Preview:
Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the first Tel Aviv derby of the season, aiming to bounce back from the 1-1 draw against Bnei Reineh on MD3 and return to winning ways. Robbie Keane’s side have 7 points and are unbeaten in the league, but the more impressive record stretches for more than 9 years of not losing this fixture to the bitter city rivals. For their part, Hapoel, are also unbeaten in the league winning once, drawing twice to remain two points adrift with five. Keane, made two changes from Thursday’s side that beat Breidablik 3-2 in the Conference League as Nir Bitton and Gabi Kanichowsky returned to the starting line-up at the expense of Derrick Luckassen and Osher Davida.
Bitton partnered Enric Saborit as the second central defender in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati with Yvann Macon and Roy Revino completing Maccabi’s back-four on the right and left, respectively.
Joris van Overeem was partnered by Dor Peretz in the engine room, while Dan Biton started at the top of the midfield trio. Kanichowsky was handed a wider role and Felicio Milson occupied the other flank while Eran Zahavi led the line and the team out wearing the captain’s armband.
On the bench, Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishay Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Eyal Golasa, Derrick Luckassen, Ofir Davidzada and Osher Davida all waiting for a chance to make an impact.
First Half
The match began with a 30-minute delay following the police request and due to crowd congestion outside Bloomfield stadium. When the match did eventually kickoff, Hapoel put Maccabi under pressure right from the off as the Yellow and Blue struggled to develop their regular game.
Maccabi did manage to break through in the 11th minute as Dan Biton shrugged off a defender and charged into the box from the left. Biton’s attempt to find a teammate with a cut-back wasn’t successful as Hapoel’s defense managed to clear the danger. This was a sign of what seemed like a pattern as two minutes later and from almost the exact same spot, Gabi Kanichowsky was given the time and space to float a cross into the path of Eran Zahavi. The veteran marksman who was lurking at the far post, headed the ball towards goal but saw his effort clawed out for a corner by Hapoel’s keeper Emilijus Zubas.
Maccabi came close in the 20th minute as Yvann Macon fed Dor Peretz who sent the ball across the face of goal, but Alon Azugi clear the ball for a corner before Milson could tap it home. The resulting corner however saw Maccabi take the lead. Kanichowsky’s corner fell to Roy Revivo who turned his defender and squared the ball to Peretz for an easy tap in.
Hapoel’s Or Blorian was booked by referee Gal Leibovic for stopping a Milson counter attack with a rugby tackle in the center circle.
Three minutes after the half hour mark Maccabi doubled their lead as Milson skipped past Azugi who was left on the ground before charging down the left. The 23-year-old Angolan winger cut the ball for Peretz whose shot was saved by Zubas behind the goal-line with Zahavi ensuring the goal counts by tucking home the rebound.
Zahavi must have been disappointed to discover the goal was given to Peretz, but within five minutes the 36-year-old forward celebrated an assist as Maccabi increased the lead. Milson found Zahavi through the middle before he slid the ball to Dan Biton. The midfielder run clear through, kept his calm and flicked the ball in off the post to score Maccabi’s third.
Second Half
Robbie Keane and his Hapoel counterpart, Michael Valkanis, made one change at the restart as Avishay Cohen replaced Macon at right-back while Ran Binyamin came on for Mavis Chibotafor the hosts.
Three minutes later Maccabi increased their lead even further at the end of a spectacular team effort that resulted with a Milson assist to Zahavi who tapped in the fourth from point blank range.
Maccabi continued to run riot as Zahavi snapped a shot over, Biton headed a Revivo cross straight at the keeper before Kanichowsky blasted a shot wide. Keane made another change on the hour mark as Joris Van Overeem and Milson both came off to a standing ovation allowing Eyal Golasa and Dor Turgeman to enjoy the action.
Zahavi received his standing ovation from Maccabi’s 2300 vocal fans as he was replaced by Osher Davida for the final 19 minutes. Hapoel fans greeted both players with a loud chorus of boos due to their time spent on the other side of town. Keane made his fifth and final substitution in the 75th minute as Idan Nachmias came on for Nir Bitton.
Turgeman had an effort saved by Zubas who also managed to deny Davida’s rebound, but just before injury time was added – Maccabi scored the fifth. Turgeman was sent clear through by Biton and with only Zubas to beat swept the ball into the bottom corner to seal the 5-0 victory.
Maccabi will continue their busy schedule at Bloomfield as they host Hapoel Petah Tikva on Saturday for the 17:45 early kickoff.
