Hapoel Azor secured a 2-0 victory over Hapoel Ma'ane Yehuda in the Liga Alef South-4 stage on Wednesday. The home side took all three points at their own ground, closing out a match that had drifted between possibilities before settling into a familiar pattern. To be fair, neither team looked like they wanted to make it easy for the other.
L. Elmaliach ended the half with a goal in the 45th minute, giving Azor a lead that felt earned rather than lucky. The home side had been probing all around, waiting for that moment when the defence let its guard down. By then, the visitors were already showing signs of fatigue.
The second goal came late, at 89 minutes, and this time the scorer was not named in the match report. Azor were closing in on the result, pressing forward with purpose while the opposition had nothing to do all evening. And here's the thing — it was the kind of finish that separates sides who know how to protect a lead.
Statistics tell their own story. Azor registered 62 attacks against 54 for the visitors, with eight shots on target to two. Possession was almost even at 49 per cent to 51, but possession means little when you are not creating chances. The home side landed eight shots on target while the visitors could only manage two.
Azor sit 13th in the table with 23 points from 21 games — five wins, eight draws and eight losses. This result ends their recent run of mixed fortunes, coming after a heavy 3-0 defeat to Maccabi Kiryat Malakhi and a solid 2-0 win over Tzraya Tira.
Ma'ane Yehuda's away form has been difficult to read. They drew 1-1 with Hapoel Ramat HaSharon and lost 1-0 at Hapoel Sderot in their last two outings. Three draws in their last five matches suggest they are not losing, but they are not winning either.
