Preview
Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium ahead of the Conference League Play-Off against OGC Nice knowing that only a good result in the first leg at home could leave them with a chance of reaching the Group stages. Backed by an almost packed to full capacity Bloomfield stadium including club owner Mitch Goldhar in attendance, Maccabi’s fans showed their presence.
Inspired by the support Aris Thessaloniki gave their team in Greece last week, Maccabi fans intended to have their support heard as well as seen. Coach Vladimir Ivic made two changes from the starting line-up that managed to advance past Aris, one of them forced as midfielder Dan Glazer sat out his one-match suspension.
Ivic’s defence remained unchanged for the second match in succession with Sheran Yeini, Nir Bitton, and Enric Saborit lining-up as the three central defenders right in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Andre Geraldes on the right and Matan Hozez on the left continued to supply the width in Ivic’s side. Joris van Overeem, Eyal Golasa and Gabi Kanichowsky were named as Maccabi’s midfield trio in the engine room aiming to battle with their French counterparts. Eran Zahavi, who scored a goal in each one of the two matches he came on as a substitute was handed his first start replacing Brandley Kuwas who dropped to the bench. Alongside Zahavi, Ivic named Djordje Jovanovic as the young Serbian striker would try and strike an attacking partnership with the veteran Israeli marksman.
On the bench and alongside goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Ivic named Idan Nachmias, Stipe Perica, Dan Biton, Brandley Kuwas, Parfait Guiagon, Avi Rikan, Ofir Davidzada, Maor Kandil, Shahar Piven, Dor Turgeman and Oscar Gloukh all waiting for a chance to make an impact.
First Half
Maccabi began the match with purpose and intention against a star-studded Nice side packed with top international players. From Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, defenders Dante and Jenclair Todibo to midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Kephren Thuram. Maccabi tried moving the ball against the French side that finished last season in fifth place, aiming for Eran Zahavi and Djordje Jovanovic.
But the longer the match continued Nice began showing their quality and stamping their authority on the game. Gabi Kanichowsky, Joris van Overeem and Eyal Golasa grafted in midfield with Matan Hozez and Andre Geraldes trying to close Nice’s wide men who kept charging forward through the channels. In the 20th minute, Daniel Peretz was drawn into action as he was forced to a fingertip save denying Thuram’s close range header following a Ramsey corner.
Less than a minute later, Peretz was beaten by a low powerful Andy Delorte drive which struck the base of the post only for Rares Ilie to rifle the rebound high into the stand. A minute short of the half hour mark Nice carved Maccabi’s defence open with a perfect pass before releasing Ramsey. With only Peretz to beat, the Welsh International tried picking his spot only to be denied by Maccabi’s keeper who turned the ball out for a corner.
In the 35th minute Jovanovic had the ball in the back of Shmeichel’s net but the goal was ruled out for offside. Within two minutes Maccabi had the fans on their feet as Sheran Yeini had an effort blocked inside the area, before a Golasa cross from the left which flashed wide of Shmeichel’s post after Joris van Overeem couldn’t connect.
With no goals before the break, Dutch referee Allard Lindhout sent both team to regroup during halftime.
Second Half
Ivic made his first change after the break as Ofir Davidzada replaced Matan Hozez at the restart. Davidzada tried attacking down the left a couple of occasions but he was let down by his final delivery. Nir Bitton who showed composure at the back spreading the ball around, had a rare shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the tall central defender couldn’t keep his shot down. Ramsey sent a header wide of the post on 56 as Nice continued to look dangerous.
Maccabi enjoyed some good moments as Nice coach Lucien Favre made a double substitution in the 65th minute, introducing Amine Gouri and Billal Brahimi for Ilie and Calvin Stegs. A Bitton foul on Gouiri on 67 allowed Delorte a direct free kick which he blasted on goal, but Peretz took the sting out of the shot and caught eventually. Ivic responded with a double change of his own as Van Overeem and Eran Zahavi bowed out and were replaced by Parfait Guiagon and Stipe Perica in the 68th minute.
Guiagon livened things up a little as he added a bit of oomph into the midfield with Jovanovic trying to curl a left foot shot on 72 but Shmeichel collected with ease. Two minutes later however Bloomfield erupted and the whole stadium was rocking as a Sheran Yeini long ball out of defence saw Jovanivic flick a header into the path of Perica who lifted it over Shmeichel to break the deadlock.
Boosted by the lead, Maccabi continued to push forward as Melvin Bard hooked a ball off his line to deny Maccabi a second on 75. Perica managed to peel off three defenders and break forward before the ball reached Jovanovic whose snap shot was directed straight at Shmeichel. The Serbian striker who ran out of steam came off to a standing ovation and was replaced by Brandley Kuwas for the final five minutes. Nice tried desperately to level the score but Maccabi defended bravely and protected Peretz’s goal.
Inside injury time Geraldes received his standing ovation as he was replaced by Maor Kandil for the final two minutes. Allard Lindhout’s full-time whistle saw then 27,000 fans celebrate the precious victory despite the fact that job is only half complete.
