In a match that symbolised the passage of the sceptre of power at the summit of Israeli football, newly crowned champions Maccabi Tel Aviv on Saturday defeated outgoing champions Ironi Kiryat Shmona 1-0 at their home grounds of Bloomfield Stadium. A late, well placed winner by Maccabi midfielder Eran Zahavi past opposition keeper Danny Amos two minutes from time decided the match and signalled the start of the official championship celebrations that began at Bloomfield Stadium and made their way to the official venue at Tel Aviv's Rabin Square. Prior to the start of the match a number of ceremonies were held, among them the presentation by Maccabi Tel Aviv owner Mitch Goldhar of gifts to the families of the foreign members of the professional staff who were flown in to Israel unannounced to celebrate the championship with their loved ones. Among them was the legendary Dutch footballer and former Barcelona player and coach Johan Cruyff, father of Maccabi Tel Aviv sports director Jordi, who came to honour the championship celebrations with his presence and who received from Mr Golhar a special Championship Plate.
Once the match got underway it was Maccabi with the first chance of the game when after 4 minutes midfielder Gonzalo Garcia shot wide of the opposition goal. Two minutes later at the other end Kiryat Shmona midfielder Dan Einbinder's effort sailed over the goal of Maccabi keeper Barak Levi. Just after the quarter hour mark it was Gonzalo again who pounced on a ball in the area and kicked it over the Kiryat Shmona goal. Five minutes later Eran Zahavi volleyed a ball wide and at the half hour mark Kiryat Shmona striker Shimon Abuhatzira broke through from the left flank and let fly at Barak Levi who deflected the ball to safety. But despite these individual efforts, the first half ended scoreless.
In the second half the two sides took their foot off the gas and both keepers remained relatively untroubled. Maccabi's young midfielder Dor Micha had a go from a difficult angle, but keeper Amos managed to deflect it to safety. But just as the match looked to be heading towards a goalless conclusion, two minutes from time a Maccabi attack down the left saw defender Yoav Ziv find Eran Zahavi at the edge of the area who grounded the ball and shot cleverly past keeper Amos into the corner of the Kiryat Shmona net. Despite a late effort by Abuhatzira in front of the Maccabi goal, at the final whistle it was 1-0 and Maccabi Tel Aviv's 24th victory of the season, just moments before the players boarded the coach that took them to Rabin Square to celebrate together with thousands of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans the 20th Championship in the club's illustrious history.
