Liga Ha´al: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1 Hapoel Tel Aviv 0

Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated local rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv 1-0 in the Ligat Ha’al on Monday to move to sixth in the league table.

Eliran Atar scored the game’s only goal from the penalty spot as Maccabi made it two wins in two, and their third game unbeaten.

Hapoel – second in the table – were in better form than their opponents leading into the contest, with just one defeat in eleven league matches.

In contrast, Maccabi were in eighth place, with just one league win in six and their play-off hopes in the balance.

But it was the visitors who took the lead just before half time at Bloomfield Stadium, after left back Yoav Ziv fell under a challenge in the penalty area.

Striker Atar stepped up to score his 15th goal of the season.

In the second half, the visiting goal came under sustained pressure as Hapoel pushed for an equaliser.

Omer Damari should have levelled with this close range effort.

Maccabi goalkeeper Baral Levi then performed heroics to keep his side in front, keeping out a deflected Nosa Igiebor shot.

Levi followed that effort by denying Marko Suler’s free header.

And 13 minutes from time, the goalkeeper diverted a goal-bound Toto Tamuz shot over the bar.

To add insult to injury for Hapoel, Avihai Yadin was sent off late after squaring up to the referee.