Preview
Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to the Green stadium at Nof Hagalil, the stadium they were held to a 2-2 by this season’s surprise package Bnei Reineh on a cold night in January. This time round, with the Passover holiday and temperatures well into the 20’s – Maccabi had a strong following of around 3,500 fans for the Saturday early kick off.
Robbie Keane, whose side has a comfortable seven-point-lead at the top of the table ahead of second place Maccabi Haifa, will aim to record a victory against the side it couldn’t beat on two occasions this season. Having served his one-match touchline-ban against Hapoel Haifa last week, Eran Zahavi was back in the side as the veteran marksman led Maccabi’s attack in what was Keane’s only change.
Roy Mishpati kept his place in goal just behind an unchanged defensive line that had Enric Saborit and Raz Shlomo as the two central defenders.
Roy Revivo on the right and Ofir Davidzada on the left completed Maccabi’s back-four. Eden Karzev named by Keane in the anchorman role with Gabi Kanikowsky who scored his 9th goal and added his 10th assist in last week’s 4-0 victory at Bloomfield, was also named in midfield. Dor Perez who scored his 17th in all competitions last week completed Maccabi’s strong midfield trio.
Felicio Milson, whose goal tally reached 7 last week, was named by Keane on one flank with Osher Davida supplying the width on the other. Upfront, Zahavi will try and add to his 35 goals in all competitions against a side he couldn’t find the back of the net in two attempts.
On the bench, Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishai Cohen, Idan Nachmias, Dor Turgeman, Dan Biton, Yonas Malede, Eyal Golasa, Matan Baltaxa and Ido Shahar.
First Half
Maccabi began the match on the front foot pinging Bnei Reineh in their own half. Ten minutes from the start Reineh’s coach, Sharon Mimer, was forced to make his first change after Eyad Hutba landed awkwardly on his shoulder, limped off and was replaced by Ashraf Rabbah. In the absence of their influential captain, the hosts looked vulnerable in defense and were punished almost instantly. Osher Davida exploited a mix-up between Gad Amos and his defense as he took the ball around the keeper to give Maccabi an early 13th minute lead.
In the 22nd minute a spectacular team effort saw Maccabi double their lead as Dor Peretz, Gabi Kanichowsky and Eran Zahavi exchanged flicks on the edge of the area before Zahavi slipped the ball to Kanichowsky. With only the keeper to beat, the diminutive midfielder swept the ball home to double Maccabi’s lead and take his tally to 10 goals in all competitions this season. Three minutes later Reineh showed why they are in the top playoff as Keys Ghanem managed to latch on a ball Roy Mishpati spilled, before teeing up Mohamad Osman who blasted home to cut the deficit.
On the stroke of halftime as the fourth official signaled four minutes of added time, Maccabi restored their two-goal lead at the end of another spectacular team effort. Felicio Milson picked the ball down the left flank and squared to Kanichowsky who teed-up Peretz. The 28-year-old sent a low powerful drive that beat Amos to find the bottom corner and make it 3-1 with his 18th goal of the season.
Second Half
The second half began with Maccabi looking composed while Reineh looked dangerous on the counter-attack. In the 54th minute however, Keys Ghanem took advantage of a mistake by Raz Shlomo as he charged into the box. Despite pressure from Enric Saborit and Mishpati charging off his line to try narrow the angle, Ghanem calmly clipped the ball past the keeper to cut the deficit. With the score at 3-2 and in-order to try and stabilize his defense, Keane, reacted instantly as he replaced Shlomo with Idan Nachmias.
In the 75th minute Keane added a fresh pair of legs as he made his second change with Dor Turgeman coming on for Zahavi. Three minutes later Maccabi’s defense struggled to clear a corner before Mishpati needed a double save to catch Noaf Bazea’s powerful shot from the edge of the area.
In the 83rd minute Peretz rose high to head a corner which was caught by Amos on his line while at the opposite end a minute later Bazea rattled the base of Mishpati’s post with a fierce half volley. Keane made two more changes as Avishai Cohen replaced Davida while Eyal Golasa came on for Eden Karzev.
Turgeman could have put the game to bed on 88 after Kanichowsky stole the ball from Reineh’s defense and released the young forward. But with only the keeper to beat, Turgeman rushed his shot and fired the ball high and wide. Seve minutes were added to the regular time, but Maccabi managed to hang on and celebrate the precious three points which increased the gap at the top to 10. Now attention will turn to Bnei Sakhnin as Maccabi continue their journeys with the second of three away trips in succession at Doha next Monday.
