Lots of rain but no goals at Kiryat Shmona in a first 0-0 draw of the season that leaves the Yellows top of the table
After scoring ten goals between them in the last round, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ironi Kiryat Shmona both failed to find the net in their match that ended in a 0-0 draw. The biggest storm of the winter so far had already cast its shadow on the match prior to kickoff, but despite some uncertainty it went ahead as planned. But during the match as well the weather played its part and the 478 Maccabi fans who had made the long and chilly journey to the capital of the Galilee were witness to a match as unspectacular in its play as in its final result.
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Despite a waterlogged pitch that created havoc in their passing play, both clubs created chances in front of goal. Kiryat Shmona's Danny Amos was the busier of the two goalkeepers, and was very nearly beaten by Carlos Garcia's header on 22 minutes, only to be saved by the top of the crossbar. Gal Alberman was the next in line to try his luck but Amos instinctively got a leg out to block his shot from close range. The Yellows had one more opportunity to leave the rained out pitch at half time with the advantage, but Kiryat Shmona's Salah Hasarma just managed to clear Dor Micha's shot off the line.
The tempo in the second half was much like the first but there was a lot less activity in the area and the two goalkeepers were hardly tested. Reuven Atar was the busiest player in the Yellow's offence and twice tried to find the back of Amos' net. At the other end of the pitch substitute Adrian Rochet came closest to scoring for the home side but saw his shot from close range blocked at the last minute by an alert Maccabi defence. At the final whistle this second meeting between the two clubs was also the Yellow's second draw of the season, and their first without goals. It still leaves them top of the table, but Hapoel Tel Aviv are now only two points off the pace.
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Next Monday (8.50 P.M.) Maccabi Tel-Aviv host Hapoel Beer Sheva at Bloomfield in an attempt to book their fourth consecutive home win.
