Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Hapoel Hadera 2:0 on Matchday 20 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika. First half goals by Itay Shechter in the 18’ and Eliran Atar in the 29’, both of which were assisted by Dor Micha were enough to help the Yellow & Blue to the win and the 3 points. The victory gives Maccabi 52 points, 21 points ahead of second place Bnei Yehuda.
Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Maor Kandil, Sheran Yeini, Jair Amador, Enric Saborit, Dan Glezer, Ruslan Barsky, Dor Micha, Chico Ofoedu, Eliran Atar, Itay Shechter.
Available on the bench: Daniel Tenenbaum, Shahar Piven, Ophir Davidzada, Dor Peretz, Avi Rikan, Omer Atzili, Aron Schoenfeld.
First Half
After a quarter hour of play primarily taking place in the midfield, Maccabi found the back of the goal first when Micha sent a ball from the left of the box to Shechter who used his left foot to send it behind the Hadera for 1:0 lead in the 18’.
Kandil tried his luck in the 21’ but he missed the target while Lucio’s 25’ attempt was blocked by Rajkovic. Two minutes later, Yeini hit the bar off an Atar corner while Kandil’s rebound attempt was sent over the goal.
The Yellow & Blue doubled their advantage in the 29’ when Atar put home Micha’s second assist of the match from 6 meters out into the far corner, 2:0 Maccabi. Dovev Gabbay almost pulled a goal back for Hadera in the 38’ but just missed the ball and a minute later Rajkovic was in place to parry away Lucio’s attempt as the half ended with Maccabi ahead by two.
Second Half
Shahar Piven came on in place of Amador to begin the half. Gabbay was active again in the 47’ but his chance missed the target while Salim Amash’s opportunity from 18 meters in the 61’ went over the bar.
Omer Atzili entered the match in the 69’ and in the 75’ Glezer’s tough angled chance was blocked by the Hadera defense. Ofoedu almost added his name to the goal scorers list but his 16 meter opportunity went over the bar. Avi Rikan came on for the aforementioned Ofoedu in the 83’ as Maccabi wrapped up the win as well as another clean sheet while they increased their lead atop of the table to 21 points.
