Ofek Melika returned to Maccabi’s goal after sitting out the midweek State Cup Semi Final against Maccabi Haifa, and helped his side collect three points at the end of a tense Tel Aviv derby. Melika, who pulled a spectacular save from Fernand Mayembo in the second half before Hapoel managed to score yet a foul of the Hapoel captain on him saw the goal disallowed, admitted: “I had flashbacks from the previous derby where Hapoel scored a two late goals, but this was rightly disallowed and we kept a clean sheet and won the match in a team effort.”
Meika also complimented fellow goalkeeper Roi Mishpati and said he thrives under the competition: “He had an amazing match against Haifa in the Cup. Watching from the bench is never easy as every player wants to play in a Semi Final and a Final but this is the staff’s decision which I respect as it pushes me to perform.”
