Maccabi arrived at Hamoshava stadium for the MD11 ONE ZERO LEAGUE match against local side Maccabi Petah Tikva with Robbie Keane’s side leading the table with 25 points from nine matches. Sunday’s 1-0 win over Hapoel Be’ersheva at Turner was Maccabi’s 6th successive league victory, 8th league victory this season, and eighth successive win in all competitions. Keane’s high flying charges are fully aware of the fact that a victory over Petah Tikva that are currently 8th in the table with 12 points from 10 matches, would restore their lead at the top to seven points.
Keane made three changes from the side that won at Turner as Idan Nachmias lined up alongside Derrick Luckassen at the heart of defense. Roy Reivo replaced Ofir Davidza at left-back while Avishai Cohen kept his place on the right to complete the back-four in front of goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
The midfield remained unchanged with Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role with Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky completing the midfield trio. Osher Davida who set up the goal against Be’ersheva replaced the injured Dan Biton on one wing while Felicio Milson was named on the opposite flank. Upfront, Eran Zahavi led the team out with the captain’s armband as the veteran striker who scored eight league goals and 20 in all competitions will aim to continue his good run of form.
On the bench Keane named, young Yehuda Belay for the first time this season, with goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Ofir Davidzada, Ido Shahar, Nir Bitton and Kiko Bondoso.
First Half
More than 3000 Maccabi fans turned up on a wet night to the Petah Tikva stadium for what was initially going to be a tough contest against Benny Lam’s side. Petah Tikva’s pressure in the opening minute on Roy Revivo led to the young left back lose possession in a dangerous position but his quick recovery prevented what would have been a disastrous start.
Two minutes later at the opposite end, Gabi Kanichowsky’s pressure on Petah Tikva’s defense saw the ball reach Eran Zahavi whose snap shot from inside the area cleared the crossbar. Moments later Idan Toklomety managed to beat Derrick Luckassen at a physical challenge before attempting a long range effort that didn’t test Orlando Mosquera as it sailed over the bar. Kanichowsky tried his luck with an effort that was caught by Petah Tikva’s keeper Robi Levkovich.
Idan Nachmias required medical treatment for a head injury in the 21st minute after the Maccabi central defender collided with Petah Tikva’s forward Saliou Guindo. Dor Peretz flashed a shot across the face of goal and wide after he was released by a clever Zahavi flick on 24 as Maccabi began to dominate.
Four minutes later the hosts had the best chance so far as a mix up between Joris van Overeem and Nachmias allowed Ibraheem Jabaar to break through but his powerful drive was equaled by Mosquera. Right on the half hour mark Petah Tikva took the lead as Maccabi’s defence failed to clear a cross which fell to Guindo who managed to beat the Panamanian keeper from close range.
Kanichowsky and Zahavi combined well on 32 but the veteran’s forward shot was directed straight at Petah Tikva’s keeper. A diagonal cross a minute later found Osher Davida unmarked at the far post, but his attempt of a shot struck the side netting.
The fourth official indicated 6 minutes of added time as the kept pinging inside the Petah Tikva area with Van Overeem, Revivo and Davida all having their efforts blocked by the hosts’ defence.
Second Half
With no changes at the restart Maccabi emerged for the second half determined to get back in the game as soon as possible as Robbie Keane’s team talk couldn’t have received a faster reaction. Thirty five seconds after the restart Milson’s trickery saw the Angolan winger dance inside the area before sending a cross that eluded everyone including Zahavi and Levkovic as the ball rolled in to level the score.
Toklomety got the best of Nachmias at the opposite end but the talented Petah Tikva youngster who had only Mosquera to beat blasted high over the bar. Milson came close with a fierce right foot drive that crept to the wring side of the post.
Four minutes after the hour mark Zahavi released Kanichowsky who managed to go round the keeper but his effort was cleared from the goalmouth by Moise Adilehou. Keane made a double substitution on 67 as Nir Bitton replaced Nachmias and Dor Turgeman came on for Davida.
Maccabi were awarded a free kick in the 74th minute as Milson was tripped on the edge of the area. Zahavi stepped up and blasted the free kick into the top corner taking his tally to nine league goals, and 21st of the season to make it 2-1.
Yonatan Cohen replaced Van Overeem immediately after Zahavi’s goal as Keane added more width to the side. Turgeman could have scored the third and settled the contest on 79 as he stripped a defender of the ball and charged forward but saw his effort blocked by Levkovic and a defender.
Milson who kept tormenting Petah Tikva’s defence, combined well with Zahavi on 84 but the veteran marksman side footed his effort wide. Inside injury time, Zahavi bowed out to a standing ovation as he was replaced by Ido Shahar pushing Turgeman to the striker’s role for the closing stages.
