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Maccabi Tel Aviv earned three difficult but invaluable points up north with a 1-3 win over reigning champions Ironi Kiryat Shmona

Last night Maccabi Tel Aviv travelled to the northern border for round three of the upper tier play-offs for an encounter with current champions Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Both sides came into the match following draws at the week-end, Maccabi goalless against their Haifa namesakes in the "match of the season", Kiryat Shmona level at 1-1 against Bnei Yehuda. Maccabi emerged victorious 1-3, thanks to two goals on either side of the half time break and a third from the spot, with just one Kiryat Shmona penalty in reply.

The match opened with Maccabi applying pressure and just two minutes after the starting whistle striker Rade Prica broke through from midfield and fired a shot that hit Kiryat Shmona keeper Dani Amos' upright. Just after the 20 minute mark Maccabi striker Eliran Atar escaped his marker Itsik Cohen but his shot flew just over the opposition net.  Kiryat Shmona weren't idle either and three minutes later a free kick into the area by midfielder Dan Einbinder was headed over Maccabi keeper Vincent Enyeama's goal by defender Shir Tsedek. But it wasn't until just before half time that the breakthrough came for Maccabi Tel Aviv: Midfielder Moshe Lugassi threaded a fine pass from midfield into the area for striker Moanes Dabbur, who sent it past keeper Amos into the right hand corner of the net to give the Yellows a long-awaited and precious 0-1 lead.

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Just two minutes after the restart Maccabi already doubled their advantage, this time with Dabbur as provider with a pass into the area for Rade Prica, who looped the ball from close range over keeper Dani Amos' head  to put Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-2 in front. On 64 minutes a controversial decision by referee Eitan Shmuelevitz of a Maccabi hand ball in the area gave Kiryat Shmona a penalty kick which striker Shimon Abuhatzira easily converted to reduce Maccabi's lead to 1-2. But despite continued pressure by the reigning champions it was Maccabi Tel Aviv who got on the scoreboard close to the final whistle after Lugassi was brought to ground in the area. Midfielder Eran Zehavi coolly converted from the spot to give Maccabi Tel Aviv an invaluable 1-3 away victory.

 

Next Saturday Maccabi Tel Aviv return home to Bloomfield Stadium for the all-important derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv. 

 

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