A dramatic injury time winner by Swedish striker Rade Prica gave Maccabi all three points in their first home tie of the 2013/14 league season
After a victory away at Acre in matchweek one of the Israeli Premier ("Winner") League, Maccabi Tel Aviv played host to municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda in their first home tie of the 2013/14 season. Two minutes into the match, Maccabi striker Rade Prica threaded a smart pass into the area for midfielder Eran Zahavi, who narrowly missed the post with his volley. Eleven minutes later, with Maccabi pressure growing by the minute, it was Zahavi again who came close with an aerial shot that landed on the roof of opposition goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba's net. Just before the half hour mark, Maccabi striker Tal Ben Haim, heavily involved throughout the first half proceedings, came closest to scoring before the break with a strong strike that ricocheted off the crossbar. Maccabi continued to dominate and create chances in front of goal throughout the rest of the half, but they failed to find the net and the halftime whistle saw the two clubs leave the pitch locked in a goalless draw.
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After the restart Maccabi continued the pressure in the same fashion, looking for the go-ahead goal. In the space of three minutes just after the hour both midfielder Maharan Radi and Eran Zahavi came close, with Radi's characteristic effort from outside the area whistling just over the crossbar and Zahavi's from the edge of the area glancing off it. With just over ten minutes left on the clock, Eran Zahavi was involved in Maccabi's next attempt, once again volleying from the air, but his effort narrowly sailed over Aiyenugba's goal. The match was still drawn 0-0 when the full 90 minutes had been played despite two just missed attempts by Maharan Radi to get Maccabi on the scoreboard. One came from a free kick to the far post that Aiyenugba just managed to get a glove to, the second two minutes later, a strong shot from close range that rattled the post in the closing minutes of regular time.
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The decider waited until time added on when Rade Prica rose to head in the winner from a cross by substitute midfielder Dor Micha, sending 12,000 Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in the terraces cheering to their feet. This dramatic 1-0 victory for Maccabi Tel Aviv ended a succession of three home matches against Bnei Yehuda without a win and harvested for the club their sixth point out of six after two matchweeks in the league. Next up for Maccabi will be their opening home tie in the group stage of the Europa League on September 19th against Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia, followed two days later by the team's third "Winner" League fixture away to Maccabi Haifa.
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