The Yellow & Blue defeated Dundalk 2:1 on Matchday Six of the Europa League thanks to goals by Tal Ben Chaim on a penalty and Dor Micha, while an own goal by Eli Dasa gave Dundalk their lone marker of the evening. Maccabi’s European campaign ended though as Alkmaar won at home 3:2 over Zenit and claimed second place in Group D.
Prematch
Head Coach Shota Arveladze Starting XI included Serbian keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal with a defense of Eli Dasa, Tal Ben Haim, Eitan Tibi and Omri Ben Harush. Manning the midfield was Haris Medunjanin, Nosa Igiebor and 
Eyal Golasa with attacking trio of Dor Micha, Tal Ben Chaim and Vidar Kjartansson.
Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Gal Alberman, Yossi Benayoun, Egor Filipenka, Sagiv Yehezkel, Barak Itzhaki and Eden Ben Basat
First Half
Medunjanin looked to find a goal for Maccabi early on but his 25 meter effort was easily saved by Dundalk keeper Gary Rogers in the 6th minute while just one minute later Micha sent Ben Chaim an incredible pass in the box which the latter scored but was ruled to be offside.
Golasa was issued a yellow card in the 11th minute for a reckless tackle in the midfield on Daryl Horgan but the ensuing free kick missed the mark and was cleared by the Yellow & Blue defense. Micha then had a chance but his shot was saved by Rogers to keep the score at 0:0.
However, the match wouldn’t stay goalless for much longer as Rogers was issued a yellow card after pulling down Medunjanin in the box. Number 4 had received a fine pass from Ben Chaim when Rogers committed the foul good for a Maccabi penalty that was duly converted by the aforementioned Ben Chaim to give Maccabi a 1:0 lead in the 21st minute. But the advantage didn’t hold for long as Chris Shields crossed the ball from the right side of the box to Horgan and an oncoming Dasa who knocked the ball in for an own goal from in close to draw the Irish side even at 1:1 in the 26th minute.
But Maccabi didn’t hang their heads and looked to find a go-ahead marker which they did ten minutes later as Micha scored after taking a gorgeous Ben Chaim pass in the box for a 2:1 advantage.
Second Half
Maccabi came out of the box looking to increase their lead but Tibi’s 58th minute header off a Medunjanin corner missed the mark, while two minutes later Ben Chaim almost found Igiebor in the area but Rogers collected the ball to keep the score as is. Number 4 had a 64th minute long range chance but his shot went way over the goal while Ben Chaim came cutting into the box but his screamer was blocked by Rogers.
In the 69th minute Kjartansson found Ben Chaim with a terrific pass who then in turn handed it to Micha but Number 15 shot way wide with an open goal in front of him. A turnover by the Dundalk defenders created another chance for Maccabi as Micha crossed to an oncoming Igiebor but Number 40 couldn’t get to the ball in time as Rogers made the save in the 73rd minute.
Maccabi made their first substitution in the 82nd minute as Gal Alberman was introduced in favor of Eyal Golasa while news out of Holland was that Zenit had pulled back a goal to cut the Alkmaar lead to 3:2. Two minutes later the Yellow & Blue brought on Yossi Benayoun for Nosa Igiebor while in the 88th minute Eden Ben Basat came into the mix for Tal Ben Chaim as Maccabi picked up the 2:1 victory on Matchday Six of the Europa League. However, due to an Alkmaar win over Zenit by the score of 3:2 in Holland, the Yellow & Blue were eliminated from European completion.
Maccabi Tel Aviv will now look ahead to Ligat Ha’Al action with a clash against Hapoel Haifa at Sammy Ofer Stadium on Sunday evening at 20:15.
