The Yellow & Blue collected 3 points after defeating Bnei Yehuda 2:0 at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday 7 of the Israel Premier League. Vidar Kjartansson headed home a second half goal thanks to a magnificent pass by Cristian Battocchio while Nick Blackman put the ball right through Zoubas at the final whistle. Maccabi will now prepare to head to Astana for Matchday 3 of the Europa League Group Stages this Thursday at 18:00 Israel time.

Prematch
Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI included Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic with a defensive quartet of Yuval Shpungin, Tal Ben Haim, Jean-Sylvain Babin and Avi Rikan. Captain Sheran Yeini manned the midfield with Dor Peretz and Cristian Battocchio while Omer Atzily, Eliran Atar and Vidar Kjartansson provided the attack.

Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Matan Baltaxa, Eitan Tibi, Tino Susic, Aaron Schoenfeld, Egor Filipenka and Nick Blackman.

First Half
Bnei Yehuda had the first chance of the match when Roie Gordana tried his luck from 16 meters to no avail in the 6’ while Maccabi’s opening opportunity came three minutes later when Atzily’s free kick found Kjartansson in the box but his header went wide of the goal. Vidar had another chance in the 16’ when he took a good ball from Shpungin but the keeper made the save.

Battocchio’s attempt from outside of the box was saved by the Bnei Yehuda keeper Zoubas in the 22’ while Ben Haim launched a screamer from far out but couldn’t find the back of the goal five minutes later. Maccabi continued to control the pace as Vidar had a couple of chances but the opening goal remained elusive for the Yellow & Blue as the sides went into the break goalless.

Second Half
With Vidar hunting for a goal, he finally found one thanks to a nice pass by Battocchio that #9 headed home behind Zoubas for the 1:0 lead in the 51’. The Yellow & Blue continued to control the play over the next 20 minutes but couldn’t find a way past the Bnei Yehuda defense. Cruyff made his first substitution in the 71’ to freshen up the attack as Nick Blackman was introduced for Omer Atzily.

Blackman had his first attempt of the evening from the right side of the box, but his 74’ effort went wide of the goal. Ben Haim was issued a yellow card for a reckless tackle right outside of the Maccabi box in the 76’ good for a dangerous free kick but Rajikovic was up to the task and made the save. Aaron Schoenfeld was Cruyff’s second substitute in the 78’ for Eliran Atar.

Vidar’s point blank scorcher was parried away by Zoubas in the 81’ as the match opened up. At the other end Gordana’s low attempt from the left side just skipped by Rajiko’s right post. In the 85’ Battocchio went into the box and gave Blackman a terrific pass but hit the ball right into Zoubas while the same Blackman had another chance a minute later but his attempt was saved again by the Bnei Yehuda shot stopper. Cruyff made his final substitute when he inserted Tino Susic for Battocchio in the 89’ as Maccabi scored one more goal right at the final whistle when Blackman put the ball right through Zoubas good for a 2:0 win.