Preview

Maccabi arrived at Teddy stadium for the ONE ZERO League MD25 match against Beitar Jerusalem aiming to continue their good run of form. Before the match even kicked off, Maccabi were informed by the IFA Supreme Court that the 1 point which was deducted earlier this season, was restored a fact which increased Maccabi’s lead at the top of the table to two points.

Against Beitar that are winless in their last six league matches and are coached by former Maccabi player and Head of football department, Barak Itzhaki, Head Coach Robbie Keane made three changes from the side that beat Olympiacos in Athens.

Matan Baltaxa partnered Idan Nachmias as the two central defenders in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Ido Shahar and Roy Revivo continued as the two full-backs on the right and left respectively to complete Maccabi’s four-man defensive line. Keane kept his midfield unchanged as Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role, was joined by Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz. Felicio Milson on one wing and Dan Biton on the opposite flank were named by Keane as the two wide-men while Dor Turgeman started upfront as the striker.

On the bench Keane named Henry Addo for the first time as the Ghanian winger waited for his chance to make an impact alongside goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Avishai Cohen, Enric Saborit, Eran Zahavi, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Eden Karzev and Osher Davida.

First Half

Backed by 7000 travelling fans, Maccabi began the match at Teddy with purpose and intention trying to stamp their authority early on. Felicio Milson broke into the area and won a corner in the third minute which was crossed by Gabi Kanichowsky and headed by Matan Baltaxa over the crossbar. Three minutes later at the opposite end, Roi Mishpati was drawn into the action as he came off his to goal line to block Idan Yona who found himself in a good chance to score. Milson continued to look lively as his shot from the edge of the area forced Beitar’s keeper to stretch himself and push the ball out in the 8th minute. The action continued as Idan Nachmias ghosted past Beitar’s defense and sent a powerful header which Silva managed to claw from under the crossbar in the 11th minute. A minute later Beitar’s captain Yarden Shuah managed to break through and with only Roi Mishpati to beat, flashed his shot wide of the post.

In the 27th minute Milson charged forward for half the length of the pitch but as the ball reached Kanichowsky the diminutive midfielder miscued his attempt of a shot. Beitar’s Nika Khorkheli tested Mishpati with a left foot curling shot from the edge of the area which was equaled by Maccabi’s keeper right on the half hour mark. Six minutes later Dan Biton was fouled and as referee Orel Grinfeld awarded Maccabi a free kick, he also booked Beitar’s Gregory Morozov for dissent.

Maccabi were awarded a penalty in the 41st after Biton slipped the ball to Dor Turgeman who dribbled past his marker before being hacked down in the box by Ori Dahan. Grinfeld immediately pointed at the penalty spot before Biton stepped up, kept his calm and fired in the spot kick to break the deadlock.

Second Half

Keane made his first change after the break adding a fresh pair of legs to his attack as Osher Davida replaced Milson at the restart. Tackles were flying at both ends of the pitch as Idan Nachmias was shown yellow right on the hour mark for bringing down Fred Friday who threatened to break through.

Maccabi seemed to have run out of steam as Zohar Zasno blasted a drop-kick which sailed wide of the post in the 68th minute. Keane reacted with a double change as Eden Karzev came on for Joris van Overeem while Henry Addo was handed his Maccabi debut replacing Kanichowsky. Keane made his two final substitutions as Dor Turgeman and Dor Peretz who both worked tirelessly came off on 77 and were replaced by Eran Zahavi and Eyal Golasa.

Beitar continued to look dangerous on the break as Dor Micha led a counter-attack in the 82nd minute which Timothy Muzi blasted high and wide. Davida had the ball in the back of the net inside injury time after Silva saved Addo’s close range header, but the goal was disallowed after the Ghanian was caught offside. Meyron George came close as he had a shot blocked before his second effort shaved the top of the crossbar.

Deep inside injury time Beitar were awarded a free kick near the corner of the area after Revivo brought Muzi near the corner of the area. Li-On Mizrahi’s free kick shaved the woodwork once again which was the final kick of the game as Grinfeld ended the contest.

