Maccabi Tel Aviv lost the season's final derby 3-1, with Eran Zahavi scoring Maccabi's only goal. Tal Ben Haim had his penalty saved
Both club and fans wished nothing more than to celebrate the season 2013/14 championship match following tonight's derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv. Unfortunately, it was Maccabi Tel Aviv's municipal archrival that came out on top, winning their home tie 3-1. It took only six minutes for the odds to stack up against the visiting side when Hapoel was awarded a penalty after Maccabi defender Carlos Garcia handled the ball in the area. Hapoel striker Omer Damari, the Israeli Premier League's leading goalscorer, saw his spot-kick blocked by Maccabi keeper Juan Pablo but managed to get first to the deflection and returned it to the net to put his side ahead 1-0. Just five minutes later their advantaged was doubled when a deflected cross into the area was redirected by Hapoel midfielder Gil Vermouth into the path of defender Orel Dagani who slammed home from just outside the area. Just after the 20 minute mark Maccabi Tel Aviv were given an ideal opportunity to pull one back after Hapoel skipper Shay Abutbul was seen to handle a Maccabi corner into the area. But Hapoel keeper Danny Amos guessed accurately the direction of Maccabi winger Tal Ben Haim's penalty and pushed it aside for a corner. Ten minutes before the half Omer Damari came close to scoring his second of the match but his close range header went wide. But in first half injury time it was Damari once again threatening in the area and this time an onrushing Juan Pablo brought him down to hand Hapoel their second penalty of the half. Gil Vermouth made the most of it from the spot and at the ref's whistle Hapoel left the pitch with a commanding 3-0 lead.
After the restart Maccabi began to exert pressure in an attempt to return to the match and just short of the hour mark that pressure bore fruit when midfielder Dor Micha found space down the right and passed back into the area, where fellow midfielder Eran Zahavi, who came on as a substitute in the second half, slammed home into the corner of the Hapoel net. But at 3-1 Maccabi's further efforts to close the gap found little expression in real chances and at the ref's final whistle it was Hapoel Tel Aviv who had won the fourth derby, their first of the 2013/14 Israeli Premier League season.
Next week Maccabi will finish their current run of road games when they visit second placed Hapoel Beer Sheva.
