Preview

Three weeks after their 4-0 victory over Maccabi Netanya and four days after defeating Hapoel Petah Tikva by the same result, Maccabi returned to Bloomfield stadium for the MD4 against Hapoel Jerusalem.

Zarko Lazetic’s side that scored four goals in each of their league outings so far as they recorded a 4-1 win away to Ironi Tiberias last weekend, featured the new fourth kit.

Just like in the midweek match against Hapoel Petah Tikva, Lazetic made five changes to his starting line-up. Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal as did defenders Ali Camara and Tyrese Asante while Raz Shlomo returned to the heart of defense and Roy Revivo to the left back position. Issouf Sissokho kept his place as the anchorman while Ido Shahar who came off the bench to score a late penalty against Petah Tikva, returned to partner the Mali midfielder in Maccabi’s engine room. Dor Peretz continued to lead the team out with the captain’s armband as the 30-year-old will aim to continue his goal scoring form. Osher Davida who scored the opener at Petah Tikva and added an assist, kept his place while Kervin Andrade returned to the side for his home debut.

Ion Nicolaescu who opened his account against Maccabi Netanya at Bloomfield before adding another last weekend against Ironi Tiberias, started upfront.

Yoav Gerafi who recovered from the hamstring injury he picked against Pafos, returned to the squad for the first time. On the bench alongside Gerafi, Lazetic named Sagiv Jehezkel, Denny Gropper, Kristijan Belic, Elad Madmon, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Helio Varela and Itamar Noy.

First Half

Maccabi began the match with a blitz trying to score an early goal with Osher Davida twice bursing his way into the visitors box. The pacy winger tried cutting the ball back but once it was intercepted by the keeper and the second time cleared foe a corner. Maccabi came close to score from Davida’s resulting corner which was headed wide by Roy Revivo. Maccabi continued to press as Dor Peretz flashed a shot wide before Revivo sent another close ranger header which barrowly missed the target. Maccabi continued to dominate as Revivo and Kervin Andrade combined in the 14th minute to tee up Ido Shahar whose shot sailed high over the crossbar. 

Revivo continued to look lively down the left as in the 22nd minute he charged into the box and was brought down by Tamir Haimovich. Referee Idan Leiba awarded Maccabi a penalty but after he was called to the screen by the VAR, cancelled the spot kick and booked the left back for diving.

The fourth official signaled 2 additional minutes and on the stroke of halftime Maccabi had the ball in the back of the net as a long _ diagonal ball found Revivo who rose at the far post to head it to Davida who nodded home. But the referee assistant raised his flag for offside before VAR confirmed the goal should be disallowed. The halftime whistle sent both team to regroup in the dressing rooms ahead of the second period.

Second Half

With no changes to either side after the interval, the second half began like the first with Maccabi trying to grab an early goal. In the 52nd minute Revivo charged down the left before slipping the ball to Kervin Andrade who spun around his marker before unleashing a shot which was blocked by a Jerusalem defender.

Two minutes later Davida broke down the right before squaring for Shahar whose attempt of a flick struck the side netting. Andrade kept causing Jerusalem all sorts of problems as the diminutive Venezuelan winger skillfully charged down the left into the touchline but saw his effort turned away by Nadav Zamir’s feet. Lazetic made a triple substutution in the 64th minute as Issouf Sissokho was replaced by Kristijan Belic, Sagiv Jehezkel came on for Davida while Elad Madmon stepped in for Ion Nicolaescu.

A minute later Maccabi were reduced to 10 men after Revivo was shown a second bookable offense. From the resulting free kick the visitors took the lead as Ilay Madmon touched the ball for Guy Badash whose powerful left foot drive found the bottom corner of Roi Mishpati. With a goal down and a numerical disadvantage Maccabi had to raise their game. In the 69th minute Bloomfield was on their feet as Shahar drilled in a shot which beat Zamir to level the score. The fans reacted to raise their decibels while Lazetic replaced the tired Andrade with Helio Varela.

Peretz had two good chances to score after good work by Varela down the left but Zamir managed to claw one effort off his line while the second rolled wide. Shahar was replaced by Itamar Noy as Lazetic made his fifth and final change in the 86 minute adding a fresh pair of legs into the midfield.

When it seemed as though all of Maccabi’s attempts to score would fail Ali Camara stepped up for a set piece as the Guinian towering central defender headed in the winner deep inside injury time.