Preview
Maccabi arrived at the Netanya stadium for the MD21 WINNER League match away to Ironi Kiryat Shmona with the team currently 4th in the table. 6000 Maccabi fans travelled to Netanya to support the team and welcome newly appointed Head Coach Ronny Deila who will have his debut match in charge.
A week after the defeat in the Tel Aviv derby, Deila, who will be assisted by Kenny Miller and Kenneth Dokken will aim to guide Maccabi back to winning ways. Tyrese Asante who recovered from an injury which sidelined him last week, was named by the Norwegian coach alongside Heitor dis Santos as the two central defenders infront of goalkeeper Ofek Melika. Noam Ben Harush started on the right side of defense with Roy Revivo completing Maccabi’s back-four on the left. With Issouf Sissokho serving a one-match touchline ban due to yellow cards, Itamar Noy started in the anchorman role with Dor Peretz alongside him in the midfield engine room. Kervin Andrade completed Maccabi’s midfield trio in a more attacking role as the 20-year-old Venezuelan midfielder will try and supply the ammunition for the frontline. Osher Davida who played under Deila during their spell with Belgian side Standard Liege, was named on one wing with Helio Varela on the opposite flank. Saied Abu Farchi led the line as the 19-year-old striker will try add to his tally of two league goals and five in all competitions.
On the bench Deila named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Sagiv Jehezkel, Raz Shlomo, Elad Madmon, Ben Lederman, Ido Shahar, Itay Ben Hemo, Ilay Ben Simon and new signing Emir Sahiti.
First Half
Backed by a wall of noise created by 6000 traveling fans who filled the entire east stand, Maccabi began the match as if they were launched out of a cannon. In the opening minute Helio Varela charged down the left and into the box but his square ball lacked accuracy and was cleared. Two minutes later Varela began another counter attack before Noam Ben Harush was released down the right. The full-back tried a shot which Daniel Tenenbaum punched away for a corner which led to Maccabi’s opener. Kiryat Shmona’s defense failed to clear the resulting corner as Kervin Andrade stripped Cristian Martinez of the ball and teed up Saied Abu Farchi whose cross was headed home by Dor Peretz. In the 12th minute Kiryat Shmona were back on level terms as Maccabi’s defense didn’t clear a ball which was launched into the box as it fell to Ariel Sheratzky who blasted in the equalizer.
Abu Farchi was in the thick of things once again five minutes later as he applied pressure on Yaw Ackah following a failed attempt of a clearance. After kicking the air, Ackah then kicked Abu Farchi without a reaction from referee Idan Leiba. VAR intervened to call the referee to the screen before the initial decision was reversed and a penalty awarded. Abu Farchi stepped up, sent Tenenbaum the wrong way and slotted in the spot kick to restore Maccabi’s lead. In the 27th minute Peretz and Abu Farchi combined on the edge of the area, but Tenenbaum was at full stretch to push Abu Farchi’s shot for a corner. Right on the hour mark Peretz received the ball on the edge of the area but couldn’t keep his shot down as it sailed over the crossbar.
Varela tested Tenenbaum with a powerful drive which the former Maccabi custodian managed to save. In the 44th minute Maccabi came close once again as Verela found Davida at the center of the area but his initial attempt was blocked by Shai Ben David while his second blasted over. On the stroke of halftime Davida came even closer as he cut inside onto his left and curled a shot that caught Tenenbaum stranded but struck the post. Just as the fourth official signalled five minutes of added time, the combination of Varela and Davida resulted with a goal as the Cape Verde winger squared to Davida who with his weaker right foot managed to squeeze the ball home for Maccabi’s third goal.
Second Half
While Kiryat Shmona’s coach Shai Barda made two changes at the restart, Maccabi’s coach Ronny Deila stuck with the same players for the start of the second half. In the 57th minute Abu Farchi came close as he fired a shot which Tenenbaum pushed away.
In the 63rd minute Maccabi increased their lead to 4-1 as Roy Revivo’s throw in was nodded by Davida towards Kervin Andrade who launched himself and released a half volley that gave Tenenaum no chance. This was Andrade’s final action on the night as Deila made a triple substitution with the Venezuelan midfielder bowing out together with Ben Harush and Davida. Sagiv Jehezkel stepped in for Ben Harush at right back, Ido Shahar came into the midfield engine room while Emir Sahiti was handed his Maccabi debut on the right wing.
Tyrese Asante who recently recovered from an injury and was carrying a booking from the first half was replaced by Raz Shlomo as Deila made his fourth substitution on 77. Three minutes later Shahar released himself and teed up Peretz whose shot sailed high and wide. Peretz limped off on 85 and was replaced by young Ilay Ben Simon for the closing stages as Deila made his fifth and final substitution. Ben Simon came close in the 90th minute after Jehezkel slipped him through but Tenenbaum managed to save and deny Abu Farchi from scoring the rebound. The 16-year old had another attempt on goal but Tenenbaum saved again to before the final whistle was heard.