Maccabi restored their 12-point-lead at the top of the table with five matches left until the end of the season thanks to second half goals from Avi Rikan and Eylon Almog.
The second round of the Playoff will begin on Tuesday as Maccabi travel to Sammy Ofer stadium in Haifa to face Hapoel knowing that a victory could all but seal a second successive league title.
Vladimir Ivic made three changes to the side which was held to a 1-1 draw by Hapoel Be’ersheva in midweek as Maor Kandil and Sheran Yeini replaced Andre Gerlades and Ofir Davidzada.
Maccabi’s skipper, who made a late substitute appearance against Be’ersheva, received the captain’s armband at the expense of Dor Peretz who dropped to the bench and was replaced in midfield by Avi Rikan. Ivic’s attack remained unchanged as Itay Schechter and Yonatan Cohen led the line while Nick Blackman and Eylon Almog, who scored Maccabi’s third in the 3-0 win over Hapoel earlier this season – waited for their chance on the bench.
With five substitutions allowed due to the Covid19 updated regulations, Ivorian midfielder Parfait Guigaon who has yet to make his debut appearance for the senior side and Nadav Nidam who made his debut at the tail-end of last season – complete the list of 9 substitutes which also includes Andreas Gianniotis, Eitan Tibi, Davidzada, Gerlades and Peretz.
Yonatan Cohen forced Arik Yanko to make the first save of the game as his left foot corner curled dangerously but was parried out by Hapoel’s keeper.
On the stroke of half time Schecter teed-up Rikan on the edge of the area, but the midfielder blasted his shot high over the crossbar. Ivic made his first substitution after the restart as Almog replaced Yonatan Cohen to partner Schechter upfront.
Ivic made a double substitution in the 70th minute as he introduced Petetz and Blackman for the tired Eyal Golasa and Schechter.
Within two minutes the changes paid off as Blackman won an aerial battle on the edge of the area, headed the ball towards Almog whose delicate touch allowed Rikan to slot home the opener past Yanko.
Geraldes replaced the industrious Kandil for the final 12 minutes. In the 87th minute Almog tested the keeper with a free kick which Yanko pushed out for a corner. Three minutes later, Almog secured the victory as he dispossessed a Hapoel defender, found Dan Glazer who fed Peretz before Almog doubled the score.
