Maccabi Tel Aviv recorded another win after defeating Maccabi Petah Tikva 2:0 on Matchday 30 of the Ligat Ha’Al Championship Playoffs. Yossi Benayoun continues to be an important factor as he helped his teammates cut the Beer Sheva lead to just three points. Following the match the veteran midfielder commented about the game that was:

The title fight:
“I’m looking at our performance and we want to do the maximum to win and then see what they are doing. We have been playing much better over the last few weeks and we are winning some tough games.”

About Petah Tikva’s play:
“We knew from the get go that it was going to be an aggressive match. We were ready for this and we were aggressive as well. At the end of the day the team that deserved to win, did so.”

On the club’s recent performance:
“I’m trying to do the maximum for the club and when I play I feel even better. It’s important for me to do my part for the club and it doesn’t matter how much I play. Now it’s easy to say that the decision to come here was the correct one, but I was happy with my decision to come here from the beginning. I’m enjoying it here and that is what’s most important. I’m enjoying the moment and not even thinking about next season. Everyone wants to focus and work hard until the end.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv proved tonight that they aren’t giving up just yet on the league title as they gave a fine performance in a 2:0 win over Maccabi Petah Tikva on Matchday 30 of the Ligat Ha’Al Championship Playoffs. As the Yellow & Blue cut the Hapoel Beer Sheva lead atop the table to just three points, Head Coach Lito Vidigal summed up the victory:

“It’s important for us to win all of the remaining matches, not just this one and we are working on it. We had a terrific game. We may have had some issues but we played smart and are focusing just on our game. It’s a fantastic win for the players and they are working very hard and deserve it. I give this win to the fans. They are fighting with us and we are winning because of their support. I tell the players to be smart and if they play that way they won’t make any mistakes and we will win.”

About the refereeing:
“I have nothing to complain about and we played a very good team that played very well. I’m never going to talk about the referees. Maccabi is the biggest club in Israel and I have plenty of responsibility. I represent Israeli football and I have to always think of what I do. I’m here to help Israeli football and I have players that play on the National Team and I have to respect Israeli football. I’m always looking to improve.”

Benayoun playing in 3 straight matches:
“He’s really a youngster. Mentally he’s still so young. I always try to talk about the club. If we work as a team we will have the opportunity to do some great things.”

The Yellow & Blue defeated Maccabi Petah Tikva 2:0 thanks to a Dani Amos 10th minute own goal and a 59th minute strike by Tal Ben Chaim. Dor Micha was a factor on both goals as his shot bounced off of Amos’s back and into the goal while he delivered a superb deep ball to Ben Chaim for goal number two. With the win, Maccabi cut the Hapoel Beer Sheva lead to 3-points as the table leaders host Beitar Jerusalem on Monday night. Next Saturday night, Maccabi will visit the same Beitar at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.

Prematch
Lito Vidigal, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajikovic, with Yuval Shpungin, Tal Ben Haim, Egor Filipenka and Sheran Yeini in front of him. Eyal Golasa, Ruben Micael and Yossi Benayoun were in the midfield while Dor Micha, Tal Ben Chaim and Vidar Kjaratansson provided the firepower up front.

On the bench were Daniel Lifshitz, Avi Rikan, Ramon Roma, Gal Alberman, Aaron Schoenfeld, Sagiv Yehezkel and Oscar Scarione.

First Half
Maccabi looked to take an early lead and almost did so in the 8th minute when Benayoun gave Ben Chaim a marvelous pass, but number 11’s chance couldn’t find the target. However, three minutes later the Yellow & Blue would take a 1:0 lead thanks in part to Ruben Micael. The midfielder took a fantastic attempt on goal that was stopped by Dani Amos, but Micha pounced on the rebound, hit the bar as the ball bounced off of the Petah Tikva keeper’s back and into the goal.

In the 13th minute Petah Tikva had their first chance but Liroy Tzeiri’s shot went over the bar as Maccabi continued to control the pace. Following a yellow card to Romario Pires, Golasa hit a screamer off of the bar after Benayoun had given him a perfect ball in the 31st minute. After yellow cards were issued to Micael and Tzeiri, Hagi Goldenberg tried to draw his side even in the 38th minute but his chance went over the goal.

Ben Chaim picked up a yellow card in the 41st minute while Lidor Cohen tried his luck against Rajikovic from long distance to no avail two minutes later. As the match hit the 45th minute Micha sent Benayoun a magnificent cross but the veteran’s header missed the target but went right to Kjaratansson, however, the Icelander’s chance from in close went out as the half ended with Maccabi holding a 1:0 advantage.

