A trio by Atar (12, 14, 87) against one goal by Avidor (45) set the score at 3-1 for Maccabi Tel Aviv, granting the team the third consecutive win in the league
HaPoel Haifa hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv in Kiryat Eliezer, where the yellow team has not won since November 2004. Maccabi Tel Aviv's opening reflected a possible change in statistics when a quick duo by Eliran Atar in minutes 12 and 14 took the yellow team to a double advantage. Yuval Avidor reduced the gap for the hosts during the added time in the first half, presenting a good kick from the white spot. The second half was relatively uneventful until minute 87, when Atar made his third goal and sealed the final score, 3-1 for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
After 12 minutes of "testing the waters", a deep pass by Gonzalo Garcia traversed the hosts' defense and put Roberto Colautti in front of Kale. Colautti preferred to pass the ball sideways to his offensive colleague, Eliran Atar who, facing an exposed goal, found the net and took the yellow team to an advantage. Two minutes later, the duo once again collaborated when a deep ball by Colautti found Atar free to pass Kale and double the Maccabi Tel Aviv advantage. Despite nearly absolute yellow control in the first half, the hosts managed to reduce the gap during the added time.
Alon Yeffet saw a hand by Vered and called for a penalty kick. Yuval Avidor took the kick, scored and sent the teams to the locker rooms at 2-1 for Maccabi Tel Aviv. Maccabi Tel Aviv's first dangerous offensive in the second half was started and ended by Sheran Yeini whose weak kick toward Kale was blocked. HaPoel Haifa's players were more offensive in the second half, but they did not pose a real threat to Eniema's goal, except for a head butt by Gluscevic, which was stopped by the alert Nigerian goalkeeper. The score in favor of the yellow team was finally set in minute 87. An excellent depth ball by Radi found Dabour, who missed, but the rebound reached Eliran Atar, who rolled his third goal into the net and set the final score at 3-1 for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Finally, Maccabi Tel Aviv celebrated its second consecutive away game victory, presenting a perfect balance for the yellow team with all nine possible games in the first three rounds. In the fourth round, Maccabi Tel Aviv will try to continue its positive streak in a difficult game against the reigning champion, HaPoel Kiryat Shmona, which will play at Bloomfield next Monday.
