Omer Atzily, the Yellow & Blue midfielder had a very active match in the 2:0 win over Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 33 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al Championship Playoffs and summed up the victory:

“This was a very important win and we’ve said that if we aren’t in Europe it will be a big failure. We made a good step against a side that we are battling for the spot and now we have to look ahead to next week.”

Difference between this week and last:
“Last week we looked much better but then we gave up the two late goals, however, it wasn’t something that went on throughout the match. I think that if we continue this way we will end the season the way we should.”

What could have been should he have been healthy all season:
“I was out 5.5 months and it was a big chunk of the season so there’s no question that I think back to what could have been but we are a team and whenever I have the opportunity I have to do the best that I can. I’m happy that we’ve seen it.”

The penalty:
“There was no difference of opinion on the pitch. Players see the game differently on the pitch and Vidar asked me if he could take it and I said go ahead and he scored. I believe that because I let him take it I was given the opportunity to score the second.”

Hapoel Beer Sheva wanting to celebrate the title next week against Maccabi:
“They basically have wrapped up the title and of course they want to celebrate in our faces but we will come in there and do what we have to. We won’t think about them at all.”

Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach summed up his team’s 2:0 win over Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 33 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al Championship Playoffs and began by looking at almost qualifying for a European spot:

“We haven’t wrapped it up yet mathematically and we can’t believe anything yet as we saw last week. We also thought we had it but didn’t take it. It’s a good step in the right direction for sure. We scored the first goal and whoever would have scored first would have had a good chance to win. In the end it was us and based on the second half it was deserved, we were disciplined on defense and a put in a good performance.

Playing to their potential:
“When you are so many points behind the number 1 it shows potential sometimes but it’s not enough. It may be something to analyze at the end of the month and hopefully the club will make the right decisions and correct what we haven’t done well this year. I do believe that the potential is here but there are some things missing.”

The penalty taker:
“We agreed after our penalty saga this year that we don’t have a fixed penalty taker. I do think that Atzily had confidence and was shooting good and for me he was the one that should have taken it. On the other hand it’s a game for mature players and not children so if there is a player that feels good and shoots good then I’m ok with it. As a player you feel best as to what is happening on the field and at the end the result was that we don’t have to make any issue as we didn’t miss.”

Playing at Beer Sheva on Saturday night:
“Last season was painful. To lose the league in your face is extra painful for sure. In the end the one who wins the league is the one who deserved it and you have to be a sportsman to be able to say these things. But we still have something to achieve and we want to be the first team to win there. We want to guarantee our European qualification and we want to even go for the second position. One thing is for sure, we will give a big battle over there.”

The Yellow & Blue defeated Maccabi Netanya 2:0 on Matchday 33 of the Israel Premier League Championship Playoffs and collected an important three points as they look to secure a place in Europa League qualification. Vidar Kjartansson slotted home a penalty after Omer Atzily was pulled down in the box while the aforementioned Atzily scored a gorgeous goal to wrap up the victory.

Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajikovic, Eli Dasa, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Tal Ben Haim, Yuval Shpungin, Dor Peretz, Avi Rikan, Eyal Golasa, Dor Micha (C), Omer Atzily and Vidar Kjartansson.

Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Jose Rodriguez, Ofir Davidzada, Nick Blackman, Eliran Atar, Gidi Kanuk and Sheran Yeini.

First Half
The match began at a slow pace as both Shpungin and Ben Haim were each issued yellow cards early on. In the 20’ Ramzi Safouri had the first chance of the contest but Rajikovic was in place to make the timely save.

Eran Levy had a pair of opportunities later on in the half to no avail while Omer Atzili tried his luck as well but came up short. With a minute before the break, an injured Shpungin was replaced by Ofir Davidzada as the two sides went into halftime goalless.

Second Half
Maccabi had two excellent attempts to break the ice at the start of the second half, but Rikan’s 22 meter screamer was caught by Netanya keeper Dani Amos and Atzily’s chance missed the target by centimeters in the 52’ and 56’ respectively. Five minutes later Atzily looked to have scored in the 61’ but the referee called offside on the play while in the 65’ Aviv Avraham almost gave Netanya the lead but Rajikovic was up to the task.

