Maccabi Haifa India: "We just wanted to go out with the points" | Israel today

Maccabi Haifa knows that the victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv was not at all convincing: "The kind of games that must be won, no matter how" • The team praised Rodriguez 'character: "It's amazing how he managed to excel despite the family mourning"

• Jose Rodriguez celebrates a rare goal against Hapoel Tel Aviv, yesterday

  Photo: 

  Alan Shiver

Maccabi Haifa defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv yesterday (1: 2) and opened a gap of 5 points from Maccabi Tel Aviv, which will play tonight against Hapoel Haifa.

The Greens with four consecutive league wins, but at the India Club because it was one of their least good games this season.

"It's a two-half game," they said at the Green Club, "we were good in the first half, but then we disappeared, we got tired and at one point we just wanted to come out with the points.

The winning goal was scored by midfielder Jose Rodriguez, who received harsh news about a member of his family who passed away from Corona.

Despite this, Rodriguez chose to play when he and his friends wore black ribbons in her memory.

Coach Barak Bachar spoke with Rodriguez before the game and heard from him that he does not intend to give it up.

It was therefore decided to allow him to choose what he wanted to do.

"Jose was very sad during the day, amazing that he was able to make a separation between personal grief in the family and the game and once again excel."

Beyond that, players on the team admitted last night that they feel tired in light of the game load and the short staff suffering from distances.

For the upcoming game against Maccabi Petah Tikva, the brakeman Eid Habashi will return, with the only remaining player left being Dolev Haziza, who will return against Bnei Yehuda.

Striker Goodsway Donio felt a strain during the second half and was substituted.

Haifa's offender will undergo a test today, but is in doubt for Saturday's game against the Malabuses.

In light of the fact that Nikita Rokavica is also in doubt for Saturday, Muhammad Awad may open for the first time in the 11th.