Maccabi returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Bnei Sakhnin at Bloomfield. Eran Zahavi and Dor Micha were the goalscorers
After four consecutive matches without a win, including three in the league, Maccabi Tel Aviv tonight returned to winning ways with a commanding 2-0 home victory over a lifeless Bnei Sakhnin side at Bloomfield Stadium to register their eleventh league clean sheet of the current season. After completely dominating first-half possession without finding the net, Maccabi went ahead on the stroke of half time when midfielder Eran Zahavi slammed home his 20th goal of the season. Seven minutes from time a relentless Dor Micha powered his way into the centre of the opposition area and struck his second goal of the season past Sakhnin keeper Ran Kadosh to put the tie to bed.
With the ball in almost constant possession in the first half, Maccabi made several attempts to breach Sakhnin's defences. The first came from Nigerian midfielder Nosa Igiebor whose initial shot arrived at the feet of Eden Ben Basat who drew a good save from the Sakhnin keeper. The striker made a second attempt a short while later only to find Ran Kadosh once again at the ready. Towards the end of the half it was Eran Zahavi's turn to get in on the action with a low strike five minutes from time that Kadosh deflected with his fingertips. But on the stroke of half time the Sakhnin goalkeeper was not so lucky as Zahavi latched on to a deflected Mahran Radi attempt in a crowded box and struck home his 20th goal of the season.
With the exception of a failed attempt by Sakhnin's Brazilian midfielder Diogo Kachuba, the start of the second half saw Maccabi once again in complete control, but attempts by Zahavi and second-half substitute Tal Ben Chaim, with a header that glanced narrowly wide, failed to widen the home side's advantage. But the opposition had little to offer in return and seven minutes from time it fell to Dor Micha to strike the final note of the match. The young midfielder muscled his way into the centre of the Sakhnin area and with his left foot struck past the keeper to put Maccabi 2-0 in front. Micha saw a second attempt thwarted by Kadosh moments later as Maccabi sought to further increase their lead, but after three minutes of time added on the match ended without further goals.
Coming just two matches before the play-offs, the 2-0 result widens Maccabi's lead at the top of the Premier League to four points awaiting the outcome of tomorrow night's encounter between the club's two nearest rivals, Hapoel Beer Sheva and Ironi Kiryat Shmona. The win will also give the team a big boost just four days ahead of their mid-week State Cup quarter-final return leg against Ironi Kiryat Shmona at Bloomfield Stadium.
