Maccabi pounded Hapoel 5-0 in the Tel Aviv Derby as the yellow-and-blue did as they pleased against their city rival at Bloomfield Stadium. Prior to the game, the police raided the Hapoel Ultras storehouse and confiscated flares, fireworks, Molotov cocktails, iron pipes and other paraphernalia as close to 100 fans were arrested which led to many Reds deciding to boycott the match.

On the pitch itself, it was all Maccabi as they scored fast and furious with Dor Peretz scoring a brace while Dan Bitton added a marker as well as Robbie Keane’s side went into the half-time break with a 3-0 lead. Eran Zahavi then joined the party with a goal of his own to become the all-time derby goal scoring leader with 12 as Dor Turgeman put the cherry on top with an 89th minute strike to polish off yet another Derby victory for the yellow-and-blue.

“I don’t think any game is easy, we made it easy for ourselves because of the way we played,” Robbie Keane said. “I have been pushing for that since I have been here. We kept the ball moving and I was happy with that. I knew that once we got hold of the game and stuck to the game plan I knew we would create chances. The fans have been very good to me since I came and everybody have been very welcoming and I appreciate that.”

“We conceded two goals from two sets pieces which we have been very good about this season,” Hapoel coach Michael Valkanis said. “When you give Maccabi the opportunity they have quality to hurt you, the third goal really put our backs against the wall. The next goal in the second half didn’t help matters. It’s a new group and new project we have to recover and move on. We came in with a lot of confidence and we are very disappointed.”

Dor Peretz, reflected on the win, “It’s a great feeling to contribute and do my part. A win like this makes us all very happy, the players and fans. We have to continue working hard, collect points and record clean sheets and if we can keep doing that we will be heading in the right direction.”