Preview
Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to Bloomfield stadium for the early kick-off of the MD15 ONE ZERO League match against fifth place Hapoel Hadera which they beat 6-0 earlier this season. Vladimir Ivic’s side that are second in the table ahead of Hapoel Be’ersheva on goal difference, could move within a point from leaders Maccabi Haifa that only play on Monday.
Ivic made only a single change from the side which beat Maccabi Bnei Reineh 2-0 earlier this week as Parfait Guiagon replaced Yonatan Cohen as the left wing-back. The Serbian coach kept his defence intact as Shahar Piven, Derrick Luckassen and Enric Saborit were named as the three ce3ntral defenders in front of goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Maor Kandil at right wing-back and Guigaon on the opposite left flank supplied the width in Ivic’s formation aimed at supplying ammunition for the frontline. Dor Peretz and Avi Rikan were both assigned to the midfield engine room with Oscar Gloukh in a more attacking role at the top of the midfield trio. Eran Zahavi led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the veteran marksman teamed-up with Djordje Jovanovic upfront.
On the bench alongside Daniel Tenenebaum, Ivic named Dan Glazer, Gabi Kanichowsky, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Yonatan Cohen, Dor Turgeman, Nir Bitton and Matan Hozez.
First Half
It took Maccabi less than a minute to open the score as Enric Saborit who scored the late goal against Maccabi Bnei Reineh was on the scoresheet once again. Avi Rikan launched a free kick from near the halfway line towards Maor Kandil who headed across the area, allowing Saborit to send his looping header which floated past Robi Levkovich. Saborit had another shot on goal in the sixth minute, but the Spanish defender’s effort crept wide of the post.
Maccabi continued to look dangerous as Rikan sent another dangerous cross into the area on 16 but Djordje Jovanovic headed over the crossbar from close range.
Maccabi doubled their lead in the 21st minute with Kandil setting up another goal with a pinpoint cross from the right, this time for Jovanovic who didn’t miss this time and scored his 8th league goal of the season and 12th in all competitions.
Parfait Guiagon who looked lively right from the start at his new role as a left wing-back, stripped a Hadera defender of the ball in the 24th minute before sending Jovanovic through. The Serbian forward almost got an assist of his own as his cross into the area was volleyed by Eran Zahavi wide. Shahar Piven was booked by referee David Fuxman for a foul on Ido Levy in the 37th minute.
Hadera’s forward Stephen Alfred flashed two headers wide of Daniel Peretz’s goal as the visitors tried desperately to get back in the game. In the 42nd minute however Maccabi extended their lead as Oscar Gloukh tormented a Hadera defender before cutting the ball back for Zahavi, who fired home the third goal. Maccabi’s celebrations were dampened moments later as Piven received his marching orders for a second bookable offence leaving his teammates with 10 men until the end.
Second Half
With his team down to 10 men and an entire half still left to play for, Vladimir Ivic made a single change as Nir Bitton replaced Gloukh at the restart.
Kandil got booked early on in the second half prompting a substitution as Sheran Yeini was supposed to replace him. But as the veteran skipper was ready to come on, Oran Sitbon’s two-footed-tackle struck Rikan’s calf.
Fuxman showed Sitbon the yellow card but VAR intervened as the card was changed from yellow to red sending the Hadera substitute off four minutes after his introduction.
With the number of players evened out, Ivic made a double change on 65 as Rikan limped off and was replaced by Gabi Kanichowsky while Yeini came on for Kandil. Three minutes later Zahavi could have increased the lead even further but Hadera’s keeper Levkovich managed to save.
In the 70th minute Guiagon was rewarded for his efforts as the Ivorian dribbled past two defenders before unleashing a fierce drive from just inside the area which found the bottom far corner to make it 4-0.
Guiagon and Jovanovic received a their standing ovation and in the 78th minute as Ivic made another double change replacing the duo with Eyal Golasa and Dor Turgeman.
While the young striker tried to get his name on the scoresheet as well for his senior debut goal, Maccabi’s fifth goal was scored by the unlikeliest source and the league’s most experienced player. In the 90th minute, Zahavi floated a cross from one side of the box to the other before Yeini ghosted in at the far post to head in the fifth which sealed the victory at 5-0.