Maccabi’s attention will not turn to Thursday’s Conference League return leg against Olympiacos at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola.

The 26-year-old central defender who joined Maccabi in the summer of 2021 faced the media ahead of the ONE ZERO League MD25 match against Beitar Jerusalem. Nachmias, who made his 61st appearance against Olympiacos, said: “We would like to win the championship this season and therefore should arrive at every game with the aim of winning it.” Beitar, hasn’t won a league match in six matches and were beaten 0-1 by Hapoel Be’ersheva last week, as Nachmias admitted: “I sat to watch Beitar’s match against Be’ersheva last week and they had an excellent game – they pressed high and were in every corner on the pitch. They were very dynamic, and I think this is what awaits us on Sunday – high pressure and a very open game. But we will be prepared.”

The team that landed on Friday from Athens and held one final practice session ahead of the match, as Nachmias reflected: “There is tiredness of course, especially two days after the match, but we are professional enough to be have the ultimate preparation. We have a coaching, physical and medical staff that will know how to prepare us best both physically and mentally.”

Ido Shahar enjoyed one of his best-ever games for Maccabi Tel Aviv as the 22-year-old scored a goal in the 4-1 Conference League Round of 16 victory away to Olympiacos. From the position of right-back, Shahar, helped Maccabi take a three-goal lead to the return leg and a big step towards a historic qualification to the Quarter Finals of a European competition, said: “Wow. This feeling is difficult to describe. Besides the fact I was on cloud nine I was happy for the team” Shahar said. In the ninth minute, Shahar, doubled Maccabi’s lead at the Georgios Kariaskakis stadium after Eran Zahavi gave Robbie Keane’s side an early lead, tried explaining:  “We couldn’t have asked for a better start than this. We spoke about it prior to the game that the start of the game will be extremely important and could decide the contest. It is an amazing feeling to be 2-0 up after 10 minutes. We couldn’t have asked for more.”

On his new role as right-back, Shahar, who normally plays as a midfielder, said: “Last season I played in this role when I was at Apollon Limassol. I love to bring some of the midfielder’s characteristics into the role of a full-back. An extra.  If I would have been a standard right-back I would have been forced to bring different characteristics. I am delighted that today it worked really well. When pushing forward I move a bit more towards the middle which is part of the advantages I bring to the plate and that helps the team. The coach spoke with me and spent a lot of time with me on these things.

Osher Davida who hasn’t scored but had an excellent game as a right winger just in front of Shahar, revealed: “Ido and I share a room together and all day we had a feeling that we are going to win. We said that we must score an early goal to ensure that everything starts in our favor. We never expected to be in that position after 9 minutes, it was an amazingly mad feeling. I am delighted Ido was switched to that role, we have such good communication on the pitch as today we spoke non-stop and kept directing each other. We knew that their left-back and the left winger are very dangerous and we dealt with them really well. Ido kept directing me throughout the game and I am just happy it worked that way.”

Davida, who has been enjoying good form recently that saw Keane name him in his starting line-up: “AT our team everything can change within a week. Now things are going well and I am just happy to be part of this – may it continue in the future as well. Our squad is big and deep as we need everyone. This good work is shared by everyone as on Sunday we already have another game to prepare for.”

 

 

Preview

Maccabi arrived at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus for the Conference League Round of 16 first leg against Greek giants Olympiacos. Robbie Keane’s side that finished top of their group will aim to clinch a result in Athens to keep their dreams of securing qualification to the Quarter Final at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola next week.

Keane made a single change from the side that beat Maccabi Petah Tikva at the weekend as Enric Saborit replaced Matan Baltaxa to partner Idan Nachmias as the second central defender in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Ido Shahar who played as a makeshift right-back, kept his place with Roy Revivo completing the back-four on the opposite left flank. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman role was joined by Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky in Maccabi’s midfield engine room. Osher Davida also kept his place on the right wing with Felicio Milson on the opposite side supplying the width to Maccabi’s attack. Eran Zahavi led the line and the team out wearing the captain’s armband as the veteran marksman will aim to add to his impressive tally of 28 goals in all competitions so far this season.

