Until the 78th minute, the postponed game between Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Netanya, which was actually used as the champion's opening game for the 22/23 season, went almost as in the most realistic scenario that could be put together for it: Maccabi Haifa without half of the first team is struggling, Maccabi Netanya is pressing and passionate, says Situations for both sides when the danger of losing points and starting the season with a gap from Maccabi Tel Aviv is getting closer to being a fait accompli as the clock ticks down.
Then Boris Ino knocked down Omer Atzili in the square, and from that moment it was Maccabi Netanya who fell, not because of Ino, but because Omer Atzili got up, and decided that a football game doesn't have to be so complicated.
You can write, say and express quite a few opinions about Omar Atzili in all the levels in which opinions are expressed about a footballer: in the professional element, you can talk about facts - there were scorers greater than him, both in Maccabi Haifa (one of them, at his advanced age, even started in the team) and in the league (one Such a one even returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv this summer).
There were faster players than him, more gifted dribblers compared to him, more physical wingers than him and better morale.
In terms of off the field, you can gently say that they were more moral than him, and you can accept the opinion of those who think that his place is not on the field.
But one thing, in my eyes, there is no debate: there is no player who looks as effortless as Omar Atzil.
As if everything comes easily to him.
And the beauty that Atzili, on the contrary, actually puts in a lot of effort - he goes down to the defense, he chases the opponent's players, he stumbles and endlessly searches for the goal.
Atzili celebrates with his friends, photo: Barney Ardov
He is not one to hesitate to dirty the white parts of the shirt but when the wind is on him, when he turns a ball from the right-hand corner to the left corner, it seems as easy as petting a stray cat.
And yesterday, after the penalty, this is exactly what happened - Ino the elephant, and Azili the light.
One in the head, the second from the white point, the third in a characteristic spin.
And if all this is not enough, nor the penalty kick, then Atzili added another assist with his head.
Just like that, to make it look easy, as if everything that happened until the 78th minute was only in our and Boris Ino's imagination.
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