Barak Itzhaki scored the lone goal of the contest in the 52nd minute as Maccabi Tel Aviv picked up the victory and three points on Matchday 15 of the Ligat Ha’Al at the Netanya Stadium on the first night of Hanukah.

Prematch
Head Coach Shota Arveladze’s Starting XI featured Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal with Eli Dasa, Egor Filipenka, Tal Ben Haim and Omri Ben Harush in front of him. Captain Gal Alberman was the defensive midfielder along with Haris Medunjanin and Eyal Golasa by his side. Vidar Kjartansson, Barak Itzhaki and Dor Micha rounded out the Yellow & Blue attack.

Available on the bench for the Georgian Head Coach was keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Eden Ben Basat, Sagiv Yehezkel, Eitan Tibi, Nosa Igiebor, Dor Peretz and Yossi Benayoun.

First Half
Maccabi came out of the gate in full control of the contest but couldn’t find the back of the goal in t the early goings on. Itzhaki’s 10th minute chance from 25 meters whizzed by the post, Golasa’s 15th minute header missed the target while Micha’s 18th minute effort was collected by Ashdod keeper Yoav Gerafi.

Golasa was issued a yellow card in the 32nd minute while Filipenka was shown one as well eight minutes later. Ashdod’s first chance of the contest came when Siroshian found Rajikovic’s bar as Niv Zrihen’s follow up went over the goal in the 42nd minute. Medunjanin then just missed the target as the referee blew the halftime whistle sending the sides into the break goalless.

Second Half
Maccabi midfielder Golasa had a wonderful 48th minute chance but Gerafi came up huge to make the stop and keep the score as is, however, that would not be the case for much longer.

In the 52nd minute Itzhaki mad a fantastic maneuver in the box as he coolly slotted home his second goal in as many matches giving the Yellow & Blue a 1:0 lead. Five minutes later, Medunjanin tried to double the score but Gerafi was up to the task yet again, while Kjartansson’s chance went out to keep the advantage at 1:0 for Maccabi.

Head Coach Arveladze made a double substitution in the 75th minute introducing Yossi Benayoun and Nosa Igiebor in favor of Medunjanin and Kjartansson as the Nigerian almost scored his team’s second of the night but Gerafi made the save once again. With Maccabi looking for an insurance marker, Eden Ben Basat was inserted in the 81st minute for Itzhaki.

Ben Basat would have a terrific free kick opportunity from the top left of the box but Gerafi made the stop as the Yellow & Blue picked up the three points and 1:0 win over Ashdod.