Second Half
After a quiet start to the second half, Ben Chaim lifted a 53rd minute free kick into the box but Amos grabbed it while seconds later Kjartansson almost doubled the score but Amos made the save. Golasa was then issued a yellow card in the 56th minute. With Maccabi hunting for a second goal, Micha would send a tremendous deep pass right to Ben Chaim who would put it home for a 2:0 lead in the 59th minute.

As the match moved along to the 72nd minute, the Yellow & Blue would have a pair of chances as Kjartansson would just miss the goal and Yeini would hit the bar yet again. Gal Alberman entered the match in the 79th minute for Ruben Micael, Sagiv Yehezkel came on in the 87th minute in favor of goal scorer Ben Chaim and Oscar Scarione rounded out the substitutes in the 90th minute as he was introduced for Micha to close out a tidy 2:0 win.

Eyal Golasa, the Yellow & Blue midfielder started the last two matches and looks to be an important piece of the puzzle as the club heads into Matchday 30. Number 23 spoke about getting the Starting nod against Jerusalem in the State Cup, Beer Sheva and returning to the pitch:

“I’ll play wherever they ask me to whether it’s 50/50 or at defensive midfielder which is a bit new for me. As long as I can help the team I don’t care where I play.

On his injury:

“I had a rough injury in my foot. But I’m the type of player where if I have to play hard and stick my foot in and it breaks, that’s the way I have to play.

Belief:

“Of course, we believe that we can still win the title and you also saw that when we played Maccabi Haifa. We have to keep up this way and anything will be possible.”

Focusing on Beer Sheva:

“If we look at Beer Sheva it will just bother us, so we have to keep working hard ourselves and see where we end up. We don’t watch every game that they play but every team that plays us plays very hard and gives over 100% against us.”

Finding out when he would be in the Starting XI against Beitar:

“I found out in the hotel before the game. I was a bit surprised but I prepared well and we played well.”

Season of missed opportunities?

“Of course we feel that we missed an opportunity, but if we look back we will just get frustrated. Right now we are playing well and we hope that we can keep it up.”

Summing up the season:

“It’s still early to say if it will be painful or not but we have to keep playing hard to win games and pick up points. After the season we can see where we stand.”

The Israel National Team:

“I always enjoy being in the National Team and representing country. There is no bigger honor.”

Lito Vidigal, the Yellow & Blue boss looked ahead to the Matchday 30 Ligat Ha’Al Championship Playoff Match against Maccabi Petah Tikva and discussed Eyal Golasa’s play, keeping the players in shape and of course the upcoming clash:

“All of the games are very difficult and this is how we approved each one. We had 3 games in a week and the players did a good job. We had a very good game against Maccabi Haifa and we beat them for the first time this season. The players made it look easy but it was a very tough game. We have now been working together for a month and a half to two months and we are getting to know each other better. Maccabi Petah Tikva is a very good team but we have to concentrate on ourselves. We respect the opponent but we have to play well and take the three points.”

About Petah Tikva:

“We are only thinking about ourselves. Right now the Maccabi Petah Tikva match is most important and only after that we will focus on the next game. I tell the players, focus on the current game and then move on to the next one.”

Making it easy by working hard:

“We played very hard last game and we worked a lot. We made it easy because the players fought a lot. You may have thought that it was an easy game but it’s because the players worked very very hard. We also have the State Cup Final and now we have to focus on the league and win every game until then. Afterwards we will focus on the final.”

Working to win every game:

“We are working to win all of the games and this is what I tell the players every day. We have to come and be focused on the way we work and then we will have more of a chance to win. We have to be focused on the next game and win the next game. If you don’t win then who knows. That’s why the next game is always most important.”

Keeping the players in shape:

“Last week we played 3 games and the players showed me that they are in very good condition. But we have to be careful as the players have appeared in what could be 60 games. Most importantly is that I have good professionals who work hard. When we have players with good character we can get past every situation and get to the next level.”

About Eyal Golasa:

“He’s a fantastic player but what I always say is that we are a team. If we work and play hard every game that is the best. He’s a real team player after being out for two months to come in and help. I hope he stays fit so he can continue to play well and be with the team. We need everyone to succeed. I believe in Golasa if I play him and if I play Gal Alberman I believe in him too.”