Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Turner stadium for the MD10 ONE Zero League match against Hapoel Be’ersheva as Vladimir Ivic’s side were ranked second in the table with 22 points. Hosts Hapoel Be’ersheva were five points adrift at fourth place as Elyaniv Barda’s in-form side were unbeaten in their last six league matches.
Ivic made no changes from the side that beat Maccabi Netanya last week as Nir Bitton, Derrick Luckassen and Enric Saborit lined-up as the three central defenders in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Maor Kandil as the right wing-back and Ofir Davidzada on the opposite left flank completed Maccabi’s defensive line. Dan Galzer and Gabi Kanichowsky were assigned to the midfield engine room allowing Oscar Gloukh a more attacking role in front of the midfield duo. Djordje Jovanovic led the line upfront alongside Eran Zahavi who led the team out wearing the captain’s armband.
Yonatan Cohen made his first appearance in Maccabi’s squad as the forward who returned to the club after one season in Italy was named by Ivic amongst the substitutes. On the bench, alongside Cohen, Ivic named goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Joris van Overeem, Parfait Guiagon, Sheran Yeini, Avi Rikan, Eyal Golasa, Andre Geraldes and Dor Peretz.
First Half
The match began at frantic pace with Be’ersheva threatening to draw first blood as they had a dangerous free kick in the third minute cleared by Maccabi’s defence.
Be’ersheva’s defence was almost caught by surprise as a deadly counter attack at the opposite end saw Eran Zahavi charge from the halfway line. But the veteran striker lost possession on the edge of the area allowing Be’ersheva’s defence to recover. While the hosts pressed high up the pitch, Maccabi continued to look dangerous with quick transitions as a Gabi Kanichowsky cross from the right was flicked by Djordje Jovanovic goal bound in the 11th minute before Omri Glazer made his first save. Dan Glazer was the first player to be booked by referee Eytan Shmuelevic two minutes later for a foul on Be’ersheva’s Shapi Suleymanov who wasted the free kick.
Daniel Peretz was at full stretch in the 16th minute as Maccabi’s keeper turned Eden Shamir’s dangerous low drive for a corner. Maccabi kept exposing Be’ersheva’s defence as a Kanichowsky long ball released Jovanovic who shrugged off Sagiv Yehezkel before returning to Kanichowsky whose cross was cleared. In the 27th minute however Be’ersheva took the lead after Suleymanov tore through Maccabi’s defence, had his initial effort cleared from the goalmouth by Enric Saborit. But as the ball fell back to Suleymanov he found Adrian Paun who slotted the ball home to give the hosts the lead. Saborit was booked on 33 for a foul on Shamir while three minutes later Be’ersheva almost doubled their lead from a set piece which Miguel Vitor headed into the path of Astrit Selmani who failed to connect.
Nir Bitton tried his luck with a long range effor but his attempt on 39 sailed high over the crossbar. Roei Gordana saw yellow for a foul on Zahavi in the 41st minute but three minutes later Maccabi were reduced to 10 men as Glazer was shown the second yellow card for a foul on Shai Ellas.
Second Half
Ivic made a triple change at halftime as Dor Peretz, Joris van Overeem and Parfait Guiagon replaced Davidzada, Zahavi and Gloukh at the restart.
A minute before the hour mark Hatuel doubled Be’ersheva’s lead as he pounced on a Yehezkel knock down and from point blank range fired the ball into the roof of the net.
Claims for a foul on Bitton inside the penalty area were waved by VAR which overruled Shmuelevic’s initial decision. Ivic also lost his calm and was also shown the red card by Shmuelevic in the 75th minute.
Dor Peretz broke into the area and sent a powerful right foot shot on 86 but Glazer dived and caught the ball to cancel Maccabi’s chances of getting back in the game. Dor Peretz broke into the area and sent a powerful right foot shot on 86 but Glazer dived and caught the ball to cancel Maccabi’s chances of getting back in the game. Eyal Golasa came in for Kanichowsky as Maccabi’s fifth substitution but nothing could change the fate of the game as Maccabi will seek the points elsewhere.
