Robbie Keane’s side recorded a 1-0 victory over Premiership outfit Bournemouth in the second and final practice match of pre-season in Marbella. Keane, who made his senior debut for Wolves one month after his 17th birthday, saw 17-year-old Sayid Abu Farhi score his first goal for Maccabi’s senior side.
Maccabi’s coach, Robbie Keane, sent out an almost entire changed side against Bournemouth from the team that played Orlando Pirates last week. Daniel Peretz started in goal with Ofir Davidzada the only player in the side to keep his place at left-back while Enric Saborit, Nir Bitton and Yvanne Macon completed the back four. Joris van Overeem and Dor Peretz were named by Keane in Maccabi’s midfield engine room with Dan Biton in a slightly more attacking role. Yonatan Cohen and Milson were the two wide players in Maccabi’s attack which was spearheaded by Eran Zahavi who led the team out wearing the captain’s armband.
Zahavi came close to draw first blood four minutes from the start as he was at the end of a Dan Biton square ball. But from close range, the veteran blasted his shot high over the crossbar. In the 8th minute, Bournemouth’s Hamed Traore charged through the middle all the way to the edge of the area before unleashing a powerful drive that rolled wide of Daniel Peretz’s goal.
Maccabi’s new signing Milson who looked lively down the left flank had a shot which sailed over Bournemouth’s goal. The Cherries’ Brazilian custodian who was the busiest amongst the two keepers, stretched himself to save a fierce Dan Biton left foot drive on 29. Joris van Overeem and Dor Peretz battled hard in midfield while Nir Bitton and Enric Saborit clearing most of Bournemouth’s attempts before they could threaten Peretz in Maccabi’s goal. Keane’s side continued to create chances as Zahavi snapped another shot in the 33rd minute which sailed high and wide.
On the brink of halftime, the combination of Biton and Zahavi saw the ball hit the back of the net as Biton’s managed to send Zahavi clear through with a perfect pass. Zahavi sent the ball beyond the reach of substitute keeper, Darren Randolph, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Keane also replaced goalkeepers for the second half as Roi Mishpati came on for Peretz at the restart, while his Bournemouth counterpart Andoni Iraola made a series of changes.
Eyal Golasa replaced van Overeem on 52 while five minutes later Biton teed-up Zahavi on the edge of the box but his shot went wide.
In the 63rd minute, Eylon Almog came on for Yonatan Cohen while six minutes later Keane replaced most of the team as planned. Sheran Yeini and Shahar Piven were the two central defenders in front of Mishpati with Guy Mizrahi on the right and Shahar Rosen on the left completing the back-four. Gabi Kanichowsky and Parfait Guiagon slotted into the midfield alongside Golasa while Almog and Sayid Abu Farhi assigned to both wings in support of Djordje Jovanovic.
In the 76th minute Jaydon Anthony forced Mishpati to make his first save as he stretched himself to push away a powerful right foot shot.
Almog and Guiagon kept tearing through the middle of Bournemouth’s midfield but none of them managed to trouble the Premiership side’s third keeper on the day Mark Travers.
In the 86th minute Almog managed to get the ball to Abu Farhi who tried a shot which took a wicked deflection off Adam Smith’s boot to loop over Travers for the only goal of the game.
Jovanovic had a good chance to double the score as he exchanged passes with Guiagon to break into the area. But the attempt of the Serbian striker to lift the ball over Travers was caught by Bournemouth’s keeper.
Maccabi: Daniel Peretz (Roi Moshpati 46), Yvann Macon (Guy Mizrahi 69), Enric Saborit (Sheran Yeini 69), Nir Bitton (Shahar Piven 69), Ofir Davidzada (Shahar Rosen 69), Joris van Overeem (Eyal Golasa 52), Dor Peretz (Gabi Kanichowsky 69), Dan Biton (Parfait Guiagon 69), Milson (Sayid Abu Farhi 69), Yonatan Cohen (Eylon Almog 63), Eran Zahavi (Djordje Jovanovic 69).
