THE ISRAELI derby between Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was marred by fan unrest that led to 25 MINUTES of added time.
Fierce rivals Maccabi and Hapoel faced off on Monday in a heated Premier League clash at Bloomfield, where some extraordinary scenes took place.
Supporters started throwing flares on the pitch from both ends just 16 seconds after kick-off and the referee had to halt the match until order was restored.
When the smoke eventually cleared the match was renewed, only for the pyrotechnics display to resume in the 15th minute.
The dramatic derby finally restarted on 23 minutes but fans disrupted the game once more by throwing balls into the pitch.
All that fuss gave the referee no option but to add 25 minutes of stoppage time before half-time.
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The first half had everything except goals as the two teams finally went back to the dressing room with a goalless draw.
However, the second half proved to be different and Maccabi managed to pick up a huge 3-0 victory at home.
Oscar Gluh broke the deadlock after 75 minutes for ex-Watford manager Vladan Ivic’s side.
Ex-PSV Eindhoven star Eran Zahavi put the game to bed on 80 minutes with a clinical finish.
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And Dorde Jovanovic put the finishing touches on Maccabi’s triumph in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
Maccabi moved to the top of the Israeli table but also maintained their unbeaten eight-year derby record.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
