Preview
Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Teddy stadium for the MD12 league match against Hapoel Jerusalem desperate to return to winning ways following the two winless matches against Hapoel Be’ersheva (0-2) and Sektzia Ness Ziona (1-1). With 23 points from 11 matches, Maccabi were aiming to cut the four point gap from leaders Maccabi Haifa. Their opponents on the night Hapoel Jerusalem experienced a good start to the season which saw them climb up the table to fourth, three points adrift of Maccabi.
After serving his one-match touchline ban against Ness Ziona, Vladimir Ivic returned to guide his team and made three changes from the side which was held to a 1-1 draw at the weekend.
Daniel Peretz who conceded his sixth goal so far this season, kept his place in goal with Nir Bitton, Derrick Luckassen and Enric Saborit lining-up as the three central defenders in front of him. Andre Geraldes replaced Maor Kandil as the right wing-back while Ofir Davidzada completed the defensive line on the opposite left-flank. Dan Glazer was named in the midfield anchor-man role with Avi Rikan making his first start in the league this season. Gabi Kanichowsky completed the midfield trio with Oscar Gloukh dropping to the bench. Eran Zahavi led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the veteran forward together with Djordje Jovanovic led the attack.
Daniel Tenenbaum, Oscar Gloukh, Joris van Overeem, Parfait Guiagon, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Yonatan Cohen, Maor Kandil and Dor Peretz were all named by Ivic on the substitutes bench waiting for their chance to make an impact.
First Half
Around 5000 Maccabi fans who made the trip up to Teddy stadium to support the team could have celebrated a goal less than 30 seconds after referee Erez Pepper got the game underway. Gabi Kanichowsky was released into the area and sent a square ball into the path of Eran Zahavi who was denied by Adebayo Adeleye. Jerusalem’s keeper got injured in the process and required treatment but when he recovered Adeleye reacted well to turn Zahavi’s powerful shot for a corner in the 3rd minute. Maccabi created their third goal-scoring chance in as many minutes as the resulting corner fell to Enric Saborit who hooked his close range effort high over the crossbar.
Adeleye kept Maccabi at bay as Zahavi and Djordje Jovanovic stripped a Jerusalem player of the ball in the 12th minute before the Serbian forward charged towards the area and had his shot saved. Jovanovic rose unmarked to meet the resulting Avi Rikan corner but agonisingly headed over.
Daniel Peretz got involved in the action as well with Maccabi’s custodian collecting Nadav Niddam’s snap shot on 21. Four minutes later Adeleye could only punch Rikan’s left foot pile-driver as Maccabi continued to look dangerous going forward. In the 28th minute Rikan chested down a Saborit chip into the path of Zahavi but the 35-year old forward snapped his attempt of a volley wide of the post.
A misunderstanding between Derrick Luckassen and Daniel Peretz in the 36th minute almost gifted Jerusalem a goal against the run of play. The Dutch central defender returned the ball back to his keeper who misjudged the back-pass only for the ball to luckily roll wide of the post.
Four minutes later however the deadlock was finally broken as Jovanovic sent a low left foot shot which was accurate enough to beat Adeleye from the edge of the area.
Second Half
Dan Glazer felt a strain forcing Vladimir Ivic to make his first change at the restart as Dor Peretz emerged for the second half. Ivic’s counterpart Ziv Ariye made a double change of his own as William Togui and Guy Badash replaced Tomer Altman and Cedric Don.
A minute after the hour mark Luckassen tried a shot from 25 meters out and in the process was fouled by Togui who was consequently booked. Zahavi curled the resulting free kick beyond the wall and the reach of Adeleye as the ball crept beyond the reach of Jerusalem’s keeper to double Maccabi’s lead on 63.
Ivic made his second change in the 66th minute as Rikan bowed out and was replaced by Eyal Golasa. Less than 90 seconds later Golasa got his name on the score sheet as Jovanovic released Kanichowsky near the corner flag before the diminutive midfielder sent a perfect square ball which Golasa slotted home to make it 3-0.
In the 77th minute Zahavi could have doubled his tally on the night after Dor Peretz put him through before he sent a toe poke which was cleared off the line by a combination of a Jerusalem defender and his post.
Zahavi and Ofir Davidzada were both given a standing ovation as they were replaced in the 84th minute by Yonatan Cohen and Parfait Guiagon. Ivic made his fifth and final change as Sheran Yeini came on for the closing stages as the veteran skipper replaced Kanichowsky on 89. Pappir’s final whistle confirmed Maccabi’s victory as the three points gained narrowed the gap from the leaders to 1 point which could grow even further as the Haifa derby between Maccabi and Hapoel is scheduled for Wednesday. On Saturday, Hapoel Haifa travel to Bloomfield (19:30) for Maccabi’s fin al match before the World Cup break.
