Preview
Maccabi arrived at the Halads stadium in Szombathely Hungary for the Europa League 3rd qualifying round return leg against FK Panevezys with a 2-1 lead from last week’s match in Vilnius. Knowing that a victory over the Lithuanian champions will see his side through to the Playoff stage where his former club TSC Backa Topola awaits, Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic had more than qualification to look forward to. Lazetic made one change from last week’s starting eleven as defender Tyrese Asante was put serving a one-match touchline ban. Idan Nachmias moved across the back to partner Raz Shlomo at the heart of defence while Sagiv Jehezkel dropped back to the right back role. Ofir Davidzada completed Lazetic’s back-four that lined up in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Maccabi’s engine room remained unchanged as Joris van Overeem occupied the anchorman role while Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz completed the midfield trio. After his substitute appearance in Vilnius, Osher Davida was named by Lazetic as Jehezkel’s replacement on the right wing with Hisham Layous on the opposite flank. Upfront, Lazetic continued with Dor Turgeman after the 20-year-old forward scored one of Maccabi’s goals against Panevezys.
On the bench Lazetic named goalkeeper Roi Melika, Avishay Cohen, Roy Revivo, Eran Zahavi, Dan Biton, Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Issouf Sissokho, Matan Baltaxa, Ido Shahar and Nir Bitton.
First Half
Dor Turgeman threatened to draw first blood inside the second minute as the 20-year-old striker created himself the time and space on the edge Panevezys penalty area but his shot sailed high and wide. Both teams struggled to create a clear chance but in the 14th minute Maccabi came centimeters away from breaking the deadlock. Turgeman slipped the ball to Dor Peretz who timed his run into the box before sending a toe poke that flashed across the face of goal and narrowly missed the target.
Maccabi continued pushing forward trying to carve an opening as Layous teed-up Kanichowsky on 31 but once again the midfielder’s shot lacked accuracy. Five minutes after the half hour mark Ofir Davidzada exchanged passes with Layous to break clear through but his attempt of a cut-back was blocked by a defender the danger was cleared. Two minutes later Peretz tried pulling the trigger from outside the box but the Maccabi skipper had his shot blocked by his Lithuanian counterpart Linas Klimavicius who consequently required medical treatment.
Inside injury time Davida found Turgeman in the box as the forward managed turn shield the ball in an attempt to pick Peretz’s run before the defense managed to clear for a corner. The resulting corner saw Maccabi take the lead as the ball fell to Peretz who nodded it home to increase the lead to 3-1 on aggregate.
Second Half
Four minutes after the restart Turgeman came close to double Maccabi’s lead as he was given a sight on goal in but sent his effort agonizingly wide. Four minutes later Maccabi got their goal in spectacular style as Davida broke in from the right exchanged passes with Peretz to cut through the visitors’ defense. The pacey winger beat another defender before drilling in his shot past the keeper to make it 4-1 on aggregate. Lazetic made a triple substitution in the 63rd minute as Issouf Sissokho was handed his Maccabi debut replacing van Overeem, Ido Shahar came on for Kanichowsky while Henry Addo replaced Layous.
In the 70th minute the tie was put to bed as Peretz’s cross was flicked by Turgeman but blocked by a Panevezys defender before Jehezkel pounced on the rebound to fire in Maccabi’s third goal.
Lazetic made a double change on 73 as Nir Bitton returned to the European scene having recovered from a long term knee injury while Eran Zahavi was given 15 minutes to make an impact coming on for Turgeman. Roi Mishpati was drawn into the action in the 76th minute as he was at full stretch to keep out Noel Mbo’s powerful header. With the tie clearly beyond Panevezys’ reach Maccabi tried increasing their lead as Davida who kept tormenting his opposite number struck the side netting once again in the 80th minute. Idan Nachmias, who stepped into the right-back position instead of Jehezkel, sent a header on target which was caught by the keeper on 82.
