Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Beer Sheva 3:0 at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday 15 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika thanks to a first half goal by Chico Ofoedu and goals by Enric Saborit and Avi Rikan in the second half to secure the win and three points. The Yellow & Blue will now prepare for their next match at Ramat Gan Stadium against Hapoel Raanana at 16:00 on Saturday afternoon.
Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Jair Amador, Sheran Yeini, Enric Saborit, Shahar Piven, Dor Micha, Dan Glazer, Dor Peretz, Chico Ofoedu, Omer Atzili, Yonatan Cohen.
Available on the bench: Daniel Tenenbaum, Eitan Tibi, Ruslan Barsky, Avi Rikan, Itay Shechter, Aron Schoenfeld, Eliran Atar.
Fist Half
Beer Sheva had the first chance of the match when Maor Melikson sent a beauty of a ball to Ben Bitton, but his attempt flew over the goal in the 4’ while Atzlli’s free kick from the right side missed the target 3 minutes later. Atzili’s 8’ opportunity was caught by Harush and ten minutes later Atzili found Chico but his header missed the target.
But Chico’s next touch found the back of the goal as the striker picked off a back pass by Marwan Kabha intended for keeper Ariel Harush and tapped it home for a 1:0 Yellow & Blue lead in the 21’. Maccabi continued to press for a second goal but Cohen missed the goal in the 27’ and two minutes later Chico’s terrific dribble was taken care of by the Beer Sheva defense.
Beer Sheva made and early substitute inserting Nigel Hassebaink in favor of Kabha in the 32’ which helped Sahar have a chance a minute later, but his attempt missed the target. At the other end of the pitch Atzili’s opportunity hit the outside of the goal. In the 37’ Melikson found Hasselbaink but his shot in the box went over the goal while Amador picked up a yellow card with a reckless tackle on the aforementioned Melikson.
Cohen has issued a yellow card of his own in the 44’ and a minute later his chance was saved by Harush as Maccabi took the 1:0 lead into the break.
Second Half
Sabo’s 52’ chance went over the goal and four minutes later Chico’s header missed the target. However, Saborit’s left footed low liner found the back of the goal in the 57’ for a 2:0 Maccabi lead. Chico took the ball right before it went out, passed it back to Saborit who laced home the marker.
Glazer was issued a yellow card on a foul on Melikson in the 61’ and Avi Rikan came on for Aztili two minutes later. Itay Shecter was introduced in favor of Chico Ofoedu in the 69’ for Maccabi’s second substitute. And it didn’t take long for the substitutes to pay dividends as Rikan banged home the goal thanks to a tap assist from Shechter good for a 3:0 advantage.
Eliran Atar came on for Cohen in get 73’ and Hatem Elhamed was handed his second yellow card good for a red in the 80’ reducing Beer Sheva to 10-men as Maccabi defeated their southern rivals 3:0.
