Preview
Maccabi arrived at the Yud Alef stadium for the MD36 final match of the ONE ZERO League season against Ashdod SC. One point adrift of second place Hapoel Be’ersheva, Maccabi are aware of the fact that a victory in Ashdod together with a Be’ersheva slip-up at home against Netanya will see the Yellow and Blue finish the season in the runners up spot.
Daniel Tenenbaum was handed a rare start in goal for his first league appearance this season allowing Daniel Peretz who protected Maccabi’s goal all season a rest.
Enric Saborit returned from injury to partner Derrick Luckassen at the heart of defence. Andre Geraldes starting his final appearance in a Maccabi shirt at right-back, with Ofir Davidzada completing the back-four on the left.
Dan Glazer also returned to the midfield anchor-man role with Dor Peretz as his midfield engine room partner wearing the captain’s armband.
Dan Biton and Gabi Kanichowsky were the two wide men in Maccabi’s four-man midfield with the task of supplying the ammunition for the front-men. The latest injury to Djordje Jovanovic saw the Serbian forward join Eran Zahavi on the injury list. As a result, Eylon Almog and Yonatan Cohen who both scored their debut goals of the season against Be’ersheva last week, kept their places aiming to replicate that against Ashdod.
On the bench, Aitor Karnaka, named Daniel Peretz, Rares Ilie, Joris van Overeem, Sheran Yeini, Avi Rikan, Eyal Golasa, Ilay Tomer, Bar Lin and Matan Hozez.
First Half
The opening stages of the match began without too much action as Maccabi couldn’t translate their dominance into a threat on Ashdod’s goal. In the 14th minute however, Dan Glzaer began an attack through the middle, found Gabi Kanichowsky who released Ofir Davidzada down the left. The 32-year-old left-back squared the ball into the danger zone and Eylon Almog reacted first to a poor attempt of a clearance and flicked the ball home to score his second goal in two matches.
Maccabi’s lead didn’t last long as Ashdod managed to level the score in the 24th minute. A Roei Levy counter attack down the right side of Maccabi’s defence saw him pick Jordan Saban on the edge ofMaccabi’s area before teeing-up Ya’acov Brihon. The Ashdod midfielder took one touch as he sent an accurate low drive which beat Daniel Tenenbaum at the far post.
Maccabi had the ball in the back of the net on 36 as Dan Biton sent Almog clear through and with only Sahar Hason to beat he unselfishly side footed to Gabi Kanichowsky. The diminutive midfielder blasted the ball into the open net but his celebrations were short-lived as Almog was caught offside in the build-up and the goal was scratched off.
Tenenbaum rescued Maccabi from conceding at the opposite end on 42 as the Brazilian born custodian denied Roei Levi with his feet.
Second Half
Aitor Karanka made two changes after the break as Joris van Overeem and Avi Rikan came on for both Dan Glazer and Yonatan Cohen at the restart. Rikan almost scored in one of his first touches as he received the ball from Kanichowsky on the edge of the area but snapped his half volley wide on 47.
In the 57th minute Brihon almost scored a second but his left foot curling shot was equalled by Tenenbaum who was at full stretch to push the ball out fir a corner. Two minutes later Tenenbaum needed two attempts to catch Levy’s powerful shot before Zakaria Mugeese could pounce on the rebound.
A minute after the hour mark, Tenebaum was at his best once again as Mugeese released Cohen before Maccabi’s keeper positioned himself well to deny the Ashdod forward. Karanka made a third substitution in the 64th minute as Rares Ilie came on for the tired Almog. Matan Hozez replaced Dan Biton and Sheran Yeini came on for Davidzada as Karanka completed his substitutions in the 70th minute.
Maccabi regained the lead in the 85th minute as Dor Peretz rose above Ashdod’s defence to head in Hozez’s corner and seal the 2-1 win.
