ivic named Avi Rikan as the 33-year-old started his 8th season at Maccabi. 18-year-old Oscar Gloukh, was handed his first start this season at the top of the midfield trio and right behind the two strikers. Upfront, Ivic stuck with his Balkan duo Djordje Jovanovic and Stipe Perica in a bid to emulate the striking partnership which led to the winning goal against Nice.
Dor Peretz who returned to the club last week after a year in Italy, was included in the squad for the first time as the 27-year-old waited for his renewed debut on the bench. Alongside Perertz, Ivic named Eran Zahavi, Dan Biton, Gabi Kanichowsky, Brandley Kuwas, Parfait Guiagon, Sheran Yeini, Andre Geraldes and goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum as substitutes waiting for their chance.
Prior to kickoff however, Zahavi was withdrawn from the squad after not feeling well as he was replaced on the bench by Dor Turgeman.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot as it took Vladimir Ivic’s side four minutes to create the first chance. Enric Saborit sent a perfect through ball that carved Bnei Reineh’s defence open to release Djordje Jovanovic through on goal. But before the Serbian striker could have a shot on goal the visitors’ cleared for a corner. From the resulting corner Maccabi took the lead as the combination between Saborit and Jovanovic led to the opening goal. Oscar Gloukh whipped in the corner before Saborit flicked with his head at the near post allowing Jovanovic to head home from point blank range. Boosted by the early goal, Maccabi came close to double their lead as Bnei Reineh’s defence struggle to clear an Ofir Davidzada cross from the left which fell to Jovanovic and then Avi Rikan before Oscar Gloukh blasted a shot wide.
Maccabi continued to dominate and doubled their lead in the 16th minute at the end of a spectacular clinical move. Shahar Piven released Maor Kandil down the right flank before the right-back perfectly timed square ball allowed Stipe Perica who had an earlier effort ruled out for offside, blast his shot past Arik Yanko and into the roof of the net.
In the 29th minute Saborit cut through Reineh’s defence to release Jovanovic once again. The 23-year-old Serbian striker skipped past Yanko, but his attempt to leave Perica infront of an empty goal was blocked by a Bnei Reineh defender.
Jovanovic grabbed his second and Maccabi’s third in spectacular fashion on 37 as he timed his run to perfection and meet Piven’s ball over the Bnei Reineh’s defence before dinking it over Yanko.
The visitors’ had a rare chance on goal in the 40th minute as Sambinha’s close range header forced Daniel Peretz to save on his goal-line before Issac Nortey blasted the rebound over the crossbar.
On the stroke of halftime Jovanovic turned provider as he set up Maccabi’s fourth goal for Rikan with a delicate floated ball. Rikan, controlled the ball with one touch and with his second touch sent the looping shot over Yanko to make it 4-0.
Second Half
Ivic made one substitution after the interval as Jovanovic who scored a brace and set up another was replaced by Brandley Kuwas at the restart. Two minutes later, Gloukh broke into the Bnei Reineh penalty area but his shot which was blocked by a defender struck the side netting. The 17,740 fans at Bloomfield were on their feet in the 57th minute as Ivic made a double substitution introducing Parfait Guiagon for Dan Glazer who worked tirelessly in midfield. Rikan made way for Dor Peretz who made his renewed debut since returning to the club last week.
In the 62nd minute, Reineh were reduced to 10 men after Ashraf Rabah was sent off for a second bookable offence following a mistimed tackle on Kandil. Saborit and Kandil were both given a standing ovation as Ivic made his fourth and fifth substitutions on the night replacing the two defenders with Andre Geraldes and Dan Biton on 69.
After scoring four goals in the first half, Maccabi came close to increase their lead in the 75th minute as Kuwas floated a cross into the area. Gloukh and Perica ghosted through at the far post, before the tall Croat directed his header straight at the keeper. Four minutes later Yanko could do nothing to prevent Perica from scoring Maccabi’s fifth as Gloukh broke into the area cut the ball back for Perica who slotted home his second on the night.
Guiagon and Gloukh who tormented Reineh’s defenders with their flicks almost set up the sixth but Yanko saved the youngster’s snap shot on 85. Inside injury time Gloukh tried a shot which struck a defender before ballooning over the bar as the final action of an entertaining game. With a 5-0 victory in the opening league match, Maccabi now face a completely different challenge as they turn their attention to Thursday’s Conference League Play-Off.
