Goals scored by Dor Micha and Robert Earnshaw granted Maccabi Tel Aviv an important victory over the league leaders. Makriev temporarily tied the score for the guests
Maccabi Tel Aviv beat the chart leader, F.C. Ashdod 2-1, ruining its perfect record and tying the point balance. Two assists by Gonzalo Garcia to Dor Micha and Robert Earnshaw, one in each half, did the job for the yellow team. Dimitar Makriev temporarily tied the score for F.C. Ashdod at the beginning of the second half, but Maccabi Tel Aviv went back to winning after its loss to HaPoel Be'er Sheva on Monday.
Over 13,000 spectators welcomed Maccabi Tel Aviv and F.C. Ashdod and, at least in the first half, everyone enjoyed a demonstration of good football. Gonzalo Garcia made his first charge in Minute 12, resulting in a good block by Ofir Martziano. Seven minutes later, the Uruguayan found Dor Micha progressing in the penalty area, kicked a flat ball to the corner and gave Maccabi the advantages. The guests attempted to respond quickly with a kick from Arcon and a header by Nir Biton, both of which were stopped by Eniema. Toward the end of the first half, a wide ball by Radi nearly penetrated the net, but Martziano managed to save it at the last minute and the teams went to halftime with a score of 1-0 for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The players of F.C. Ashdod opened the second half with a storm and, in Minute 52, Dimitar Makriev, propelled an uninterrupted header into the net following an assist by Ofer Verta. The yellow team was not intimidated by the guests' rally and Robert Earnshaw, who joined the game as a substitute, made his first goal in Maccabi Tel Aviv just five minutes later. The goal resulted from Gonzalo Garcia's second assist in the game. Once the yellow team took the lead, the game toned down a bit and F.C. Ashdod nearly tied the score toward the end, but Eniema was once again in place to intercept a kick by Ofer Verta.
The yellow team stood up to the pressure and ended the game at 2-1 and with three important points, putting it back on the winning track after one week off. There will be no league games next week and, in two weeks, Maccabi Tel Aviv will set out to an away game against the surprising HaPoel Acco.
