Barak Itzhaki’s 57th minute goal was the lone marker of the match notching the three points for Maccabi Tel Aviv and reducing the gap atop the table to five points. After a slow first half, the rains began and gave the Yellow & Bkue the extra push they needed to take home the victory.

Prematch
Sports Director Jordi Cruyff was again at the helm for the Yellow & Blue as they took on Maccabi Petach Tikva on Matchday 22 and had a Starting XI that included keeper Predrag Rajikovic along with defenders Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Tal Ben Haim and captain Sheran Yeini. Gal Alberman was in his usual defensive midfielder position with Micael, Barak Itzhaki, Dor Micha, Tal Ben Chaim and Vidar Kjartansson rounding out the attack.

Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Lifshitz, Yuval Shpungin, Ramon Roma, Oscar Scarione, Avi Rikan, Marcelo and Eliel Peretz.

First Half
Both sides played very tentatively early on as the majority of the action was in the midfield with very few chances to be had. However, Rajikovic was called upon in the 24th minute to make a fabulous save off of a close opportunity by Guy Melamed after receiving the ball from Gidi Kanuk.

Petach Tikva had a 39th minute chance when Magbo delivered another fine pass to Melamed but his effort went out as the half ended goalless.

Second Half
As the rain teamed down in Petach Tikva, Uri Magbo steamed downfield towards the Maccabi goal, but his hard shot missed the target in the 49th minute. With both sides looking to breakthrough, it would be Maccabi to strike first.

In the 57th minute, Micha sent Itzhaki a wonderful ball just outside of the box as number 10 worked his magic from 16 meters out scorching the ball into the corner of the Petach Tikva goal for a 1:0 Yellow & Blue lead. Seven minutes later, Itzhaki attempted to return the favor to Micha but the latter’s opportunity was saved by Dani Amos while Ben Chaim fed Kjartansson the ball as the Icelander tried to get by the keeper himself but was denied by the shot stopper.

Two minutes later, Ben Chaim and Kjartansson teamed up once again, but the Icelandic striker’s chance just went by the post. Cruyff made his first substitute of the contest in the 71st minute as Eliel Peretz came on for goal scorer Barak Itzhaki and made his second move in the 81st minute Marcelo entered the game for Micael.

Three minutes later Maccabi made their third and final substitute bringing in Oscar Scarione for Micha as both of the last two subs picked up yellow cards before Alon Yefet blew the whistle to send the wet but happy Yellow & Blue fans home happy with a 1:0 win.