Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Beitar Jerusalem 1:0 thanks to Dor Micha’s second half goal as the Yellow & Blue picked up the win and the three points. Next week, Coach Vladimir Ivic’s squad will visit Hapoel Hadera on Matchday 20 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika. Prior to the match a ceremony was held to honor former Yellow & Blue central defender Tal Ben Haim who now plays for Beitar.
Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Maor Kandil, Sheran Yeini, Shahar Piven, Enric Saborit, Dan Glezer, Dor Peretz, Dor Micha, Omer Atzili, Eliran Atar, Chico Ofoedu.
Available on the bench: Daniel Tenenbaum, Eli Dasa, Jair Amador, Avi Rikan, Yonatan Cohen, Aron Schoenfeld, Ruslan Barsky.
First Half
Ofoedu had the first chance of the match but his sharp angled shot was saved by Itamar Nitzan in the 3’ while Glezer’s long distance attempt was also taken care of the Beitar shot stopper. Yeini’s 5’ header off an Atzili corner went over the bar as Maccabi continued to threaten. In the 11’ Beitar had their first chance of the match when Vered put the ball over the bar and three minutes later Gaëtan Varenne’s attempt off a Maor Buzaglo free kick was caught by Rajkovic.
Buzaglo’s 19’ free kick went over the goal as did Varenne’s header one minute later. Ofoedu’s low shot hit the left post in the 33’ which was followed up by a pair of Atar chances that went over the goal. Ange-Freddy Plumain’s opportunity in the box was taken care of by Rajkovic while Vered’s shot was also saved by the Maccabi keeper as the half ended goalless.
Atar had a chance to give Maccabi the lead in the 51’ but his volley was saved by Nitzan and 4 minutes later Atar put the ball off the bar as the Yellow & Blue searched for the opening goal. In the 57’ Atzili’s laser beam was parried away to safety by Nitzan and Ofoedu’s shot went off the post.
Finally in the 62’ Micha broke the ice when he tapped in Atzil’s shot from the right side that Nitzan couldn’t save to give Maccabi a 1:0 lead. Avi Rikan was introduced in favor of Atar in the 66’. Saborit’s 76’ volley went over the goal and 4 minutes later Atzili made way for Yonatan Cohen for Coach Ivic’s second substitution while Aron Schoenfeld came on for Ofoedu in the 89’. Rajkovic made a huge save off a Yossi Benayoun chance in the box in injury time as Maccabi wrapped up a 1:0 win over Beitar.
