Preview
Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD33 ONE ZERO League match against Hapoel Jerusalem aiming to return to winning ways following the two draws against Ashdod and Maccabi Netanya.
Ziv Ariye’s surprise package are ranked fourth in the table, 19 points adrift of Maccabi and were also the last side to inflict Aitor Karanka a defeat on MD25 earlier last month.
The suspension of Dan Glazer who is serving a one-match touchline ban, and Djordje Jovanovic nursing an injury, forced Maccabi’s coach Aitor Karanka to make several changes from last week’s side which was held to a 0-0 draw at Netanya.
Ofir Davidzada returned from suspension to the left side of defence with Andre Geraldes returning to his original role at right-back. Enric Saborit and Derrick Luckassen both lined-up as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper, Daniel Peretz, to complete Maccabi’s back four.
Eyal Golasa stepped into the midfield engine room alongside Dor Peretz with Gabi Kanichowsky and Parfait Guiagon supplying the width on the right and left respectively. Upfront, Eran Zahavi led the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the injury to Jovanovic saw him partnered with 19-year-old Dor who is still seeking his debut league goal.
On the bench alongside goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Karanka named Dan Biton, Joris van Overeem, Sheran Yeini, Yonatan Cohen, Eylon Almog, Maor Kandil, Shahar Piven and Matan Hozez.
First Half
Less than two minutes after the start Maccabi found themselves trailing to an early goal following an Enric Saborit mistake which saw Cedric Don intercept a back pass towards Daniel Peretz and slot the ball past the advancing keeper.
Maccabi came close to level the score almost instantly as Turgeman released Andre Geraldes down the right flank before his cut-back found Parfait Guiagon in the middle of the area. The Ivorian’s initial shot was initially blocked by Omer Agbadish before his second attempt was saved by goalkeeper Adeleye Adebayo allowing his defence to clear.
The dual between Guiagon and Adeleye continued in the 10th minute as well, this time Jerusalem’s Nigerian keeper pushed out the Ivorian’s dangerous shot from outside the area.
Maccabi continued looking dangerous down the right as Geraldes kept on tearing down the left side of the visitors’ defence in the 13th minute with another square ball reaching Turgeman who failed to connect.
A Maccabi counter attack in the 17th minute saw Guiagon carve Jerusalem’s defence open to release Eran Zahavi but the veteran forward sent his shot wide.
Two minutes later, Maccabi’s pressure on Jerusalem’s defenders forced an error as an attempt of a clearance fell to Gabi Kanichowsky on the edge of the area. Kanichowsky slid the ball to Zahavi whose back-heal teed-up Turgeman only for the youngster to be denied by the crossbar.
Maccabi’s blitz on Jerusalem’s goal finally paid off in the 21st minute as Ondre Baco’s clearance was intercepted by Kanichowsky near the corner of the box before a square ball to Guiagon was then sent into the top corner with a clinical finish.
Maccabi continued to attack down the channels with Geraldes causing Jerusalem all sorts of problems down the right. The Portuguese right-back who had an attempt of a cross blocked by Jorsdan Botaka before his header from the touchline found Turgeman whose close range header was caught by Adebayo. Turgeman was at it again right on the half hour mark as his shot on the turn from the edge of the area narrowly missed the target.
On the stroke of halftime Maccabi were awarded a penalty after Saborit managed to redeem his earlier mistake as his header struck the hand of Baco inside the area. Zahavi stepped up and successfully fired the spot kick to complete the comeback with his 20th league goal of the season.
Second Half
Aitor Karanka made no changes to personnel after the break, while his counterpart Ziv Ariye made a double change at the restart, introducing two of Maccabi’s loannees – Nadav Niddam and Roy Revivo for Noaf Bazea and Ofek Biton.
Turgeman’s persistence and good work down the left flank on 53 released Ofir Davidzada for a close range shot which was pushed for a corner by Adebayo. Derrick Luckassen came close as he headed the resulting corner over the crossbar.
Karanka made his first change in the 58th minute with Eyal Golasa and Kanichowsky both bowing out and replaced by Joris van Overeem and Dan Biton. Guiagon came off to a standing ovation by the majority of the 11,743 fans as he was replaced by Matan Hozez in the 70th minute.
Van Overeem went into the referee’s book for a mistimed tackle on Don a minute later. While a misunderstanding between Dor Peretz and Geraldes in the 85th minute left Revivo inside the area with only Daniel Peretz to beat. But Revivo who has yet to score a goal at senior level, rushed his shot allowing the keeper to recover and deny the young left-back from scoring a late equaliser against his own club.
Karanka made another double change in the 89th minute as Saborit and Turgeman were replaced by Shahar Piven and Eylon Almog for the closing stages. Almog’s instant impact almost led to the third as his good work on the edge of the area saw Biton send a square ball but Hozez failed to reach the ball which rolled across the face of goal.
The full time whistle confirmed Maccabi’s victory over one Jerusalem side as the team now sets its sights on Wednesday’s State Cup Semi Final against Beitar Jerusalem.
