Yonatan Cohen also spoke about the victory:
“It’s great to win and great to help your team take the victory. It’s exciting to be called up to the National Team and it’s the childhood dream of every player. I’m very happy.”

No easy matches:
“There are no easy matches in this league. We come into every match ready to go and the most important thing is that we win.”

State Cup:
“We’re not really looking at potentially winning the title against Maccabi Haifa as we have an important State Cup semifinals contest as well. Growing up at Maccabi makes this even more special.”

Continuing to adjust:
“We were very disappointed in not advancing to the group stages of the Europa League. I don’t know what will be going into next season with the squad, but we will adjust accordingly.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv began their playoff run today as they hosted Hapoel Hadera and recorded a 2:0 victory. Second half goals by Avi Rikan and Aron Schoenfeld thanks to a pair of assists by Yonatan Cohen moved the Yellow & Blue closer to locking up the league title. Near the end of the first half VAR determined that George Fochive was to be sent off right with a straight red card after a foul on Rikan as the new system was used twice on the first half. Vladimir Ivic’s squad will now be off for the international break and will return in two weeks with a home playoff match against Maccabi Haifa.

Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI: Predrag Rajkovic, Maor Kandil, Sheran Yeini, Jair Amador, Enric Saborit, Dan Glezer, Avi Rikan, Dor Micha, Yonatan Cohen, Eliran Atar, Itay Shechter.

Available on the bench: Daniel Tenenbaum, Eli Dasa, Aron Schoenfeld, Omer Atzili, Shahar Piven, Dor Peretz, Ruslan Barsky.

First half
The first half hour of the contest was relatively calm as Hadera played with a defensive formation as Maccabi tried to break the deadlock. After a long shot by Cohen and another dangerous corner that Yeini headed out, VAR was used for the first time in the 23’. The play in question was if a hand ball by David Matteos in the Hadera box was worthy of a penalty kick, but after 5 minutes analyzing referee Shalom Ben Avrahami decided that a penalty kick should not be awarded.

In the 34’ Eliel Peretz had a chance in the box but Yeini stopped him from shooting on goal. Moments before the break, VAR was again in the spotlight after George Fochive stepped on Kandil. After the official review the decision was made to send the Hadera player off with a direct red card. In first half stoppage time Rikan almost found the back of the goal after a dangerous attack by Maccabi, but his shot missed the target as the side’s went into halftime goalless.

Second half
Maccabi started the second half looking for a quick goal and found it in the 49’. Cohen broke through on the left wing and crossed the ball into the box as Rikan with a beautiful right foot volley scored past Haviv Ohayon, 1-0 Maccabi.

The Yellow & Blue kept looking for another goal but Micha and Saborit’s opportunities came up short. In the 65’ Ivic made his first substitution as he brought on Aron Schoenfeld for Shecter. Five minutes later Omer Atzili came on for Atar and a minute after that he also created a chance with a sharp shot that flew inches by the post.

Maccabi continued to create chances but Atzili and Cohen missed the target. However, in the 85’ Schonefeld scored a fantastic goal as Cohen found the striker 20 meters and sent a scorcher into the back of Ohayon’s goal to wrap up a 2:0.

Sheran Yeini, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Captain looked ahead to his side’s Championship Playoff opener against Hapoel Hadera on Saturday:

“We are preparing like any other match. We look at our opponent and analyze their style. There isn’t specifically anything else. We’ll do what we’ve been doing all season. We are only looking at the upcoming match and not what will be so we can concentrate on each match.”

Finishing the season undefeated:
“I am trying not to look ahead about going undefeated. As an athlete we have to focus on the challenge in front of ourselves and go step by step.”

About Hapoel Hadera:
“They have had a wonderful season and I’ve enjoyed their style. We also have a lot players who are playing there and we want them to develop and play more minutes. Hopefully, they will succeed, but not against us.”

Not lifting the foot off the gas:
“We are always looking at how we can keep pushing each other on each and every play. We aren’t going to lift our foot off gas as we have the league and Cup still, this season. We can’t lift our foot off the gas.”

About coach Ivic:
“I don’t like to compare coaches, but I can say that our coach is super professional and we all know where we have to be on the pitch, on the ball and off the ball. We respect the coach very much.”

Shahar Piven and other Maccabi players not making the National team:
“Shahar is having a great season and he has taken the opportunity the club gave him with both hands. He knows how to play on the pitch whether it’s aerial balls or his aggressiveness. We like him a lot and he has plenty of potential. At the end of the day, the National team coaching staff has to make their decisions who they will take and they can’t take everyone.”

Playing hard every match:
“Everyone of us has to play our hardest and we have to play every match like it’s our last one.”

For the club:
“I am a player who wants to play and I’ll do anything the club wants of me, if it’s right back, midfielder or anything else. I am always there for the club and I want to play.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach addressed the assembled media ahead of his squad’s first Championship Playoff match against Hapoel Hadera:

“We know Hapoel Hadera and they came from the second division, they have impressed all of us and they have played very well this season. The club deserves respect for everything they have done on this championship. We will fight our hardest to take the 3 points. It’s not an easy match and we will be focused to face a tough opponent.”

About Hadera Coach Niso Avitan:
“He is one of the best coaches in Israel like coach of Bnei Yehuda, Netanya and others. He has done good things here and he deserves the credit. One day you can be at the top and the next at the bottom. You have to work hard each and every day.”

The impact of VAR:
“Football needs VAR. It may cause breaks in the action but football needs this. As the years go by decisions will b quicker. I am for the VAR as it will be good for our championship. Referees sometimes make mistakes and sometimes they have to make a decision and they make a wrong one. But with the VAR they can fix that. VAR is needed everywhere not just in Israel as referees make mistakes all over the world. Sometimes the mistakes are very big and VAR can correct those.”

Status of Nikolic:
“He is doing well and he will train with us tomorrow. We will have to see about playing in the near future.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv welcomes Hapoel Hadera on Saturday March 16th at 16:00 in the first Playoff match at the Netanya Stadium. Tickets are on sale now via the Leaan Website, the Leaan Ticket Office located at 42 Frishman Street, Tel Aviv and via Telephone *8780.

Please Note! Playoff Ticket Packages are on sale now and tickets for the matches against Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Beer Sheva and Maccabi Netanya are not expected to go on sale to the general public in the standard seat locations. Secure your seats now!

You may purchase tickets on the Leaan Website by using the User ID and password. If you do know one or both of those details please send an email to support@leaan.co.il.

Home printing is available

Ticket Prices
Leaan Ticket Office
West Stand (Sections 101, 109, 209) – 100 NIS Youth/Soldier/Women – 50 NIS
West Stand (Sections 102, 108, 208) – 100 NIS
West Stand (103, 204-207) 110 NIS
E+ – 250 NIS
Silver Section – 350 NIS

Phone/Leaan Website
West Stand (Sections 101, 109, 209) – 105 NIS Youth/Soldier/Women – 55 NIS
West Stand (Sections 102, 108, 208) – 105 NIS
West Stand (Sections 103, 204-207) 115 NIS
E+ – 255 NIS
Silver Section – 355 NIS

Youth/Soldier/Women tickets are available for purchase by telephone only after identification.

Ticket Collection
Tickets may be collected at the Leaan Ticket Office located at 42 Frishman Street, Tel Aviv between Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:00-13:30.
Tickets may be collected on Matchday at the Stadium ticket windows beginning 3 hours prior to the match until 45 minutes after the start of the match.