Three minutes later the active Atzily was pulled down in the box good for a Maccabi penalty which Vidar slotted home to give the Yellow & Blue a 1:0 lead. Immediately following the goal Nick Blackman entered the match in place of the goal scorer Kjartansson. In the 75’ Blackman came in alone on Amos but his attempt just whistled by the right post and out.

Peretz was handed a yellow card in the 79’ and in the 84’ Jose Rodriguez was introduced in favor of Rikan. With Netanya looking to draw even, Atzily sent a missile into the top left hand corner of the goal for a 2:0 lead as the Yellow & Blue wrapped up the win and the three points.

1. The battle for a place in Europe: Maccabi Tel Aviv host’s Maccabi Netanya this evening on Matchday 33 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al as the two sides are battling head to head for a spot in the Europa League qualification rounds.

We followed Sheran Yeini as he recuperated from his injury, watch the clip:

2. The Captain is back: Last Matchday Maccabi Tel Aviv drew 2:2 against Hapoel Haifa at Sammy Ofer after leading 2:0. In the good news department, the Captain, Sheran Yeini will return to the squad after being out for 3 months.

You may recall that Yeini was a second half substitute in the match against Hapoel Beer Sheva back in February, but just minutes before the final whistle he injured his knee and went through a long recovery period. Eli Dasa and Dor Peretz will also be back in the squad after being out due to yellow card accumulation.

However, Barak Itzhaki, Aaron Schoenfeld (both out due to suspensions) and Cristian Battocchio (injury) will be unavailable for Cruyff this evening.

3. Just before finding out that he’ll be back in the squad, the Captain addressed the media at the prematch press conference ahead of tonight’s match: “We all have to lift ourselves up, the players, staff and fans. We are focused right now on the Netanya match and it’s crucial for us to secure our European spot which is the minimum we can do at this club.”

Watch the press conference:

Cruyff added: “Netanya will battle and we gave goals or reach.”

4. Netanya without Dia Saba:
For Netanya this is also an important game as Slobodan Drapic and Shay Barda are looking to also secure a European position. Their side currently sits in 5th place with 55 points, 4 behind Maccabi who are currently in 4th place.

Netanya will have to do without Dia Saba as the league’s top goal scorer will be out of action due to the red card he picked up against Beitar Jerusalem. Youngster Yomas Malede will also be unavailable due to yellow card accumulation.

Captain Sheran Yeini looked ahead to tomorrow night’s match against Maccabi Netanya at 20:30 at the Netanya Stadium on Matchday 33 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al:

“We are all together and we have to get results. If we don’t bring the results we all feel it. We all have to lift ourselves up, the players, staff and fans, it’s not easy but we all have to do it. I am with the players day in and day out and we are always trying to do our best. At Maccabi Tel Aviv we have to give 110% every match and every practice. When the fans see that, then they can be proud.”

About Eitan Tibi:
“Eitan is a good guy and I’ve played with him for a long time. We all respect him and it’s time to turn the page as we all know that he will always be there for us.”

His current status:
“I don’t know if I’ll play as I’ve just trained for a week and I haven’t played in 12 weeks. The professional staff will have to decide.”

Up and down season:
“We had many ups and downs this season even though we made it into Europe. We had some tough times including the match at Hapoel Beer Sheva. If you look at how many championships and titles you end up with at the end of a career as a footballer, you see that you gain a lot from each season and you learn a lot as well, which hopefully help us out next season.”

Goals ahead:
“We are focused right now on the Netanya match and it’s crucial for us to secure our European spot which is the minimum we can do at this club.”

The first match of the playoffs against Hapoel Haifa:
“The first match we didn’t have any luck. We came into the playoffs in good shape and then we dropped points. We played well against Hapoel Haifa and then they scored the first goal and then the second. We wanted to win but fell.”