Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia, for the final Conference League Group B home match against Gent. Robbie Keane’s side that suffered its’ only defeat this season to Gent on October 5th, are aware of the fact that only a victory over the Belgian outfit will see them win the group and reach the Round of 16. But the task will be far from easy as Gent that one more point than Maccabi with 13, are unbeaten in the group and also suffered a solitary defeat in their domestic Belgian league.
Derrick Luckassen, who picked his third booking away to Breidablik, served his one-match-touchline-ban, forcing Keane to make at least one change in defense. As a result, Enric Saborit and Nir Bitton lined-up as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera. Avishai Cohen and Roy Revivo completed Maccabi’s back-four on the right and left respectively. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role, supported by Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky kept their places as Maccabi’s midfield engine room. Dan Biton on one side and Felicio Milson on the other supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation with the task of providing ammunition for Eran Zahavi. The 36-year-old marksman who led the team out wearing the captain’s armband, will try add to his phenomenal tally of 17 goals in 18 matches this season.
On the bench, Keane, named: Roi Mishpati, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Saied Abu Farchi, Ido Shahahr, Kiko Bondoso, Osher Davida, Yvann Macon.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot with Milson looking lively down the left flank as the Angolan winger broke forward and was brought down by Gent’s Ismael Kandouss who was consequently booked. Avishai Cohen tried catching Gent’s keeper by surprise but his right foot dipping shot hit the side netting. In the ninth minute however Maccabi got their well deserved lead as Milson switched to Dor Peretz whose initial shot struck the base of the post before Gabi Kanichowsky reacted first and fired in the rebound.
Eran Zahavi received a glorious chance to double Maccabi’s lead in the 19th minute after Peretz carved Gent’s defense open with a perfect through ball. But the veteran marksman somehow managed to side-foot his close range effort wide of the target.
Maccabi continued their dominance and in the 24th minute Zahavi made amends for his earlier miss by scoring his 18th goal of the season. Zahavi, carried the ball on the edge of the area before blasting a low drive that found the bottom corner giving Gent’s keeper Davy Roef no chance but to pick the second ball out of his net.
Right on the half hour mark Milson spotted the keeper off his line as he tried curling a right foot shot that landed on the roof of the goal. Noah Fadiga who earlier on had a shot that crept wide of Orlando Mosquera’s goal, dribbled into the area in the 44th minute but his shot come cross rolled across the face of goal. The fourth official indicated one minute of added time just before Gent were handed a free kick near the corner of the area, but the Panamanian keeper collected with ease Julien De Sart’s attempt of the cross and the halftime whistle sent Maccabi into the dressing room with a 2-0 lead.
Second Half
While Robbie Keane made no changes at the restart, his counterpart Hein Vanhaezebrouk made a double change as Malick Fofana and Jordan Torunarigha replaced Ismael Kandouss and Andrew Hjulsager.
Gent began the second half the better side as Mosquera was forced to charge off his line to block Tarik Tissoudali but as Maccabi struggled to clear the danger Julien De Sart cut the deficit with a fierce drive to make it 2-1 on 49.
In the 54th minute Dan Biton was put through but Roef managed to push the midfielder’s left foot shot out for a corner.
Biton was then penalized for a late challenge on De Sart which earned him a yellow card in the 58th. But right on the hour mark, Biton’s through ball to Zahavi sent the Maccabi captain through as he fired in his second on the night and Maccabi’s third goal.
Maccabi could have increased their lead even further in the 72nd minute as a counter attack which began with Enric Saborit and continued with Milson and Kanichowsky only for Zahavi to miscue his pass which didn’t reach Peretz.
Kanichowsky required medical treatment after a clumsy challenge by Jordan Torunarigha that earned the Gent defender a booking on 78.
Biton took the resulting free kcik which bobbled in front of the keeper before Roef was able to collect. Kanichowsky limped off and was replaced in the 82nd minute by Eyal Golasa as Keane made his first change.
Gent rattled Mosquera’s crossbar, while Roef denied Zahavi a hattrick as he tipped his shot onto the crossbar at the opposite end. Dor Turgeman replaced Milson and Osher Davida came on for Zahavi minutes later before Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano blew the final whistle to end the contest.
