Striker Barak Itzhaki and midfielder Gal Alberman conquer the Magyars, substitute midfielder Dor Micha grabs both assists

In head coach Paulo Sousa's maiden game as head coach, Maccabi Tel Aviv put on a superb display of attacking football to register an impressive 0-2 victory in the away leg of their first Champions League qualifier against Hungarian champions Gyori ETO FC. Early in the first half the Israeli champions already showed their attacking intentions as shots from distance by midfielders Gal Alberman and Maharan Radi within the first ten minutes of play were both saved by Gyori keeper Ľubos Kamenar. Gyori tried to stay in the match but Maccabi continued to dominate proceedings and further shots on target by midfielders Eran Zahavi (22^nd minute) and Omri Altman (37^th minute) narrowly missed handing their side a precious away goal. The Hungarians' best effort of the half came on the half hour mark when Gyori's young striker, Roland Varga, let fly from outside the area. But Maccabi goalkeeper Juan Pablo Colinas, in his maiden appearance for the club, timed his jump perfectly to palm the ball over the net.

The second half started at a slightly slower pace, but within ten minutes Maccabi saw two more efforts narrowly miss their target, the first by Maharan Radi and the second a header by striker Rade Prica, both grazing the far post. With a quarter of an hour left on the clock, the substitution of Rade Prica with young midfielder Dor Micha signalled a shift in play and within a minute of his appearance on the pitch the change was already tangible. Breaking through on the right flank, Micha crossed to Itzhaki in the area who shook loose a defender and smashed the ball past the Gyori keeper into the net to give Maccabi a precious away advantage and Itzhaki his first goal since returning to the club after a season on loan. Maccabi kept up the pressure and in the time remaining Radi, Zahavi and Micha all had chances at doubling the advantage. But it wasn't until time added on that Dor Micha once again broke down the right and passed back into the area for Gal Alberman, whose powerful shot flew past the Hungarian keeper's outstretched hand into the upper left-hand corner of the net to seal an invaluable 0-2 away Maccabi victory.

The return leg against Gyori ETO FC will be played next Tuesday night at 9.30pm at Bloomfield Stadium. 

A pair from Moanes Dabour set the score in an excellent game against Maccabi Haifa, which was temporarily equalised by Chen Ezra

Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Maccabi Haifa (2-1) in a fascinating upbeat game that sealed the first round of the premier league.  This game marked the fourth time in which the teams meet for the opening round and in each of them, the winner went on to win the championship at the end of the season.  Unlike many "season games" and despite the fact that this is the first round, the intriguing encounter between the yellow and green fulfilled all expectations.  A quick goal by Dabour and a response from Chen Ezra before halftime sent the teams to the dressing room at a tie.  Dabour also set the score of the game in the second half.

Watch the gallery from the match

The game opened with quick offensives on both sides, with the two teams seeking the goal and Maccabi Tel Aviv being the first to find it.  Two minutes after missing the goal from a convenient angle, Moanes Dabour received an excellent depth ball from Vered in Minute 7 and planted into Davidovich's corner.  Haifa's players snapped out the shock quickly and the next offensive ended with Chen Ezra kicking hard toward Enyeama's goalpost.  The game continued at a fast pace on both sides until the score was evened as well, 8 minutes into the first half.  It was energetic Chen Ezra waiting at the end of a wide ball from Idan Vered, kicking an air ball into the goal and tying the score.  Just before the half ended, Samuel Scheimann joined Haifa's offense and nearly surprised Enyeama with a long range kick that also marked the end of the half.

Despite the hot weather, the tempo at the beginning of the second half just increased.  It started with a dangerous kick from Ezra that Enyeama managed to ward off and then, 10 minutes into the half, the net shuddered for a third time.  The yellow team regained the advantage in Minute 55 following a quick maneuver on the right, beginning with Yeini and continuing with an excellent wide ball from Dahan, leaving Dabour open to score another goal with a header.  Maccabi Tel Aviv's players continued to control the reins during the game when Atar stood against Davidovich alone and kicked the ball out, and Radi tested the alertness of the guest goalkeeper with a hard kick from long range.

Starting in the final quarter, the game settled down a bit as Haifa tried to penetrate the yellow defense and the yellow offense tried to execute fast attacks.  Everyone was very tense during the added time but at the end, the yellow crowd celebrated an important moral victory after just one victory over Maccabi Haifa in the past 20 encounters.  Next Monday, the players will set out to play against Maccabi Netanya in an away game, trying to achieve the second victory of the season in a game that is not expected to be easy.