Maccabi earn Tel Aviv bragging rights with an easy 2-0 derby win over Hapoel Tel Aviv at Bloomfield
Tonight the city of Tel Aviv celebrated its second league derby of the 2014/15 season, and in stark contrast to the first one back in November the focus stayed firmly on the football. And in that arena it was the yellow side of the city, Maccabi Tel Aviv, that demonstrated clear superiority as the home side sailed to a 2-0 victory. Mahran Radi curled in a superb free kick early in the first half and fNikola Mitrovic scored his second league goal in as many matches just after the restart to ensure Maccabi's victory over a Hapoel side that offered little to trouble a solid Maccabi defence.
From the very start of the match Maccabi gave notice of attacking intent and after ten minutes of testing the waters, midfielder Mahran Radi curled a splendid free kick high past Hapoel's Cameroonian born goalkeeper Apoula Edel into the net. With a goal to their credit and the momentum on their side, Maccabi continued to dictate the pace of the game and to carve out chances to increase their lead. On 19 minutes Nigerian midfielder Nosa Igiebor struck from outside the area forcing a leaping save by the Hapoel keeper. A minute later Mahran Radi came close to scoring his second off a poor clearance by the keeper but his powerful strike sailed just over the top of the net. Maccabi continued to keep the Hapoel keeper busy and just past the half hour mark midfielder Eran Zahavi nearly curled in a corner kick past his outstretched arm.
Maccabi continued the offensive after the opening of the second half, with Eran Zahavi the first attacker to be halted by the ever-active Edel far off his line just two minutes after the restart. Three minutes later Eden Ben Basat, who replaced Maccabi's first-half goalscorer at half time, missed a golden opportunity after Eran Zahavi sent through a ball inside the Hapoel area but the striker shot over. Basat's next close-range effort came just two minutes later, but this time Nikola Mitrovic was on hand to collect the deflection outside the area and send an unstoppable ball into the net that doubled Maccabi's advantage. After the second goal the visitors suddenly came to life but consecutive efforts by defender Sari Falah and striker Sagiv Yehezkel were easily dealt with by the alert Maccabi keeper Juan Pablo. Eight minutes from time Eran Zahavi made yet another effort to increase the home-side lead with a volley of a Dor Micha cross from inside the area, slicing the ball just wide, but by that time the derby already had Maccabi's name written all over it. The referee's whistle marked the end of a 2-0 victory that sends Maccabi four points clear at the top of the Israeli Premier league.