On the bench Keane named Daniel Tenenbaum, Orlando Mosquera, Avishai Cohen, Dor Turgeman, Dan Biton, Yonatan Cohen, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Matan Baltaxa, Adir Cordoba, Kiko Bondoso, Eden Karzev.

First Half

Boosted by the support of their fans, the hosts began the match with pressure on Robbie Keane’s side right from the start as Maccabi struggled to break out of their own half in the first four minutes. Maccabi then began to get into their rhythm as Joris van Overeem, Dor Peretz and Gabi Kanichowsky started dominating the midfield. In fifth minute, Van Overeem switched sides to Felicio Milson who slid the ball towards the penalty area. A mix-up between Olympiacos’ defender Panagiotis Retsos and his keeper allowed Eran Zahavi to ghost through and send a left foot shot past Alexandros Paschalakis to give Maccabi an early lead.

Four minutes later the Keane’s side enjoyed a dream start as the majority of the 31,054 fans at Georgios Karaiskakis stadium were silenced while the visiting section were in a state of delirium following Maccabi’s second. Osher Davida broke down the left and picked Peretz whose powerful drive was initially parried by Paschalakis. Ido Shahar pounced on the loose ball, brought it down with one touch and blasted home from close range to double Maccabi’s lead. In the 13th minute however Olympiacos pulled a goal back as the Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi was left unmarked at the far post to head in past Roi Mishpati and cut the deficit. The goal shifted the momentum in Olympiacos’ favor as the hosts dominated the play pushing Maccabi back into their penalty area. Kanichowsky was booked by referee Craig Pawson for a foul on Andre Horate near the center circle in the 20th minute.

Right on the half hour mark Maccabi restored their two-goal lead as Kanichowsky picked Milson who dribbled into the area and cut the ball back for Zahavi. The veteran number seven tapped-in Maccabi’s third to score his second on the night, 12th in Europe this season and 30th in all competitions. In the 35th minute Zahavi came close to complete a first half hattrick as his half volley from close range shaved the top of the crossbar. Shahar went into the referee’s book for pulling down Olympiacos’ Portuguese winger Daniel Podence as the diminutive makeshift full-back stopped a counter attack. On the stroke of halftime Davida had a chance to increase Maccabi’s lead as he broke through from the right. But the pacey winger wasted his chance as he cut inside from the corner of the area to send his effort high and wide.

Second Half

With no changes to either side after the interval, Maccabi began the second half where they left off as Keane’s charges looked dangerous going forward. Olympiacos enjoyed most of the possession as a misunderstanding in Maccabi’s defense allowed El Kaabi through. But Mishpati charged off his line to block the Moroccan striker from cutting the deficit on 51 as he kept Maccabi’s two goal lead in-tact. Keane made his first substitution in the 68th minute as Davida who worked tirelessly down the right was replaced by Dan Biton.

Horta tried his luck with a long-range effort on 72, but Misphati was ready on his line. Maccabi’s counter attack at the opposite end saw Biton leave the ball for Peretz whose powerful drive was saved by Paschalakis. Olympiacos struggled to clear the danger as Kanichowsky floated a cross into the box for Peretz to head in Maccabi’s fourth on the night, his seventh in Europe this season and 14^th in all competitions. Keane made a double change as Zahavi and van Overeem bowed out and were replaced by Eden Karzev and Dor Turgeman in the 77th minute.

Keane made another double change in the 81st minute as Kanichowsky and Milson received a standing ovation from the 1500 Maccabi travelling fans as they were replaced by Ofir Davidzada and Eyal Golasa for the closing stages. Substitute Joao Carvalho came close in the 89th minute as his curling long range effort beat Mishpati but crashed against the post. The referee added five minutes as Olympiacos tried desperately to grab another goal, but Maccabi defended bravely with numbers as the full time whistle saw the Yellows celebrate one of the most impressive victories in the club’s history.