Preview:
Three days after the defeat away to Sporting Braga in the Europa League and four days before hosting FC Midtjylland in Belgrade, Maccabi returned to league action. Zarko Lazetic who guided Maccabi to four victories from the opening four league matches, will aim to maintain his 100% league record against newly promoted side Ironi Tiberias. Due to the restrictions of the Home Front Command, the Israel Professional Football Leagues in view of the current security situation, the MD5 WINNER League match at Bloomfield was staged behind closed doors against newly promoted side Ironi Tiberias. Maccabi’s Head Coach, Zarko Lazetic, made seven changes from the side that started in Portugal handing young goalkeeper Ofek Melika his debut appearance in Maccabi’s goal. Nir Bitton who made two substitute appearances in Europe this season, made his first league start at the heart of defense since injuring his knee in December last year.
Bitton partnered Nemanja Stojic as the second central defender with Idan Nachmias deputizing at left back to complete Maccabi’s defensive line. Joris van OPvereem who was rested against Braga returned to the anchorman role with Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz completing the midfield trio. Hisham Layous and Wesley Patati who were both introduced as second half substitutes in Portugal, started on both wings with Eran Zahavi leading the line and the team out with the captain’s armband.
On the bench, Lazetic named Roi Mishpati, Avishay Cohen, Stav Lemkin, Raz Shlomo, Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Issouf Sissokho and Osher Davida.
First Half
Welcomed onto the pitch by an empty Bloomfield stadium, newly promoted Tiberias didn’t feel the intimidation a visiting side would normally feel. Three minutes from the start, Ofek Melika, on his senior Maccabi debut, pulled a spectacular save to deny Tiberias an early lead. Four minutes later, Shai Konstantin found himself unmarked at the far post before snapping his shot which narrowly missed the top corner.
Tןberias sat back, soacking Maccabi’s pressure as goalkeeper Daniel Tenebaum who spent 8 years at Maccabi wasn’t put under any threat. A minute after the half hour mark, Maccabi finally took the lead from an unlikely source. Idan Nachmias, playing at left-back reacted first to a lose ball on the edge of the area before sending a volley that bounced infront of Tenenbaum and rolling in. Nemanja Stojic forced a save from Tenebaum and Wesley Patati cleared the crossbar with a powerful left foot drive as Maccabi continued to look dangerous.
On the stroke of halftime Maccabi came close to double their lead at the of an attack which began with a Melika long throw to Kanichowsky. The diminutive midfielder released Hisham Layous who charged forward and cut the ball back for Dor Pertetz whose effort was tipped over the crossbar by Tenebaum.
Second Half
Lazetic made one change at halftime as he introduced Osher Davida for Patati at the restart. In the 54th minute Davida almost made an immediate impact after he was sent charging down the right by Asante. Davida managed to cut into the area before his attempt of a cut back was cleared by Tiberias’ defense. Right on tbe hour mark Davida came close to score himself as he rose at the back post to head Layous’s cross which was caught by Tenenbaum on his line. Three minutes later Tiberias were back on level terms as Harun Shapso was allowed a free header that beat Melika to level the score.
Lazetic reacted with a triple substitution as Raz Shlomo, Issouf Sissokho and Elad Madmon came on for Nir Bitton, Joris van Overeem and Eran Zahavi on 73. In the 87th minute Lazetic made another change as Layous was replaced by Yonas Malede came on for the closing stages.
