Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Netanya 2:1 on Matchday 4 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika. Itay Shechter gave the Yellow & Blue a first half lead, but the host’s drew even early on in the second half thanks to a David Tiram header. However, an off balanced sharp angled shot by Eli Dasa from the right side in the 81’ made its way past a baffled Dani Amos to give Maccabi the 3 points and the win. On Wednesday Maccabi will face Maccabi Haifa in the Toto Cup Final at the Moshava Stadium while on Monday October 1st the Yellow & Blue will host the Reds in the Tel Aviv Derby.
Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Eli Dasa, Shachar Piven, Sheran Yeini, Ofir Davidzada, Dor Micha, Eyal Golasa, Dan Glazer, Ruslan Barsky, Itay Shechter, Eliran Atar.
Available on the bench were Haviv Ohayon, Avi Rikan, Enric Saborit, Jair Amador, Omer Atzily, Chico Ofoedu, Dor Peretz.
First Half
Davidzada and Vicki Kahlon picked up yellow cards in the first five minutes while Aviv Avraham’s one on one chance on Rajkovic was cleared at the last second by Dasa. Piven was issued a yellow card in the 14’ while four minutes later Micha sent a classic through ball to Shechter but his attempt went off a defender.
In the 21’ Guy Melamed’s long distance chance went over the goal and 3 minutes later Maccabi picked off an errant ball by Amos, but Atar’s share angled shot from the left side went off the side netting of the goal. The Yellow & Blue took a 1:0 lead in the 27’ as Yeini’s brilliant pass from the midfield found Shechter who easily beat his defender and slotted the ball into the back of the goal.
Micha sent a nice ball to Atar in the 32’ but his bicycle kick attempt missed the target while three minutes later Golasa’s shot from 20 meters went over the bar. Shechter was handed a yellow card in the 40’ as the half ended with Maccabi holding a 1:0 lead.
Second Half
Jair Amador was introduced in place of Davidzada and Maccabi moved to 3 central defenders as Micha dropped back to the left. In the 50’ a short corner by Netanya to Niclas Elsek resulted in a goal as he lofted a ball into the box and David Tiram headed it behind Rajkovic to draw even at 1:1.
In the 56’ Netanya threatened Rajkovic’s goal again as Gabriel Kanikowsky’s chance was blocked by by Glazer who sent the ball out for a corner. In the 64’ Chico Ofoedu came on for Atar as Ivic made his 2nd substitute looking to freshen up the offense while Ofoedu then had a quick chance but his attempt went out.
Micha went by a number of defenders but was pulled down in the 70’ by Dudu Twitto who received a yellow card for his efforts, but Barsky’s free kick from the top of the box went over the goal. Five minutes later, Omer Atzily was introduced for the aforementioned Barsky as Ivic made his 3rd substitution of the match.
Then out of nowhere Dasa takes a sharp angled shot from the right side that somehow finds its way behind Amos to give Maccabi a 2:1 lead in the 81’ as the Yellow & Blue wrapped up the win and took home the 3 points. On Wednesday Maccabi will face Maccabi Haifa in the Toto Cup Final at the Moshava Stadium while on Monday October 1st the Yellow & Blue will host the Reds in the Tel Aviv Derby.
