Category: Match day program EN
What did Yoram Arbel really want to say about Cohen’s Derby Goal?
The memories brought us back to the announcer who called the most famous goal in Avi Cohen’s career. Yoram Arbel talks about what he really wanted to say at that moment and what actually came out of his mouth:
יורם ארבל על השער המפורסם של אבי כהן בדרבי
“Usually Derbies bring about high expectations ahead of the actual match and the journalists and the media build up the excitement. It wasn’t a great match but when Schweitzer sent Cohen the ball and Avi came and scored, what was supposed to come out of my mouth that to watch such a horrible match was worth it for just that goal. But what actually came out of my mouth was even better; that it was worth to wait forever to see Avi Cohen’s magnificent goal. It was one of the nicest goals that I ever called.”
Trivia: How much do you know about matches between Maccabi and Kiryat Shemona
Another record in danger: The numbers ahead of Kiryat Shemona
To date the club’s have played 31 league matches. The record: 16 Maccabi wins, 7 draws and 8 Kiryat Shemona wins. Goal differential: 54:37 in favor of Maccabi.
Maccabi’s home record versus Kiryat Shemona – 16 matches: 11 Maccabi wins, 3 draws and 2 losses. Goal differential: 36:14 in favor of Maccabi. The Yellow & Blue have a record of 9 wins and 1 draw in their last ten home matches.
If Maccabi doesn’t lose they will set a record for the most matches without a defeat start the season with 23. The previous record was set in 1953/54 and 1958/58 when they went undefeated in a 22 match season.
The 2:1 win over Kiryat Shemona in the first round was the club’s only comeback victory this season. It was also the only match that Maccabi scored a penalty.
In each of the last five matches between the club’s, 3 goals were scored per game (5 wins – four 2:1, once 3:0). The is only the second time in history that Maccabi has had such a streak with the last time being in 1952-1955 against Maccabi Rechovot where each of the five contests saw three goals being scored in total.
Omer Atzili has played against Kiryat Shemona twice for Maccabi and in each match he scored a brace. Atzili is the 11th player in Yellow & Blue to have scored a brace in his first two appearances against a single club. In fact, should Atzili score another brace against Kiryat Shemona he will be only the second player to do so with the first being Yosef Merimovitch (beginning of the 1950’s against Maccabi Rishon Le’Zion) to have scored a brace in their third match against the same opponent.
To date, there have been 8 penalties (four for each club) in league contests between the two and each one has found the back of the goal. Only matches between Ashdod and Maccabi Petah Tikva (12 penalties) and Maccabi Haifa and Shimshon Tel Aviv (9 spot kicks) have all been 100% successful.
The next match between the two squads takes place on February 16 as over the last 40 years Maccabi has played only three league games on this date. All three contests ended in a draw, 1:1 against Kiryat Shemona in 2015, 0:0 versus Kiryat Gat in 2002 and 0:0 against Beitar Jerusalem in 1980.
Maccabi’s biggest win over Kiryat Shemona was a 5:0 victory in 2015/16 when Eran Zahavi scored 4 goals while Omri Ben Harush added a lone marker.
Over the years, 18 players have appeared for both clubs. Eitan Tibi is the only current squad player to have also been with Kiryat Shemona.
The goal scoring leader against Kiryat Shemona is Eran Zahavi with 12 goals. Vidar Kjartansson is in second place with 6 goals.
Blast from the Past: When Israilevich and a young Atar met Kiryat Shemona
2010/11: מכבי ת”א – קריית שמונה 1:3
Piven: “We’re moving ahead and focusing on Kiryat Shemona”
Shahar Piven, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s central defender spoke ahead of Saturday night’s Matchday 23 contest against Kiryat Shemona:
“The last two matches were draws, although they weren’t such bad results. The State Cup match was most important and we did well. As you know it’s not easy to play against the same team twice in a row and the fact that there were no fans also didn’t help. We didn’t give up a goal and for me that’s most important. We collected a point and we’re looking ahead.”
Preparing for each match one at a time:
“We have to play against any type of team and we prepare for each match separately. We are moving ahead and we’re focusing on Saturday night’s match against Kiryat Shemona.”
Wanting to win every match:
“We aren’t looking at the streak but we are trying to use the squad to win every match whether it’s a cup, friendly or league. We will keep up our style and pace and continue on.”
Taking everything into proportion:
“We have looked good for the start of the season. Although we didn’t win a couple of matches everyone is asking why we didn’t take maximum points but that’s ok. We are taking everything in proportion and we won the first leg of the State Cup by a good result ahead of the second leg.”
Ivic: “We still have to improve day by day”
Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach addressed the assembled media at the prematch press conference ahead of Saturday his squad’s clash against Kiryat Shemona:
“We didn’t win the last two games and we are disappointed to just take two points, last match we played a very good first 45 minutes where we created a lot of chances but didn’t score. The second half they had 6-7 players in the box we tried to score but the result ended up being 0:0. But for example, when we played Maccabi Netanya and we didn’t play well but we still led 2:0 after the first half. We still have to improve day by day.
