Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Kiryat Shemona 3:0 on Matchday 23 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika. Eliran Atar scored a brace while Dor Micha found the back of the goal as well in the clean sheet victory. The Yellow & Blue will now began preparing for next Saturday’s league clash against Maccabi Petah Tikva.
Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Eli Dasa, Jair Amador, Shahar Piven, Enric Saborit, Dor Peretz, Dan Glezer, Dor Micha, Omer Atzili, Eliran Atar, Chico Ofoedu.
Available on the bench: Daniel Tenenbaum, Itay Shechter, Avi Rikan, Yonatan Cohen, Aron Schoenfeld, Maor Kandil, Ruslan Barsky.
First Half
Maccabi came out on fire as Glezer almost opened up the scoring in the 4’ but his blast from 20 meters went over the bar and two minutes later Saborit got the ball to Atzili, but his chance missed the target.
However, in the 7’ Atar made no mistake and put the ball behind a helpless Džiugas Bartkus for a 1:0 Maccabi lead. Micha sent a gorgeous through ball to Ofoedu on the left side of the box who made a perfect cross to an oncoming Atar in the middle of the area as the striker slotted the ball home for the advantage.
In the 22’ Atzli’s laser beam of a shot was parried by Bartkus while Micha’s rebound volley hit the bar. A minute later Micha’s opportunity was caught by an active Kiryat Shemona as Maccabi continued to pour on the offense.
The Yellow & Blue doubled their advantage in the 32’ when Piven sent a beauty of the ball to Ofoedu who tried to pass it to Micha but it glanced off of #15 and went into the goal for a 2:0 lead. Five minutes later, Ofoedu’s 20 meter chance went over the goal while Aztli’s 18 meter free kick just skipped by the post as Maccabi took a 2:0 lead into the break.
Second Half
Atar’s 48’ left footed volley was saved by Bartkus while Levi Garcia had a chance to put the visitor’s on the board four minutes later but his chance missed the target. Yonatan Cohen entered the match as Ivic’s first substitute when he replaced Atzili in the 58’.
Atar gave Maccabi a 3:0 lead in the 62’ after an amazing give and go with Micha as the striker sent the ball right into the goal in a beautiful strike. Cohen’s 68’ opportunity was blocked by Bartkus and a minute later Abuhatzira had a chance for Kiryat Shemona but his shot was stopped by Rajkovic.
In the 75’ Itay Shechter came on for Ofoedu and six minutes later Micha was subbed off for Avi Rikan. Maccabi almost added their 4th goal in the 88’ off a counter attack but the ball went into a defender as the Yellow & Blue wrapped up the 3:0 lead.
