Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to league duties tonight and defeated Hapoel Ra'anana 0-2 at Netanya Stadium courtesy of goals by Rade Prica and Eran Zahavi
After their travels to Switzerland for their final Europa League contest against FC Basel, Maccabi Tel Aviv returned this evening to league duties and took all three points from Hapoel Ra'anana in an away tie played in Netanya. The visitors controlled proceedings in the first half and at the quarter hour mark Maccabi midfielder Eran Zahavi crossed into the area forcing Arie Yanko off his line to deflect into the path of Maccabi's Yoav Ziv. But the Ra'anana keeper managed to scramble back into position to block the defender's subsequent effort. The Maccabi pressure bore fruit after 23 minutes when midfielder Nicola Mitrovic looped a ball into the area that found Rade Prica in the five-yard box and the striker headed over Yanko's outstretched arm to give his side a 0-1 advantage. Within five minutes of taking the lead, both Ziv and Zehavi tried their luck with powerful shots from outside the area but Yanko was there to push both efforts away. Seven minutes from the break the Ra'anana keeper was called into action once again, this time to sweep aside a long-range effort from Nicola Mitrovic. A minute later it was the home side on the attack, with a clever ball from Nigerian forward Anthony Nwakaeme reaching Emmanuel Mbola, but the Zambian defender shot right at Maccabi keeper Juan Pablo.
The second half began as a more balanced affair. Twelve minutes in, Maccabi central defender Eitan Tibi limped off with an injury and was replaced by Maharan Radi. With 67 minutes gone Ra'anana's Senegalese striker Mamadou Thiam headed down a corner that bounced over the Maccabi net. Five minutes later midfielder Saar Benbenishti also headed towards the Maccabi goal, but Juan Pablo swept it away. Thirteen minutes from time it was Mamadou Thiam with his head on the ball, but his effort flew over the Maccabi net. And then with eight minutes left on the clock, Eran Zahavi found himself on the receiving end of a stray defensive pass at the halfway line and outran three Ra'anana defenders to slice past Arie Yanko's outstretched leg for Maccabi's second goal. That effectively put the match to bed and Zahavi celebrated by lifting into the air the nr. 10 jersey of striker Barak Itzhaki, who is sidelined with an injury sustained in the warm-up to the match in Basel. Mamadou Thiam had one more go before the ref's whistle but his ball hit the woodwork.
Next week on Monday at 8.50pm, Maccabi Tel Aviv will find themselves once again in Netanya, this time to host Beitar Jerudalem.
