The international break came to an end this evening (Saturday) when Maccabi hosted Ironi Kiryat Shmona for the third fixture of the “TA Stock Exchange” League.
Maccabi arrived at the match with four points out of six, after a home win over Raanana and a draw in the derby in the last fixture and were looking to maintain a perfect home record.
The injured Rami Gershon was missing from today’s squad, while Yuval Ashkenazi and Ofri Arad, who were injured in the match against Hapoel Haifa, were fit and available for the coach Marco Balbul. 
On the other hand, Messay Dego’s side wanted to earn their first points this season and put an end to their series of losses that started in the beginning of the season against Bnei Yehuda and continued in the second fixture against Hapoel Kfar Saba. 
 
 

 
Kick off 
 
19’ Chery gets the ball inside the box and shoots a powerful shot, but Bartkus stops it. 
 
27’ A nice move by the team ends with a shot by Lavi, but the ball is stopped by the keeper. 
 
28’ Menachem delivers a good cross towards Rukavytsya but the striker slightly misses the ball. 
 
29’ Shua passes a great ball to Sun Menachem who shoots with his left foot, but the ball is blocked by Bartkus. 
 
34’ Shua delivers a clever ball to Menachem, who passes the ball to Chery but the latter’s shot is stopped by Bartkus. 
 
45’ Half time at Sammy Ofer
 
Second half 
 
47’ Meir passes the ball to Ashkenazi who shoots from the edge of the penalty box, straight into the keeper's hand. 
 
49’ Shua storms forward and shoots, the ball is deflected but Rukavytsya gets to it first and scores! 1:0 for Maccabi!
 
51’ Ashkenazi steals the ball, runs through the middle and leaves the ball to Shua, but the striker is blocked by the keeper. 
 
54’ A surprising free kick by Chery hits the wrong side of the net. 
 
57’ Ashkenazi gets the ball from Chery, advances and shoots a strong ball that just slightly misses the post. 
 
62’ A great move by Shua ends when Ashkenazi shoots to Bratkus hands. 
 
63’ Shua delivers a cross to Ashkenazi who shoots, but the ball goes above the crossbar. 
 
64’ Substitution for Maccabi: Dolev Haziza in, Nikita Rukavytsya out.
 
76’ Arad passes the ball to Ashkenazi who finish’s it with a lovely shot and he doubles the score! 2:0 for Maccabi. 
 
76’ Substitution for Maccabi: Maxim Plakuschenko in, Tjaronn Chery out.
 
82’ Haziza storms down the right wing and delivers a cross that doesn’t reach Shua. 
 
85’ Plakuschenko shoots a strong ball from a far distance, but Bratkus denies it. 
 
86’ Substitution for Maccabi: Muhammad Awad in, Yarden Shua out.
 
87’ Plakuschenko gets control on the ball and shoots, but the ball just slightly misses the target. 
 
90’ A nice team play ends with a shot by Lavi that goes flying next to the post. 
 
90’+5’ Final whistle, Maccabi completes a 2:0 win against Kiryat Shmona.