Preview
Maccabi arrived at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam for the MD4 Europa league match against Ajax aiming to put an end to the run of three defeats from the opening three matches. But against the in-form Dutch giants who are unbeaten from three matches and currently fourth in the Europa League, as well as 2nd in the Dutch Eredivisie with 8 victories from 10 matches – Maccabi’s task will be extremely difficult.
Zarko Lazetic and his charges are followed by around 3000 travelling fans who made it all the way to Amsterdam to show their support including club owner, Mitch Goldhar.
Two who didn’t travel to Holland and will not be at Lazetic’s disposal are Roy Revivo and Osher Davida. While the 21-year-old left-back is still recovering from a knee injury he suffered in September and has yet to feature in the Europa League, Davida (23) is serving a one-match touchline ban following his dismissal against Real Sociedad on MD3.
Roi Mishpati who as named in the Israel national team squad for the matches against France and Belgium, kept his place in goal. Tyrese Asante, Nemanja Stojic and Raz Shlomo were named as three central defenders. Ido Shahar and Sagiv Jehezkel were drafted in as two wing-backs on the right and left respectively in a bid to combat Ajax’s game down the channels. Issouf Sissokho, Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz who captained the side, formed Maccabi’s midfield engine room. Elad Madmon and Dor Turgeman led Maccabi’s attack as the two youngsters will try breach Ajax’s defense that conceded only once in the Europa League and 9 in their domestic league.
Lazetic named goalkeeper Simon Sluga, Avishay Cohen, Stav Lemkin, Idan Nachmias, Eran Zahvi, Joris van Overeem, Yonas Malede, Weslley Patati, Henry Addo, Ofir Davidzada, Hisham Layous and Nir Bitton on the substitutes bench
First Half
A sea of colour and a wall of noise welcomed both teams onto the pitch as the Johan Cruyff Arena was packed to its 55,000 capacity. The 3000 Maccabi fans high up in the visiting sector began a pyrotechnics display right after kickoff. Four minutes after the start Brian Brobbey was sent clear through but as thenAjax striker rifled a left foot shot, Roi Mishpati charged off his line before the ball struck his to bounce out. In the 13th minute Ajax took the lead as Brobbey broke into the area and sent the ball across the face of goal for Bertrand Traore to toe poke it home at the far post.
Four minutes before the half hour mark, Kanichowsky was booked by Czech referee Ondrej Berka for what seemed like a harmless foul in the middle of the park. A minute later Ajax doubled their lead at the end of a spectacular move. Kenneth Taylor and Brobbey exchanged passes on the edge of the Maccabi area before the scorer turned provider while Taylor swept the ball past Mishpati.
The hosts continued to run riot and in the 39th minute Mika Godts proved too powerful for the visiting defense as he picked the ball deep inside Maccabi’s half before clinically firing in to make it 3-0. On the stroke of halftime Moshpati prevented further embarrassment as he clawed the ball from his goalmouth to prevent Brobbey from scoring his second and Ajax their fourth.
Second Half
Dor Peretz had half a chance at the start of the second half as he charged through from the halfway line but Ajax’s defense managed to clear the danger before Maccabi’s captain on the night could manage a shot on goal.
In the 59th minute Maccabi conceded an indirect free kick inside their own penalty box in bizarre circumstances. Mishpati’s attempt of a pass to Raz Shlomo struck his other foot before Brobbey blasted his shot from 10 metres into the top corner to make it four. Maccabi’s best chance to score came minutes later as Madmon’s close range effort forced Remko Pasveer to a reflex save. Kian Fitz-Jim scored the fifth on 79 as he chested the ball and sent a volley that bounced in above Mishpati. Lazetic reacted with four changes as Ofir Dabidzada, Joris van Overeem, Weslley Patati and Henry Addo replaced Sagiv Jehezkel, Ido Shahar, Kanichowsky and Madmon on 72. Ajax had the ball in Mishpati’s net two minutes later but the goal was disallowed for offside following the intervention of VAR. Eran Zahavi replaced Turgeman on 82 as the veteran striker came on for the closing stages.
Addo and Patati went into the referee’s book as the Ghanian saw yellow for simulation when the Ghanian was clearly fouled while the Btazilian was cautioned as nothing went Maccabi’s way on the night. Both players combined inside injury time as Patati released Addo but the Ajax over managed to block.
