36-year-old Eran Zahavi in Tel Aviv as a nightmare for shattered Celje: Israeli star hits the Slovenian net three times
Eran Zahavi – Celje 3:1. And a goal from Maccabi to make it 4:1. Although the Slovenian top-flight team did not play badly in the opening match of the last round of Conference League qualification, it did what has happened to many before – it failed to find an answer for one of the most underrated strikers in football history. Eran Zahavi may be 36 years old, but he still scores goals like a young man. Celje was “stung” three times and
Maccabi
in Tel Aviv, bringing Maccabi a step closer to the group stage of the competition. After a 1:4 defeat, the squad will have to Alberta Riere will have to follow a very, very difficult path to historic success. If the battle is not already lost…
Although Maccabi started the game with a really high rhythm and Matjaž Rozman had to show all his skills, it quickly became clear that the Celjans, who missed the injured Luka Bobičanec, were not just thinking of defending themselves in Israel. At first they were under a lot of pressure from the home team, but then they shook off the pressure and became more and more dangerous in attack. In one of the actions, Alyosha Matko was stopped by a foul and had an open path to the goal, but the referees deemed that nothing happened that would be worth stopping the game.
Celje pulled up short by VAR technology
On the other side, Maccabi was helped by VAR technology. V 20. In the first minute, Žan Karničnik knocked Yonathan Cohen down in the penalty area, and he fell to the ground like a mowed lawn. There was minimal contact between the players, but the referee watched the video and pointed to the white spot. The 11th minute penalty was converted into a goal by none other than the big home star Eran Zahavi. “We’ve got them!” the Israelis probably thought at the time, but the Celjanians were not confused and seven minutes later the score was 1:0.
Mario Kvesic made a great run on the right wing and after a good cross to the left side of the penalty area. The home goalkeeper Daniel Peretz deflected his attempt, but the ball was only deflected to Gregor Bajdet.. The Celje forward fired from a turn and scored from an otherwise difficult position.
Gregor Bajde seems to have become a real specialist in European away games this season, he also hit the net for Vitoria in the second round in Portugal.
The second half started like the first: with Maccabi pressing. Unfortunately, the hosts took advantage of the pressure and scored when in 51. Joris van Overeem crosses from the right in front of the goal. Damjan Vuklišević swam into the empty net in front of the goal and Zahavi was all alone a few metres in front of Rozman. The ending was a sovereign one that could hardly have been better and … 2:1. But Zahavi, who has scored more than 300 goals in a remarkable career, has not had enough. V 72. Dan Biton converted a corner in the first minute, before Vuklišević released Zahavi in front of goal, who headed the ball under the crossbar.
In the referee’s extra time, the evening became even more miserable for Celje. V 91. In the first minute, 19-year-old reserve Dor Turgeman hit the Celje net for the fourth time with a precise shot, and two minutes later, Klemen Nemanič had to leave the game early due to a second yellow card, so he will only be wearing a “civvies” for the return leg. But that will be the least of Alberto Riera’s worries…
This text was automatically translated using AI.
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