The Yellow & Blue defeated Bnei Yehuda 2:0 on Matchday 31 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al thanks to a pair of second half goals via a brilliant Omer Atzily free kick and Dor Micha’s first of the campaign to take the 3-points for Jordi Cruyff’s squad. Maccabi will visit Hapoel Haifa on Sunday April 29th as they’ll look to pick up another victory at Sammy Ofer Stadium.
Head Coach Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI featured Predrag Rajikovic in goal, Eli Dasa, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Tal Ben Haim, Ofir Davidzada, Dor Peretz, Cristian Battocchio, Omer Atzily, Avi Rikan, Aaron Schoenfeld and Vidar Kjartansson.
Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Jose Rodriguez, Nick Blackman, Gidi Kanuk, Eitan Tibi, Dor Micha, Eliran Atar.
First Half
Bnei Yehuda had the opening chance of the contest in the 2’ when Matan Hozez had a shot in the box, but Rajikovic made a kick save to quell the threat, while Peretz had Maccabi’s first opportunity in the 6’ but his 20 meter attempt went over the bar. Battocchio was injured in the 8’ and was replaced by Jose Rodriguez as Cruyff was forced to make an early substitution.
Rodriguez picked up a yellow card in the 16’ and 3 minutes later Nerijus Valksis had a free kick for the visitor’s, but Rajikovic made the save. In the 30’ Atzily’s opportunity from the right was taken care of by Zoubas while passes between Atzily and Rikan resulted in another good chance for Maccabi as Zoubas was up to the task in the 33’. Rikan’s chance two minutes later went over the bar while Schoenfeld was issued a yellow card in the 44’ as the side’s went into the break goalless.
Second Half
Rodriguez gave Rikan the ball just as the second half began, but the latter couldn’t get a proper shot off in the 46’ while two minutes later Bnei Yehuda had a number of chances in the Maccabi box but couldn’t convert. Ofir Davidzada picked up a yellow card in the 48’ and then after a dozen minutes of midfield play from both teams, Cruyff made his second substitute as he brought on Dor Micha for Aaron Schoenfeld.
Omer Atzily was awarded a free kick at the top right hand corner of the box and he perfectly placed his dead ball attempt into the top right corner of Zoubas’s goal for a 1:0 Maccabi lead in the 62’. Six minutes later Roie Gordana was issued a red card for a reckless tackle on Rodriguez leaving Bnei Yehuda with ten men for the rest of the contest.
The Yellow & Blue took full advantage of their extra man 4 minutes later as Micha tapped in his first goal of the season off a Rikan pass in the box for a 2:0 Maccabi lead. Immediately following the goal, Nick Blackman entered the match for Rodriguez who was still feeling the ill effects of the Gordana tackle and couldn’t continue. Blackman and Micha each had chances, but their 80’ and 83’ opportunities couldn’t find the back of the goal as Maccabi wrapped up their first Championship Playoff victory.
