Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa 3:1 at Sammy Ofer Stadium on Matchday 14 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika thanks to two first half goals by Eliran Atar and a single marker by Dor Peretz thanks to a corner by Atar to start off the second half. Sintayehu Sallalich scored Haifa’s lone goal as Yellow & Blue keeper Predrag Rajkovic had a brilliant second half to quell the Green threats time after time. This Saturday, Maccabi will head to Teddy Stadium for a State Cup Round of 32 match against Beitar Jerusalem.
Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Eric Saborit, Shahar Piven, Sheran Yeini (C), Mor Kandil, Dor Peretz, Ruslan Barsky, Dor Micha, Omer Atzili, Eliran Atar, Itay Shechter.
Available on the bench: Haviv Ohayon, Jair Amador, Chico Ofoedu, Yonatan Cohen, Aron Schoenfeld, Dan Glazer, Avi Rikan.
First Half
Maccabi began the contest off well finding the back of the goal in the 4’ via Atar to take a 1:0 lead. Peretz sent a tremendous ball from the midfield to Kandil on the right side who sent a perfect cross into the box that the striker finished off to give the Yellow & Blue the advantage early on.
Haifa had their first chance of the match in the 9’ when Georges Mandjeck gave Mohammed Awaed a through ball but Rajikovic was up to the task, while 8 minutes later Atzili’s attempt towards the far corner was saved by Green keeper Guy Haimov. Barsky picked up a yellow card in get 18’ and Awaed had another quality chance for Haifa in the 22’ but Rajikovic was in place once again to make the save.
Maccabi almost doubled the lead thanks to a short corner but Yeini and Shechter couldn’t find a way to get the ball behind Haimov as they headed it out in the 34’ and eight minutes later Peretz sent a 22’ meter scorcher that Haimov parried away. But just seconds later Atar headed home a brilliant Micha cross into the box for a 2:0 lead as the side’s headed into the break.
Second Half
The Yellow & Blue opened the second half the same way the first half began, with a goal as Peretz scored off an Atar corner kick to give Maccabi a 3:0 lead in the 47th minute. Piven was issued a yellow card in the 54’ while Micha’s attempt two minutes later was saved by Haimov.
Dan Glazer replaced Barsky in the 59’ as Ivic’s first substitute of the contest. Awaed’s long distance chance went out in the 62’ while Nikita Rukavytsya’s header three minutes later was caught by Rajkovic. Atzili’s 67’ attempt was just saved by Haimov and then it looked like Shechter’s header made it 4:0 for the Yellow & Blue but it was called off by the linesman.
Sallalich pulled a goal back for Haifa in the 70’ and Ivic then made his second substitute when he inserted Chico Ofoedu for Atar. Rajikovic again was up to the task in the 76’ when the shot stopper saved a Roie Kehat clean chance in the box and three minutes later Shon Weissman’s attempt to keep the score as is.
Avi Rikan was introduced in the 85’ in favor of Micha as Maccabi wrapped up a 3:1 win over Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium ahead of their State Cup Round of 32 match on Saturday night at Beitar Jerusalem.
