The 1999/00 season is not one that the Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would call unforgettable. The club muddled around mid table and Avram Grant couldn’t get much out of his side who also participated in the early stages of the UEFA Cup after finishing in second place the prior year.
Hapoel came into the second Derby of the season as the clear cut favorites because of their superior side and table position. Danny Koren kicked off the match at Ramat Gam Stadium as over 22,000 fans, the majority of which were Yellow-and-Blue filled the stands.
But right from the outset Maccabi had the upper hand and in the 17th minute, legendary striker Andrzej Kubica set off the beginning of the Ramat Gan celebration. Ben Luz led the Yellow-and-Blue attack and started to run with the ball after receiving a nice pass by Kubica with his back to the goal at midfield. The young midfielder continued downfield with Igal Antebi and another Red defender in hot pursuit. He stopped and saw Kubica streaking into the box and sent the striker a gorgeous pass. Kubica fooled keeper Shavit Elimelech and sent the ball right into the middle of the goal to make it 1:0 in favor of Maccabi.
The celebrations continued at Ramat Gan Stadium just 15 minutes later. David Revivo sent a left side corner kick into the box while Omri Afek was attempting to defend Alexei Kosulapov. The Russian footballer who was wearing the captain’s armband was able to break free from Afek, jumped into the air and headed the ball past a helpless Elimelech. 2:0 for Maccabi in the 32nd minute as the match would end with the same result.
16 years later at 20:55, the two sides will hit the pitch yet again, perhaps with different players but still with the magic in the air that is the Tel Aviv Derby.
