Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv grind out a goalless derby draw in the first week of the Israeli Premier League top-six play-offs
After last week's frenetic and highly dramatic Tel Aviv derby in the final matchweek of the regulation season, the two Tel Aviv clubs, Maccabi and Hapoel, met last night for yet another clash of municipal rivals in the first fixture of the Israeli Premier League's top-six play-offs. And as Maccabi head coach Paulo Sousa predicted in his pre-match press conference, this week's encounter proved to be a different game altogether. Apart from an early effort by Maccabi captain Sheran Yeini, rebuffed by Hapoel keeper Danny Amos, the first half was a largely tactical and closely contested affair that produced few opportunities of any note.
The second half saw Maccabi apply increasing pressure, with last week's treble scorer Eran Zahavi nearly putting Maccabi in front on the hour mark after diverting a shot by fellow midfielder Gal Alberman that fizzed past the far post. Nine minutes later at the other end of the pitch, Hapoel striker Omer Damari found himself in front of goal with just Maccabi keeper Juan Pablo to beat, but the league's leading scorer pulled his finish wide. Three minutes later it was their Brazilian midfielder Lucas Sasha trying to get past Juan Pablo, but his effort too missed its target. Maccabi began to intensify their efforts to find a winner and with just over twenty minutes left midfielder Dan Einbinder crossed to striker Barak Badash, whose header sailed just wide of the goal. Five minutes from time it was Einbinder himself letting fly from a distance but Danny Amos swept his effort aside for a Maccabi corner. Hapoel's best chance, and perhaps the best by either side on the night, came in injury time when substitute midfielder Avraham Chekol's cross into the area found fellow midfielder Israel Zguri, who headed onto the bar. Omer Damari mastered the rebound but even from close range he too failed to put the ball into the net. At the ref's whistle, the unchanged scoreboard told the whole story as this week's derby ended in a goalless draw.
Next Monday at 8.50pm Maccabi Tel Aviv will play their second play-off match, again at home at Bloomfield Stadium, against second-placed Hapoel Beer Sheva, who now stand at a distance of five points behind the league leaders.
