Maccabi met Maccabi Tel Aviv this evening in the opening round of the second round robin of the Japanika league. A minute of silence was held before the match to pay respect to the tragic death of Rona Ramon. Rona, widow of Israel’s first astronaut killed in the Columbia disaster, succumbed to cancer on Monday, at the age of 54. She is survived by three children, Tal, Yiftah and Noa. Maccabi Haifa Football Club joins the mourning of the Ramon family for their irreplaceable loss.
The match started with a quick goal by Eliran Atar, who also doubled the score several minutes before half time. At the beginning of the second half Dor Peretz scored to give the guests a 0:3 lead. Sallallich narrowed the score (1:3) after an individual move. But despite some more good opportunities, Maccabi did not succeed to score more goals.
 
Kick off

4' The visitors' first attack ended with a goal by Eliran Atar from inside the box. 0:1
7' Mabouka crosses the ball into the dangerous area. The ball reaches Rukavytsya but his header goes above the target.
9' Mandjeck delivers the ball towards Awad with a great long pass. Awad shoots the ball from the air but Rajkovic blocks the attempt.
13' Yellow card: Georges Mandjeck.
22' Awad shoots from 18 meters, Rajkovic deflects the ball to the center of the penalty area but none of the Maccabi players was there to get to the rebound.
34' Yellow card: Shlomi Azulay.
42' Eliran Atar scores with a header to give the visitors a 0:2 lead.
45' 1 minute stoppage time.
Second Half

45' Substitution for Maccabi: Georges Mandjeck out, Roi Kehat in.
46' Dor Peretz scores the guests' third goal.
62' Awad shoots from 18 meters, the ball goes high above the crossbar.
66' Sallallich crosses the ball into the penalty area, Rukavytsya heads it straight into Rajkovic hands.
68' Substitution for Maccabi: Nikita Rukavytsya out, Shon Weissman in.
70' An individual play by Sallallich ends with the ball hitting the back of the net, 1:3.
75' Awad delivers a brilliant deep pass to Kehat, the midfielder goes on a one-on-one with Rajkovic but shoots the ball straight to the keeper's body.
80' Sun Menachem crosses a lovely ball towards Weissman who heads the ball strongly, but the away team's keeper saves the ball from the goal line.
87' Substitution for Maccabi: Sintayehu Sallallich, Amit Zenati in.
90' 4  minutes stoppage time.

Final Whistle.