Maccabi Tel-Aviv secured a 32-27 victory over Hapoel Ashdod in their Division 1 opener on Thursday. The away side took control early and never looked back, finishing with five goals to spare. By then it was clear this one would be decided in the first half, where Maccabi built an advantage they defended comfortably.
And here's the thing — we had tipped the hosts to win, at 53 per cent confidence. The match didn't go that way. Maccabi moved sharper under pressure, switching play more effectively than Hapoel could track. The visitors kept their shape when it mattered.
To be fair, Hapoel aren't starting from scratch. They drew their previous meeting with Maccabi back in April and have been competitive in their recent outings. But this time the away side found another gear, and the home team couldn't respond when pinned back.
The result shifts the table slightly. Maccabi sit fourth with two points from one game, while Hapoel remain tenth on zero points after a draw and now a loss. It's early, but the gap between them is already visible.
What caught the eye wasn't the scoreline but the rhythm. Maccabi moved the ball without hesitation, and Hapoel's defence looked one step behind for long stretches. Three or four moments in the first half set the tone — once Maccabi found space, they kept finding it.
The visitors have been on a good run coming into this fixture. Two draws against Bern last week showed they can grind out results, and against Hapoel they converted that momentum into a win. They'll make life awkward for anyone who underestimates them this season.