Maccabi Tel Aviv got by Maccabi Petach Tikva 2-1 thanks to Eran Zahavi’s second half free kick goal to win their 9th game in a row. Saliou Guindo broke the ice in the 30th minute to give the hosts a surprise lead but an own goal by Guy Deznet seconds into the second half drew the yellow-and-blue even at 1-1. As it looked as the sides were going to split the points, Zahavi stepped up and sent a perfect free kick into the Petach Tikva goal to give Maccabi the come from behind victory.

“This was a tough game and the conditions weren’t the best,” Maccabi coach Robbie Keane said. “I told the guys a couple of things at halftime and we saw their response by scoring on our first attack. We played with character, soccer is a game of two halves. Sometimes it isn’t the nicest and you’ve got to show character and strength.”

“We came into the game and the guys gave 100% or even more,” Petach Tikva bench boss Benny Lam said. “We worked hard and led 1-0. It would be easy to say that the goal we conceded broke us but we had some very nice chances against an excellent team. If you give Eran Zahavi a chance like he had in this game, ultimately the ball will go into the goal.”

Maccabi Haifa cruised past Hapoel Hadera 5-1 as youngster Ilay Hajaj scored a brace to help the Greens take the 3-points and the win. Elad Madmon gave Hadera an early 1-0 lead but from that point on it was all Haifa as Ilay Hajaj drew Haifa even in the 29th minute after taking a pass from Lior Refaelov and scoring from the top of the box.

Anan Khalaili gave Messay Dego’s squad a 2-1 lead in the 37th minute as he put in a rebound while Refaelov would find the back of the goal following Dia Lababidi’s red card that reduced Hadera to ten men in first half injury time and give Haifa a 3-1 lead at the break. Frantzdy Pierrot scored a 52nd minute penalty to bump the lead up to 4-1 in the 52nd minute while Hajaj polished off his brace 5 minutes later to wrap up the dominant win.

“We came into the game without being modest as I could see that form our body language,” Dego said following the match. “But I am happy that after we got back into the game and scored, we brought our quality as well. The red card also helped us a lot. We have been very good offensively of late and we have been able to get a lot of players into the box which helps us score goals.”

“Things got a bit complicated early on and we decided that we would try and keep some of our players rested for upcoming games,” Hadera coach Niso Avitan explained. “It’s not a pleasant result but the difference in quality between the teams is significant.”