About Kiryat Shemona:
“We respect our opponent and have only lost once in the last 5-6 games and they have improved a lot. We will have to see how we will take the three points. We have to be serious from the first to the last seconds on order to record the win.”
The status of Uros Nikolic:
“He has been working with us and he had a problem in a training and he returned and worked with the team. He was then sock with a high temperature and we have to see how he will react and when we can use him. I am not sure about this game but we still have two days to go.”
Happy at Maccabi:
“I am here and I’m the coach of Maccabi. I’m happy here and I’ll work from the first to last day as a professional and give by best as I will ask my players to do. It’s not realistic to look to far in the future as everything depends our result.”
Working hard until the end:
“We have a lot in front of us. We have the league championship and the State Cup. These are our goals. We want to deserve it and we have to work hard all the way until the end.”
Bring the Family: Ticket Sales Kiryat Shemona Home Match
Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Kiryat Shemona on Saturday February 16th at 20:30 in Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika Matchday 23 action at the Netanya Stadium. Tickets are on sale now via the Leaan Website, the Leaan Ticket Office located at 42 Frishman Street, Tel Aviv and via Telephone *8780.
Special Family Deal!
Do you want to enjoy the match with the whole family and bring your children? In honor of Family Day you can purchase tickets for Sections 101-102 (reserved) until Sunday February 10th at 19:00 for only 55NIS each (while supplies last).
You may purchase tickets on the Leaan Website by using the User ID and password. If you do know one or both of those details please send an email to support@leaan.co.il.
* Home printing is available
* We recommend that you collect your tickets prior to the match in order to avoid long lines at the Box Office on Matchday
Ticket Prices
Leaan Ticket Office
Lower East Stand – 100 NIS
West Stand (sections 101-102) – 55 NIS
West Stand (sections 204-207, 103) – 100 NIS
West Stand (Sections 108-109, 208-209) – 100 NIS Youth/Soldier/Women – 50 NIS
E+ – 150 NIS
Silver Section – 300 NIS
Phone/Leaan Website
Lower East Stand – 105 NIS
West Stand (sections 101-102) – 60 NIS
West Stand (sections 204-207, 103) – 105 NIS
West Stand (Sections 108-109, 208-209) – 105 NIS Youth/Soldier/Women – 55 NIS
E+ – 150 NIS
Silver Section – 300 NIS
Youth/Soldier/Women tickets are available for purchase by telephone only after identification.
Ticket Collection
Tickets may be collected at the Leaan Ticket Office located at 42 Frishman Street, Tel Aviv between Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:00-13:30.
Tickets may be collected on Matchday at the Stadium ticket windows beginning 3 hours prior to the match until 45 minutes after the start of the match.
Know your opponent: Hapoel Haifa
The second best attack in the league
Hapoel Haifa has 37 goals so far this season – the most in the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika other than Maccabi Tel Aviv who have 47. According to the statistics Maccabi should pay close attention to the end of the first half. Sharon Mimer’s team has scored 7 goals between minutes 30-45 which is second most to Maccabi who have 11. That’s 19% of their total goals this season.
Another interesting statistic is how Haifa builds their attack. Maccabi leads the league scoring after 41.9 seconds from the start of an attack while Haifa is second with 24.3 seconds. Beitar Jerusalem is at 22.5 secs, Beer Sheva 20.6 and Bnei Yehuda 17.3.
Even though they are in second they find themselves in 9th place in ball possession at 49% on average per match.
Be careful of set pieces
Haifa has scored ten goals from set pieces including four from penalties, second most behind Maccabi Netanya who have scored 11 times from dead balls. Mimer’s squad has also scored twice from direct free kicks most in the league and are tied with Maccabi.
Haifa has Hapoel Hadera have conceded the least goals from set pieces with only two. However, they have given up the most goals from open pitch attacks along with Hadera (25).
On the defensive side of the game, Haifa has the lowest tackle percentage at 47% (74/156).
Another fact is that the Carmel Reds press the least on the opponent’s side of the pitch at only 0.5 items per match.
Nes Zamir’s absence
In the match against Maccabi, Haifa will be without out Nes Zamir who is suspended. Zamir and Yarden Shua are the two players in the league who have been involved in most of their club’s goals (12). Zamir has 6 goals and 6 assists.
Striker Ben Azubel will play and as one of the tallest players in the league he has been involved in many aerial battles, averaging 11 per match in which he wins 4.2 of them.
One of Haifa’s most important players is Dor Malul who grew up through the ranks of Maccabi. The right back has assisted on four goals this season just behind Eli Dasa who has six helpers and has a 56% accuracy rate when he sends the ball into the box.
Matan Hozez, who Maccabi loaned to Hapoel Haifa has scored 4 goals in 304 minutes he has played since joining the Reds for an average of one goal every 76 minutes.
Haifa has a very aggressive midfield which is led by Rasmus Sjöstedt who ranks 6th in steals with 137.
